Transportation Inspectors

What the job really is

Inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people. Includes rail transportation inspectors, such as freight inspectors, rail inspectors, and other inspectors of transportation vehicles not elsewhere classified.

At a glance

• Sector: Transportation & Material Moving
• O*NET-SOC code: 53-6051
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Prepare and submit reports after completion of freight shipments.
• Inspect shipments to ensure that freight is securely braced and blocked.
• Record details about freight conditions, handling of freight, and any problems encountered.
• Advise crews in techniques of stowing dangerous and heavy cargo.
• Observe loading of freight to ensure that crews comply with procedures.
• Recommend remedial procedures to correct any violations found during inspections.
• Inspect loaded cargo, cargo lashed to decks or in storage facilities, and cargo handling devices to determine compliance with health and safety regulations and need for maintenance.
• Notify workers of any special treatment required for shipments.
• Direct crews to reload freight or to insert additional bracing or packing as necessary.
• Check temperatures and humidities of shipping and storage areas to ensure that they are at appropriate levels to protect cargo.
• Determine cargo transportation capabilities by reading documents that set forth cargo loading and securing procedures, capacities, and stability factors.
• Read draft markings to determine depths of vessels in water.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Google Android, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Automatic samplers, Bottom samplers, Calibrated measuring tapes, Calipers, Cargo scales, Centrifugal testers

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Freight Forwarders
• Locomotive Engineers
• Agricultural Inspectors
• Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors, Except Aviation
• Aviation Inspectors
• Construction and Building Inspectors
• Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
• Ship Engineers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Transportation Inspectors — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.