Transportation Manager
TransportationYou run the entire transit operation — every bus, every route, every driver, every complaint. Fleet management, union negotiations, budget planning, and regulatory compliance all land on your desk. You're the person the city council calls when service cuts make the news, and you're the one explaining to the mayor why buses cost what they cost. You haven't driven a bus in years, but you still have nightmares about that one intersection.
Salary Range
Low
$65k
Median
$75k
High
$92k
10-Year Growth
5%
US Workers
140K
Education
15+ years transit experience or bachelor's in transportation/management + union negotiation experience
Environment
indoor
Tools & Technical Skills
- ▸Fleet management systems
- ▸Union contract negotiation
- ▸Municipal budget planning
- ▸ADA compliance management
- ▸Safety program oversight
- ▸Regulatory compliance (FTA/DOT)
- ▸Capital planning
People & Mindset Skills
- ▸Executive communication
- ▸Political navigation
- ▸Strategic planning
- ▸Workforce management
- ▸Conflict resolution
- ▸Stakeholder relations
- ▸Crisis management
Learn the skills
Courses and certifications to get you job-ready
Fleet management systems
ADA compliance management
Safety program oversight
Capital planning
What you'll actually do
- 01Oversee fleet maintenance schedules and pray nothing catastrophic breaks this week
- 02Negotiate with the union on contracts, schedules, and grievances — so many grievances
- 03Present budget proposals to city officials who want more service for less money
- 04Review safety reports and accident investigations
- 05Manage a team of supervisors, dispatchers, and trainers across multiple depots
- 06Ensure ADA compliance and accessibility standards across the entire system
Related Shifts
Think this could be you?
Take the Career DNA Quiz to see if this role fits your personality.
Take the Quiz