THe Texas
aIrporT sYsTem
Is THe largesT In
Thinking on Your feet
THe naTIon.
must have personal records that are flawless.
Processing information quickly is necessary “You’ve got to be careful how you live your
while following procedures for jobs such as life,” says Wood, who adds that American
safely running a ferry. “There are times when Physical fitness Airlines thoroughly checked his background
you need to react quickly and be good at This cluster often involves physical tasks. As before hiring him.
making the best decision,” says Captain John an automotive technician, for instance, you The U.S. Coast Guard checks for drug use
Shaw, who operates one of the ferries for the have to be in physical condition. You might and criminal records. “You have to make the
Texas Department of Transportation that work in a shop with minimal heating and right choices,” Shaw says.
connect Galveston Island and Port Bolivar on no air conditioning. “You’re lifting tires and If you keep your record clean, a career in
the Texas mainland. bending over fenders,” Larkin says. “You this cluster can lead to personal fulfillment.
He relies on radar and sight to maneuver might be lying on the floorboard working “There is a degree of excitement and it’s
vessels through all kinds of weather while under the dash with your feet sticking out the challenging,” says LeBovidge of a career in air
avoiding craft as small as a row boat or as door and a flashlight strapped to your head or traffic control. “When you’re involved in the
large as a 50,000-ton ship. a drop light burning your ear.” sequencing of 27 airplanes all coming in
Good communication and teamwork skills from various points and lining them up to
are also essential. “You’re on the radio talking Make the Right Choices arrive at a single runway, you can feel like
with other vessels, and you have to be able to Although some jobs may not be especially you accomplished your task safely and
communicate with the passengers and physically demanding, people directly efficiently.”
crew,” Shaw says. responsible for safely transporting people
5
Cool Careers
cHecK ouT THese excITIng careers In
TransporTaTIon, dIsTrIbuTIon & logIsTIcs.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
ImPOrT/ExPOrT SUPErvISOr ChAUFFEUr FrEIGhT/CArGO INSPECTOr AErOSPACE ENGINEEr TrAFFIC TEChNICIAN
want a fast-paced job working Transport the rich and famous The attacks of september want to be a rocket scientist? a Traffic doesn’t flow automatically
overseas in exotic ports of to their destinations in luxury 11, 2001, put freight and lion’s share of the government’s through streets and highway
entry? employment abroad is limousines. You’ll need to meet cargo inspectors on the front aerospace research and interchanges. skilled
possible as an import/export stringent requirements; larger lines of our national defenses development is done right here professionals design and modify
supervisor with foreign freight cities license chauffeurs and against terrorism. as the 9/11 in Texas. working in large teams the flow of traffic. a traffic
delivery companies such as dHl. expect them to have flawless Commission Report notes, of highly skilled specialists, technician studies how traffic
a supervisor’s work includes driving records. chauffeurs “millions of containers are aerospace engineers design and signals, roadway lighting, and
coordinating and managing must perform their duties with imported annually through the develop the vehicles and systems roadside development aid
customs clearance for products, professionalism and style. country’s more than 300 sea necessary to propel men and or hinder the flow of traffic.
calculating duties and tariffs, “appearance is everything in this and river ports served by more mechanical payloads into space. Traffic technicians work as
and ensuring compliance with business,” says Jerry ponesmith than 3,700 cargo and passenger It takes a lot of work to acquire consultants to developers or
u.s. and foreign import/export of marriton global limousine terminals.” freight inspectors the academic credentials needed for local governments. wayne
regulations. Knowledge of service in austin. “If you’re not bear responsibility for screening to do this cutting-edge work, but gisler, assistant manager of
foreign languages and cultures is neat, don’t bother applying.” imports. Inspectors must follow the payoffs in compensation and Harris county’s traffic operations
definitely a plus in this career. security procedures, ensure the career satisfaction are great. group, says the job offers the
proper storage of dangerous opportunity to “give back to your
cargo, and check the licenses community.”
and safety equipment required
for particular cargos.
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