The transportation industry builds and maintains our economy. Almost everything around us has been transported to a store or directly to the consumer. The purpose of the transportation industry is to move goods and people from one point to another by air, land or sea. The transportation industry employs over 10 million people in the United States. Occupations include airline pilots and attendants, truck drivers, train engineers, baggage handlers and mechanics.

Ground and air transportation integrators such as Federal Express and UPS generate 85 % of market revenues in the transportation of goods. Industry analysts predict that the airfreight industry will expand tremendously over the next twenty years. According to the U.S. department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for a majority of railroad transportation occupations is expected to decline through the year 2008 due in large part to the consolidation in the industry and innovations such as larger, faster, more fuel efficient trains and computerized classification yards. Over 80% of all consumer goods are transported by trucks. It is projected that the employment opportunities for truck drivers will increase 10-20% through 2008.

People who choose a career in the transportation industry generally require the ability to work well with others in a team environment. Careers transporting people and goods require the ability to work long and varied hours while meeting strict deadlines.

Working conditions vary widely, depending on the occupation. Although most employees work in fairly comfortable surroundings, such as offices, terminals or airplanes, mechanics and others are subject to noise dirt and grease, and sometimes work outside in bad conditions. Most work under pressure to meet strict deadlines. Some workers are away from home frequently. Because of these working conditions, a worker in the transportation industry is nearly twice as likely to suffer an injury or illness as compared to workers in other industries.