Career Pathway:

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Learn about jobs in the transportation, distribution, and logistics (TDL) industry and explore opportunities for career growth. Scroll down to see which top TDL employers in the Metro Atlanta area are currently hiring entry-level talent.

The transportation, distribution, and logistics industry by the numbers:

Employs

266,650

people in the Metro Atlanta area

Accounts for

10%

of all jobs in the Metro Atlanta area

22,349

entry-level job postings in the past 12 months

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, 4/14/2021 [www.bls.gov/oes/]

TDL Career Pathway Downloadable PDF

Industry Overview

Transportation, Distribution and Logistics (TDL) is a growing industry that connects manufacturers and other companies to consumers.
With the drastic increase in eCommerce, a strong TDL workforce is needed to transport goods from one location to another safely and on time.
No matter your experience, background, personality, or interests, you will find great opportunities in this industry that offer a good paycheck, huge potential for secure and long-term career growth, and the ability to transfer those skills anywhere in the world!

Essential Skills

For those working in the TDL industry, connecting communities and businesses is at the core of their jobs. To do this, they utilize a wide variety of highly technical and basic interpersonal skills.

Communication Skills
Microsoft Office
Repair Skills
Customer Service
Organizational Skills
Sales
Detailed-Oriented
Physical Abilities
Scheduling
Digital Skills
Problem Solving
Teamwork / Collaboration

Common Career Pathway

Find more information on occupations within the TDL industry based on education level below.

High school or less

Occupation

Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

Median Annual Wage

$49,000

Occupation

Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand

Median Annual Wage

$28,000

Occupation

Light Truck Drivers

Median Annual Wage

$36,000

Certificate (2-7 weeks)

Occupation

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Median Annual Wage

$47,500

Certificate (1 year)

Occupation

Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

Median Annual Wage

$44,800

How do I start my career in Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics?

Do Some Research

Assess your interests, aptitudes, skills, personality and preferences.
Getting to know yourself helps you match your interest and skills to different careers.
Use ONETonline.org to learn about various careers.

Expand Your Network

Join a professional organization, take advantage of social media like LinkedIn, or tour a local warehouse.
Use your network to help you learn about career pathways, educational opportunities, and job responsibilities and expectations.

Get Training

Many TDL jobs don’t require a bachelor’s degree.
Check out WorksourceGAportal.com for a list of eligible training providers to get started in your TDL career.

Where can I work?

Logistics Services

Logistics services includes inbound and outbound transportation management, fleet management, warehousing, materials handling, order fulfillment, logistics network design, inventory management, supply and demand planning, third-party logistics management, and other logistics support services. Logistics services are involved at all levels in the planning, resourcing, and execution of the movement of goods.

Air & Express Delivery Services

Air and Express Delivery firms provide the export infrastructure for many exporters, particularly small and medium-sized businesses that cannot afford to operate their own supply chain. Recent growth for these firms has generated by the expansion of electronic commerce use by businesses and consumers. A growing field in this area is drone technology and delivery.

Freight Rail

High volumes of heavy cargo and products are transported long distances throughout the United States via rail network. Each day, this 140,000-mile system delivers an average of 5 million tons of goods and serves nearly every industrial, wholesale, retail, and resource-based sector of the economy.

Trucking

Over-the-road transportation of cargo is provided by motor vehicles over short and medium distances. Over-the-road truck drivers, also called long haul truckers, can be on the road a couple of days to weeks at a time. According to the American Trucking Associations, trucking revenues were $700 billion in 2017. That year, trucks moved almost 11 billion tons of freight.

Maritime

This subsector includes carriers, seaports, terminals, and labor involved in the movement of cargo and passengers by water. Georgia is home to the Port of Savannah—one of the largest and fastest growing ports in the US.