How to become a manager in transportation
Official title: Managers in transportation
Also called: Runway manager, Airline manager, Railway manager, Ship line manager, Air freight manager, Bus company manager, Ocean freight manager, Export traffic manager, Import traffic manager, Moving company manager, Rail transport manager, Ramp manager - airline
Managers in transportation operations plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of transportation companies such as railways, airlines, bus lines, municipal transit systems, shipping lines and trucking companies, under the direction of a general manager or another senior manager. Managers in transportation freight traffic plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate companies or departments responsible for the transportation and movement of goods, under the direction of a general manager or another senior manager. They are employed by transportation, freight forwarding and shipping companies and by transportation departments of companies in retail and manufacturing sectors and utilities.
Main tasks
- Managers in transportation operations
- Plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of a transportation company
- Set operations policies and standards, including determination of safety procedures for the handling of dangerous goods, and ensure compliance with transport regulations
- Oversee the dispatch, maintenance and service of vehicles, vessels or aircraft
- Control the company or departmental budget, including acquisitions
- Monitor company's or department's performance, prepare reports for senior management, and plan for changes to schedules and policies
- Recruit personnel and oversee their training
- Managers in transportation freight traffic
How to become one
Managers in transportation operations A bachelor's degree in business administration or engineering is usually required. Several years of experience in transportation operations are usually required, including supervisory experience. Extensive experience as a supervisor and operator in a particular transport mode, such as a pilot, train engineer, vessel master or truck driver, may substitute for formal education. Certification as an operator of a particular mode of transportation, such as commercial pilot, vessel master or truck driver, is usually required. Managers in transportation freight traffic Completion of secondary school is required. A college diploma or university degree in business or transportation administration may be required. Several years of clerical, operational or administrative experience related to freight traffic are required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $103,116 a year The middle half earn $79,287 to $130,826.
- About 37,700 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 43,000 are projected by 2033. (+14.1%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: balance.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a manager in transportation?
Managers in transportation operations A bachelor's degree in business administration or engineering is usually required. Several years of experience in transportation operations are usually required, including supervisory experience. Extensive experience as a supervisor and operator in a particular transport mode, such as a pilot, train engineer, vessel master or truck driver, may substitute for formal education. Certification as an operator of a particular mode of transportation, such as commercial pilot, vessel master or truck driver, is usually required. Managers in transportation freight traffic Completion of secondary school is required. A college diploma or university degree in business or transportation administration may be required. Several years of clerical, operational or administrative experience related to freight traffic are required.
How much does a manager in transportation earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $103,116 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $79,287 to $130,826.
Is a manager in transportation a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 14% by 2033, from about 37,700 to about 43,000 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a manager in transportation?
Not always. 30% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03