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Bureau of Labor Statistics > Occupational Requirements Survey > Publications > Factsheets

Transportation and material moving occupations

This occupational group includes airline pilots, flight attendants, bus drivers, taxi drivers, chauffeurs, locomotive engineers, railroad conducts, ship engineers, parking lot attendants, crane operators, recyclable material collectors, mine shuttle car operators, and ship loaders.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2024, more than basic people skills were required for 15.8 percent of transportation and material moving workers, and basic people skills were required for 84.2 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of transportation and material moving workers with cognitive and mental requirements, 2024
Requirement	Yes	No
Adaptability: Work schedule variability	65.7	34.3
Pace: Pause control	35.7	64.3
Working around crowds	<5	>95
Telework	<0.5	>99.5
Work review: Supervising others	3.9	96.1
Work review: Presence of supervisor	58.2	41.8
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal education required, credentials necessary, on-the-job training, and prior work experience necessary for average performance in jobs.

In 2024, credentials were required for 51.7 percent of transportation and material moving workers. Prior work experience was required for 19.5 percent and on-the-job training was required for 94.9 percent.

No minimum education was required for 65.1 percent of transportation and material moving workers and a high school diploma was required for 34.6 percent.

Environmental conditions

The various tangible or concrete hazards or difficulties that are in the vicinity of where jobs’ critical tasks are performed.

In 2024, 94.6 percent of transportation and material moving workers were not exposed to extreme cold, and 99.3 percent were not exposed to extreme heat. Wetness was not present for 83.9 percent, greater than 99.5 percent were not exposed to heavy vibrations, and 46.0 percent were not exposed to the outdoors.

Physical demands

Refer to the physical activities required to perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in some cases, duration of these activities are published.

In 2024, reaching at or below the shoulder was required for 94.3 percent of transportation and material moving workers and was not required for 5.7 percent. For 9.9 percent of workers, reaching at or below the shoulder was seldom performed, for 60.5 percent reaching at or below the shoulder occurred occasionally, 21.5 percent frequently, and for 2.4 percent reaching at or below the shoulder occurred constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required for 86.5 percent of transportation and material moving workers and was not required for 13.5 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 5.1 percent of transportation and material moving workers. On average, workers spent 33.4 percent of the workday sitting and 66.6 percent of the workday standing.

Table 2. Percentage of transportation and material moving workers with physical demands, 2024
Requirement	Yes	No
Choice of sitting or standing	5.1	94.9
Driving	59.9	40.1
Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs	29.4	70.6
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey