A transportation coordinator is a broad job title that can mean a lot of different things depending on the company’s setup and scope. Some transportation coordinators will work as top-level managers of transportation functions within a company or department, while others will be more involved in day-to-day operations. Individual employers, such as private businesses and school districts, as well as other government employers, hire transportation coordinators to ensure that specific customer, employee, or public transportation projects are successful.
Some transportation coordinators will primarily be responsible for clerical duties. These professionals might keep track of the company’s drivers’ travel logs or keep track of vehicle service records. They might be in charge of making changes to an existing transportation system, such as adding shuttles for overflow in a specific business location. Some people in this position may be referred to as dispatchers. Some of these people may also be asked to assist in the promotion of new transportation programs or to ensure that changes are made in a timely manner.
In a smaller company, the transportation coordinator may be actively involved in providing transportation for a specific group of people, whether it’s the general public or a specific group of company employees or customers. These individuals may operate large vehicles, service a fleet of business vehicles, or assist in the day-to-day management of transportation logistics. Transportation coordinators may be administrative workers in other jobs, but they may also be “on call” to take the place of a driver in an emergency.
Transportation coordinators in school districts may collaborate closely with school bus drivers. They may analyze and recommend changes to bus routes or otherwise fine-tune the existing transportation system to make it more cost-effective and better serve students. These professionals may provide critical first-aid training or other educational opportunities. They may be in charge of overall quality control and efficiency for the school district’s transportation department, which typically has a large number of employees and vehicles.
In general, a transportation coordinator collaborates with various departments to achieve the objectives of transportation projects, which are frequently mandated by top-level executives. Transportation coordination frequently necessitates both a broad analysis of projects and a close examination of daily tasks. The transportation coordinator keeps a close eye on all logistics and operations to ensure that they are in line with the company’s overall goals. This usually entails keeping records for software-assisted decision-making, tax filing, and other requirements. These coordinators might, for example, quantify, calculate, and analyze fuel costs, mileage, or other aspects of business transportation.