Transportation
Career Ladder
Learn About the Transportation Career Path
Advance your skills and learn what it takes to move up the Transportation Career Ladder!
Each career level contains information about wages, job descriptions, main job duties, examples of job titles, general skills, and links to educational and training opportunities. Select one of the levels to learn more.
To explore other career ladders, please visit our Career Ladders page. If you have further questions about local labour market information, email helpdesk@wdb.ca or visit wdb.ca.
Entrepreneur / Business Owner
Varies
Managers in Transportation
$42.98
Supervisor, Motor Transport and Other Ground Transit Operators
$31.09
Dispatchers
$25.41
Bus Drivers, Subway Operators and Other Transit Operators
$18.74
Taxi and Limousine Drivers and Chauffeurs
$16.80
Taxi and Limousine Drivers and Chauffeurs
Wages
Low
$16.55
Median
$16.80
High
$22.39
Main Job Duties
- Pick up passengers and drive them to destinations
- Help passengers with luggage and with boarding and exiting vehicles and assist passengers with special needs
- Collect flat-rate or metered fares
- Maintain travel logs and record cash and credit transactions
- Maintain contact with dispatch unit
- Clean and make minor repairs to vehicle or take vehicle for servicing
- May provide pick up and delivery services on request
Skills
Customer Service
Communication
Time Management
Interpersonal Communication
Good Driving Record
Job Title Examples
Taxi driver
Chauffeur
Limousine driver
Education & Training
- Some secondary school education is usually required.
- A minimum of one year of safe driving experience is usually required.
- A Class G driver’s licence is required in Ontario, and a Class 4 driver’s licence is required in all other provinces and the territories.
- Drivers require a good knowledge of the geographical area to be covered and may have to pass written street/building location and safety examinations.
- Taxi drivers usually require a municipal permit.
- First aid certification may be required.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
GOVERNMENT LINKS
Driver’s Education Programs
FLEMING COLLEGE
Continuing Education
OTEC – ONTARIO TOURISM EDUCATION CORPORATION
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write driver’s test
Online job posting numbers are designated via key word search and may not reflect the exact number of search results for this occupation.
Bus Drivers, Subway Operators and Other Transit Operators
Wages
Low
$16.55
Median
$18.74
High
$27.53
Skills
Communication
Customer service
Information technology
Loading and unloading
Main Job Duties
- Drive buses or other transit vehicles to transport passengers along established routes to local destinations and/or passengers and goods to intercity or long-distance destinations
- Drive sightseeing tour buses to transport passengers
- Operate equipment for wheelchair accessibility, and aid passengers in boarding
- Collect fares, issue and validate transfers, check bus passes and record transactions
- Conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections of vehicle
- Communicate with passengers, dispatchers or other drivers using two-way radio systems
- Report delays, mechanical problems and accidents
- May provide information on points of interest during sightseeing tours
- May load and unload passengers’ luggage and express freight
Job Title Examples
Sightseeing bus driver
School bus driver
Motor coach driver
Charter bus driver
Tour bus operator
Public passenger transit driver
Education & Training
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Up to three months of on-the-job training, including classroom instruction, is usually provided for all occupations in this unit group.
- A minimum of one year of safe driving experience is required.
- Bus drivers require a Class B, C, E or F driver’s licence in Ontario, and a Class 2 driver’s licence is required in all other provinces and the territories.
- An air brakes endorsement and first aid certificate may be required.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
GOVERNMENT LINKS
Government-approved school bus course providers
FLEMING COLLEGE
Continuing Education
OTEC – ONTARIO TOURISM EDUCATION CORPORATION
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write driver’s test
Online job posting numbers are designated via key word search and may not reflect the exact number of search results for this occupation.
Dispatchers
Wages
Low
$19.40
Median
$25.41
High
$31.46
Main Job Duties
- Process and transmit information and instructions to vehicle operators and crew to coordinate activities and equipment using a variety of computer-aided communications and dispatching tools
- Dispatch personnel according to written schedules and work orders
- Advise vehicle operators of route and traffic problems such as construction, accidents, congestion, weather conditions, weight and size restrictions and other information
- Monitor personnel workloads and locations
- Maintain vehicle operator work records using computerized and/or manual methods and ensure time sheets and payroll summaries are completed accurately
- Maintain computer and/or manual records of mileage, fuel use, repairs and other expenses, and generate reports
Skills
Communication
Computer Literacy
Multi-tasking/Time Management
Detail Oriented
Scheduling
Job Title Examples
Taxi dispatcher
Motor vehicle dispatcher
Radio operator
Education & Training
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- Police and emergency dispatchers and other radio operators usually require provincial radio operator’s certificates.
