<p style="text-align: center;"><a title="End of the Road - End of the Day" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36509286@N03/11765153526/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img class="aligncenter" title="End of the Road - End of the Day" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5476/11765153526_5788c3afac.jpg" alt="End of the Road - End of the Day" /></a><small> <a title="Randy Heinitz" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36509286@N03/11765153526/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Randy Heinitz</a> via <a title="Compfight" href="http://www.compfight.com/">Compfight</a></small></p>
<p>Transportation is an often overlooked, yet essential industry. Not only has the industry as a whole experienced rapid growth over the past year, according to trend data from <a href="http://www.indeed.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="broken_link">Indeed.com</a>, but many jobs do not require a college degree. A few high-demand jobs in the transportation industry:</p>
<h3>Material Handler</h3>
<p>Material handlers load, unload, and stage products using forklifts and other equipment. According to Indeed.com, the average salary for material handler jobs is currently $22,000. Although the average salary is low, it&#8217;s a good entry-level job for an individual without formal training that wishes to get his or her foot in the door of a specific company or the transportation field.</p>
<h3>Truck Driver-Long Haul</h3>
<p>Long haul truck drivers deliver goods from place to place, usually over long distances. Drivers may be away from home for several days, so it&#8217;s not the lifestyle for everyone. A post-secondary certificate is required for entry into the field, along with on-the-job training. The median annual wage for Heavy and Tractor-trailer truck drivers was $38,200 in 2012, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics&#8217; <a href="http://www.bls.gov/ooh/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="broken_link">Occupational Outlook Handbook</a>.</p>
<h3>Delivery Driver</h3>
<p>Deliver drivers transport merchandise from warehouses and distribution centers to businesses and households. In contrast with long-haul truck drivers, their vehicles are smaller (26,000 pounds or less) and their driving distances shorter. One must be in good physical condition, as the job requires a lot of lifting and carrying. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for delivery drivers was $27, 530 in 2012.</p>
<h3>Dispatcher</h3>
<p>Dispatchers coordinate drivers, assigning drivers and vehicles according to customer demands. They must also be able to communicate with customers regarding the status of deliveries. Dispatchers are a crucial, but often thankless, part of the transportation industry. According to Salary.com, the median annual wage of dispatchers was $37, 487 as of April 2014. However, pay will vary greatly depending on employer and specific responsibilities.</p>
<p>Transportation is not a glamorous or easy industry to work in, yet transportation workers are crucial to the functioning of society and therefore are always needed.</p>