Any service that focuses on moving freight or goods from one location to another is included in the shipping industry. Trains, trucks, airplanes, and even cargo boats can be used to accomplish this. As a result, jobs in the shipping industry vary significantly depending on the type of transportation performed. Cargo planners are needed in almost every type of shipping; these jobs in the shipping industry are responsible for planning the order in which cargo is loaded onto a transport vehicle. This is a critical process for planes and boats to ensure a balanced load that prevents the vehicle from losing control.
Logistics professionals will fill planning and strategy positions in the shipping industry. They will be in charge of creating shipping schedules, as well as scheduling flights, train departures and arrivals, and ship departures and arrivals. Other logistical shipping processes will also be addressed by such experts to ensure that items are delivered on time and that delays are avoided whenever possible. When delays occur, logistics professionals must adjust their schedules and shipping methods to compensate.
Positions in the shipping industry that deal with the actual movement of goods are known as driver and operator positions. Drivers can drive delivery trucks on land, trains, boats, and even airplanes. Pilots can work exclusively for shipping companies to transport goods faster than any other mode of transportation. Larger items and bulk goods may be transported by boat captains all over the world. Along with operators, a variety of personnel will be involved in ensuring that vehicles are safe and ready for transport; for example, inspectors and refueling workers will be in charge of preparing a vehicle for departure and ensuring its safety.
Yard engineers work in rail yards to organize train cars, prepare trains for loading and unloading, and coordinate with train conductors to ensure that the route is set up correctly, the train is fueled, and all other details are taken care of. These jobs in the shipping industry will require experience and training, and they can be dangerous in some cases because the engineers will be working in a busy rail yard with trains in motion.
Air traffic controllers are not exclusively associated with the shipping industry, but they are critical to the safe transportation of goods. These professionals work at airports, where they monitor and control various aircraft’s arrivals and departures. Without the coordination of an air traffic controller, shipping planes cannot arrive or depart from an airport.