- Police and emergency dispatchers are required to complete formal on-the-job training. Other dispatchers usually undergo some informal on-the-job training.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
Dispatch Training
FLEMING COLLEGE
Continuing Education
OTEC – ONTARIO TOURISM EDUCATION CORPORATION
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write driver’s test
Online job posting numbers are designated via key word search and may not reflect the exact number of search results for this occupation.
Supervisor, Motor Transport and Other Ground Transit Operators
Wages
Low
$24.29
Median
$31.09
High
$40.08
Main Job Duties
- Supervise, coordinate and schedule the activities of workers who operate trucks, buses, subway trains, light rail transit, street cars, taxis and other transport vehicles
- Establish methods to meet work schedules and coordinate work activities with other departments
- Resolve work problems and recommend measures to improve performance
- Requisition materials and supplies
Train staff in job duties, safety procedures and company policies - Recommend personnel actions such as hiring and promotions
- Dispatch bus drivers and monitor routes to ensure schedules are met and to resolve operating problems
- Monitor and operate signal and track switch control panel of subway systems
- Prepare work reports and budgets, and monitor expenditures
Skills
Tactfulness
Ability to meet deadlines
Ethical standards and conduct
information gathering
planning
Job Title Examples
Bus dispatcher
Bus drivers’ supervisor
Taxi and chauffeurs’ supervisor
Bus inspector
Education & Training
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Several years of experience as a driver or operator of motor transport or ground transit equipment are usually required.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
FLEMING COLLEGE
Continuing Education
TRENT UNIVERSITY
OTEC – ONTARIO TOURISM EDUCATION CORPORATION
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write driver’s test
Online job posting numbers are designated via key word search and may not reflect the exact number of search results for this occupation.
Managers in Transportation
Wages
Low
$30.77
Median
$42.98
High
$58.82
Main Job Duties
- 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
Skills
CUSTOMER SERVICE
COMMUNICATION
OPERATIONS
REPORT WRITING
COMPUTER LITERACY
Job Title Examples
Bus company manager
Distribution manager
Transportation manager
Shipping services manager
Education & Training
- 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.
SECONDARY SCHOOL
FLEMING COLLEGE
Continuing Education
Trent University
OTEC – ONTARIO TOURISM EDUCATION CORPORATION
SERVICE AND TRAINING PROVIDERS
Find your local employment service provider here or adult education and training provider here and contact them for current training programs such as:
- Occupational-specific training, career planning, job search,
resume writing, or government-funded programs - Upgrading and skills development including grade 12 support, customer service, money math, computers or help in preparing to write driver’s test
Online job posting numbers are designated via key word search and may not reflect the exact number of search results for this occupation.
Entrepreneur / Business Owner
Approximately 1,450 new businesses are launched annually in the WDB region.
Main Job Duties
- Create and manage a business plan, including ongoing research and planning, and time management
- Secure funding, maintain business bank accounts, payments processing, taxes and general bookkeeping
- Develop marketing campaigns, manage social media and conduct other marketing activities
- Respond to customer service inquiries, including answer phone calls and emails to build a positive reputation for the business
- Recruit and manage employees
Skills
Customer Service
Organization
Time Management
Accounting
Job Title Examples
Small Business Owner
Franchisee
Education & Training
Grant for students aged 15 to 29 to start a new summer business
Grant for Canadians 18+ to start a new business or grow a business that has been in operations for fewer than five years
Financing, mentorship and community support for local small businesses
Supports entrepreneurs in the formation and growth of tech-driven companies
Continuing Education
TRENT UNIVERSITY
We would like to acknowledge the support made by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and Regional Tourism Organization 8 for this project.
Sources:
National Occupational Classification (NOC)
Lightcast (2023.3)
WDB Local Jobs Hub
