Graduate careers in transport: what would I do?
Transport planners are perhaps the most well-known transport workers – there are 12,000 across the UK. They devise strategies to improve transport and mobility by designing new systems and upgrading existing networks. Transport planners also examine the impact of new developments on transport systems. A key aim is to increase accessibility, ensuring that essential facilities such as hospitals and shops can be reached by public transport.
Transport planners may undertake a range of duties, or they may choose to specialise in one part of the job. The process might include:
- public consultation and market research
- environmental assessment and mapping
- civil and structural engineering
- construction
- project management
- marketing.
Some employers, such as construction companies and local authorities, will have a transport planning department; other employers may be consultancies specialising in transportation. It’s possible to contract out certain aspects of the job – market research, for example, is likely to be outsourced to a specialist.
Transport managers run transport systems – they oversee day-to-day operations and are often involved from the construction stage. Transport managers are involved in various aspects of rail, road, air and sea transport – which can be passenger or goods related. Areas of work include:
- Operations management: run passenger and/or freight transport systems so they are safe, efficient and punctual.
- Facilities management: look after facilities such as bus and train stations, freight depots, seaports and airports.
- Infrastructure: design new networks, update old ones and work on related buildings. Usually a civil engineering specialty.
- Fleet management: ensure all trains, buses, trucks, ships or aircraft are in good working order.
- Design: oversee the design and manufacture of new vehicles.
- Traffic management: respond to accidents and encourage the smooth flow of traffic.
- Logistics: choose the best means of transportation for goods.
There are also lots of transport jobs that might not require a degree, which often focus on operation. These include driving trucks, trains and buses; selling and collecting tickets; operating rail and road traffic signals; and air traffic control.