Transport and Logistics as a Major Intended Career



Transport and Logistics as a Major Intended Career

Thesis Statement

Transport and logistics is an industry that is really going places and, if you can commit yourself to a career, the sky, literally in some cases, is the limit.

Introduction

One might think that choosing a career in transport and logistics would be like taking a back road. The truth is that this industry is at the forefront of our everyday lives. Without the work of everyone employed in the transport and logistics supply chain you wouldn't have food on your plate, clothes on your back or even chair to sit on.

Transport and logistics is essential to life as we know it. It's the movement, storage, handling and delivery of goods. It's the bus, rail and ferry networks or taxis that get us where we need to be. It's the airplane that allows us to cross oceans and continents at the speeds we could not previously have imagined.

But it's more than just plane, trains and automobiles. Crops need to be transported from farm to the factory to warehouse before they get to the supermarket shelves where we buy them as processed products. Fleets of trucks and ships must move raw materials into furniture or building materials. The transport and logistics industry is our means of getting our hands on what we don't produce in our own backyard and how we make money out of selling what we do have overseas. 

Organizing the flow of goods and people is no easy task considering the long distances between different destinations in the world. The breadth and depth of this industry means there is a whole range of jobs to suit just about anyone. One might not like to get behind the wheel or take charge of controls, and he don't have to, you could work in customs, direct air traffic, resolve occupational health and safety issues, become an engineer, or control a company's export operations. (Stroh, 2006)

Discussion

Work people in Transport and logistics do

It's difficult to generalize the daily tasks of people working in transport and logistics because such a wide variety of jobs fall in to this category.

 The one thing that ties pilots, engineers, policy advisers, pilots and everyone together is the role they play in the process of moving whoever and whatever from point A to B on time and safely. (Nickell, 2002)

 To get a handle on the different tasks involved in transport and logistics, the job types can be roughly divided in six categories. The follow are some day to day tasks involved in each job area

On the frontline

Transport cargo,

Operate passenger vehicles,

Load, unload and sort freight,

Operate ground handling equipment,

Comply with safety regulations,.

Use radio communications system,

Keep operational logs.

Behind the scenes

Write reports and make recommendations,

Monitor stock levels,

Enforce safety regulations,

Mange client relationship,

Develop environmental polices,

Coordinate drivers and ground staff.

Safety and security

Inspect imported items,

Ensure public safety,

Enforce chain of responsibility legislation,

Write safety manuals,

Train staff.

Mechanical and maintenance

Carry out routine maintenance,

Do fault finding and repairs,

Follow drawing and plans,

Provide timelines and quotes for work.

Administration and technical support

Work on IT systems,

Create transport schedules,

Monitor warehouse stock,

Maintain management ...