Exploring Careers. Transportation occupations. INSTITUTION ... · generous assistance go to Cathy Cockrill, Career Education Curriculum. Specialist, Fairfax County Public Schools,

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Exploring Careers. Transportation occupations.Bureau of Labor Statistics (DOL), Washington, D.C.ELS-Bull-2001-B7943p.: Photographs will not reproduce well. Forrelated documents see CE 02B 017-031.Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government PrintingOffice, Washington, DC 20402.

MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage.Air Transportation: Boat Operators; BusTransportation: *Career Awareness; Career Choice;*Career Exploration; Educational Needs; EducationWork Relationship: Employment Qualifications; JuniorHigh Schools:' Learning Activities; Navigation;*Odcupational Information: *Rail Transportation:Resource Materials; Self Evaluation (Individuals) ;*Transportation; Work Attitudes*Air Traffic Controllers: *Bus Drivers; Drivers;Railroad Conductors; Trucking Industry

"Exploring Careers" is a career education resourceprogram, published in fifteen separate booklets, for junior highschool-age students. It provides information about the world of workand offers its readers a way of learning about themselves andrelating that information to career choices. ',lie publications aim tobuild career awareness by means of occupational narratives,evaluative questions, activities; and career games grouped infourteen occupational clusters. This eighth of the series,"Transportation Occupations," presents an overview of jobs in thetransportation industry, such as flight engineers, merchant mariners,and dispatchers. Narrative accounts focus on an air trafficcontroller, railroad passenger conductor, and a busdriver, explainingwhat they do and how they prepared for their jobs. Exploring sectionsrelate skills needed for these occupations to students' personalcharacteristics, and learning activities such as joining the CivilAir Patrol and reporting on weather conaitions' influence on flyingare suggested. A Job Facts section lists nature and places of work,training and qualifications, and other information for twentytransportation occupations grouped in occupational clusters of airtransportation, railroad, merchant marine, and driving occupations.("Exploring Careers" is also available as a single volume of fifteenchapters.) (KC)

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Exploring TransportationCareers OccupationsIIM11111.1

U.S. Department of LaborRay Marshall, Secretary

Bureau of Labor StatisticsJanet L. Norwood, Commissioner1979

Bulletin 2001-8

U S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.EDUCATION a WELFARENATIONAL INSTITUTE OF

EDUCATION

THIS DOCUMENT HAS ;EEN REPRO-DUCED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED FROMTHE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORIGIN-ATING IT POINTS OF VIEW OR OPINIONSSTATED DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRE-SENT OFFICIAL NATIONAL INSTITUTE OFEDUCATION POSITION OR POLICY

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing OfficeWashington. D.C. 20402

Exploring Careers is available either as a single volumeof 15 chapters or as separate chapters, as follows:

The World of Work and YouIndustrial Production OccupationsOffice OccupationsService OccupationsEducation OccupationsSales OccupationsConstruction OccupationsTransportation OccupationsScientific and Technical OccupationsMechanics and RepairersHealth OccupationsSocial ScientistsSocial Service OccupationsPerforming Arts, Design, and Communications OccupationsAgriculture, Forestry, and Fishery Occupations

J

Photograph Credits

Photography for Exploring Careers was directed by MaxL. Carey of the Bureau of Labor St:.tistics, Division ofOccupational Outlook. Members of the Division's staffwho assisted with obtaining and editing photographswere Anne Kahl, Kathy Wilson, Chester Curtis Levine,and Gloria D. Blue. Contributing photographers wereAl Whitley of Whitley Associates, and Harrison E. Allen,Robert Donaldson, and Fleming P. Rose of the U.S.Department of Labor, Division of Graphic Services. TheBureau gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of themany government and private sources that either con-tributed photographs or made their facilities available tophotographers. Depiction of company or trade names inno way constitutes endorsement by the Department ofLabor. Some photographs may not be free of everypossible safety or health hazard.

Government Sources

Federal. Armed Forces Radiobiology Institute; Board ofGovernors of the Federal Reserve System; Bureau ofPrisons; Department of Agriculture; Department ofHealth, Education, and Welfare; Department of the In-terior; Federal Aviation Administration; GovernmentPrinting Office; National Aeronautics and Space Admin-istration; National Institute of Mental Health; NationalPark Service; Smithsonian Institution; Tennessee ValleyAuthority; and U.S. Postal Service.

State and local. City of San Antonio; City of San Diego;District of ColumbiaDepartment of Human Re-sources, Police Department; Fairfax County (Va.)Pub-lic Schools, PublkLibraries; Maryland National CapitalPark and Planning Commission; Montgomery CountyPublic Schools (Md.); University of Texas Health Sci-ence Center at San Antonio; and Washington Metropol-itan A:ea Transit Authority.

Private Sources

Individuals. Robert Devlin; Robert Miller; The Honora-ble Eligio de la Garza; The Honorable Henry B. Gon-

ii

zalez; The Honorable Daniel K. Inouye:, and DavidWeitzer.

Membership groups. A;r Transportation Association ofAmerica; American Iroi, and Steel Institute; AmericanPetroleum Institute; Associated General Contractors ofAmerica; Association of American Railroads; Chamberof Commerce of the U.S.A.; International Association ofMachinists and Aerospace Workers; Motor VehicleManufacturers Association of the U.S., Inc.; NationalEducation Association; and United Brotherhood of Car-penters and Joiners of America.

Industry and business. Allen-Mitchell and Co.; AmericanTelephone and Telegraph Co.; Arlington Hobby Craf-ters; Babcock and Wilcox Co.; Badger America inc.; TheBig Cheese; Blake Construction Co.; Bob Peck Chevro-let; Carl T. Jones Associates; Chase Manhattan Bank;Chessie System; Cycles Inc.; Del Mercado Shell ServiceCenter; Everhart Jewelers; General Truck Sales; TheHecht Co.; Hyatt Regency of Washington; HeritageExxon Servicenter; International Business MachinesCorp.; Mayflower Hotel; Merrill Lynch Pierce Fennerand Smith, Inc.; Navy Marshall and Gordon; Nike ofGeorgetown; Riggs National Bank; Southeast Auto Sup-ply; State Farm Insance Companies; Texaco Inc.;WGMS Broadcasting Co.; Westinghouse Electric Corp.;and Westvaco Corp.

Publications. Arlington News; Co-ed Magazine; Law En-forcement Communications; The New Prince George'sPost, and The Washington Post.

Other. Alexandria Archaeology Research Center (Va.);Arne, 'can National Red Cross; Catholic Charities of theArchaiocese of Washington; Folger Shakespeare Li-brary; Forsyth County Heart Association (N.C.); GeorgeWashington University Hospital; Model Cities SeniorCenter (D.C.); St. Columba's Epir,copal Church (D.C.);St. Thomas Apostle Catholic Church (D.C.); UnitedWay of America; Visiting Nurse Association of Wash-ington, D.C.; and Washington Hospital Center (D.C.).

Preface

Exploring Careers is a career education resource for youngsters of junior highschool age. It provides the kind of information about the world of work that youngpeople need to prepare for a well-informed career choice. At the same time, it offersreaders a way of learning more about themselves. The publication aims to buildcareer awareness by means of occupational narratives, evaluative questions, activities,and career games presented in 14 occupational clusters. Exploring Careers emphasizeswhat people do on the job and how they feel about it and stresses the importance of"knowing yourself" when considering a career. It is designed for use in middleschool/junior high classrooms, career resource centers, and youth programs run bycommunity, religious, and business organizations.

This is 1 of 15 chapters. A list of all the chapter titles appears inside the frontcover.

Exploring Careers was prepared in the Bureau's Division of Occupational Outlookunder the supervision of Russell B. Flanders and Neal H. Rosenthal. Max L. Careyprovided general direction. Anne Kahl supervised the planning and preparation ofthe publication. Members of the Division's staff who contributed sections were LisaS. Dillich, David B. Herst, H. Philip Howard, Chester Curtis Levine, ThomasNardone, Debra E. Rothstein, and Kathy Wilson. Gloria D. Blue, Brenda Marla'',and Beverly A. Williams assisted.

The Bureau gratefully acknowledges the cooperation of all the workers who agreedto be interviewed and photographed, the teachers and students who field tested asample chapter, and all who shared their ideas with BLS. Many people in thecounseling community offered encouragement and support. Special thanks for hergenerous assistance go to Cathy Cockrill, Career Education Curriculum Specialist,Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, Virginia.

Although they are based on interviews with actual workers, the occupationalnarratives are largely fictitious.

Material in this publication other than photographs is in the public domain andmay be reproduced without the permission of the Federal Government. Please creditthe Bureau of Labor Statistics and cite Exploring Careers, Bulletin 2001.

Contents

Page

Transportation occupationsAir traffic controller 9Railroad passenger conductor 14

Busdriver 20Job facts 25

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ExploringCareers

TransportationOccupations

This flight engineer is checking out her jet before takeoff.

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Exploring Careers

Earnings of airline pilots are among the highest inthe Nation.

Coming from the West

The Midwestern plane began a smooth descent as itneared Lambert Field, the St. Louis international airport.Walter Faraday, the pilot on Flight 682, was carrying afull plane of 300 people from Denver. He was surroundedby an assortment of electronic and mechanical buttonsand gauges, all of which required special attention. Thecockpit was equipped with communications equipmentthat allowed contact with air traffic controllers along theway. Other instruments showed the plane's speed andposition, the amount of fuel, and the condition of theengine. Working alongside him in the cockpit were theco-pilot and the flight engineer, who helped maneuverthe plane for a safe flight.

"I was afraid those strong headwinds we ran into overTopeka would really put us behind schedule," he said toRaul Morales, his co-pilot. "But going up to 25,000 feethelped us pick up the speed we needed. We're only 15minutes behind schedule." As he ;poke, his left handpulled the throttle, slowly decreasing the speed of theplane.

"Yes, looks like we did a fine job," Raul replied. Hewas busy checking other instruments.

"This is Midwestern 682 to St. Louis tower." Waltersaid into the microphone. "Request final approach in-structions."

2

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Well-designed cabs reduce the strain of truckdriving.

Coming from the East

Not quite 200 miles east of the St. Louis airport, onHighway 40, a large grey truck was cruising at a com-fortable speed. Seated behind the wheel, Louise Windsorrubbed her tired eyes and glanced down at her watch."Making pretty good time," she thought. "We should bein St. Louis by dinnertime."

Louise and Frank (her husband and driving partner)had been on the road for 3 full days, with only a fewhours' sleep along the way. Arriving in St. Louis meantthe end of the line, where they would drop off the loadof furniture they were carrying and spend a comfortablenight before heading back home to North Carolina.

Her eyes were fixed on the crowded interstate as mileafter mile passed. Located high in the cab of the 18-wheeler, it was easy for Louise to watch the road andplan her route to minimize delays. After all, the longerit took to deliver each load, the more time and money itcost.

Louise chatted on the CB radio to find out aboutweather and road conditions up ahead and to pass thetime. Occasionally, she looked down at the instrumentpanel in front of her to check her speed. fuel, oil pressure,and the temperature of the engine. "We'd better stop forfuel," she said.

"Let's stop at the next exit." Frank replied. "I coulduse a cup of coffee anyway."

Louise eased onto the exit ramp, downshifting thetruck through many gears. She braked to a stop next tothe diesel fuel pump and said to the attendant. "Fill itup, please."

Transportation Occupations

Coming from the South

Some 300 miles south of St. Louis, a broad-beamedtugboat was pushing a string of barges carrying fuel oilfrom the Gulf Coast.

"Head about 10 degrees northeast," Bud Hennisondirected his second mate, Rick Proctor. "The radarequipment picks up a barge 8 miles to the north," headded.

The two merchant marine officers stood at the controlsof the tugboat Olympia. They had been on the river fordays and were now on the last leg of their voyage up theMississippi River to St. Louis. As chief mate and headofficer of the deck crew, Bud's job was to navigate theship. This meant plotting and maintaining the vessel'scourse. At the moment, they were in a heavy fog thatmade it impossible to see other river traffic.

"Give a short blast on he whistle," Bud ordered.

As the Olympia's whistle sounded through the fog,Bud took the clipboard from its place next to the radarand sonar equipment and began writing. Being respon-sible for the safe, smooth operation of the ship involvedrecording or "logging in" all the events of the voyage.Just then there was a distant whistle from the starboardside.

"Looks like they received our signal," said Bud. "Keepan eye out for them. I'm going down to the deck."

You have just spent a few moments with an airplanepilot, a long-distance truckdriver, and the chief mate ona cargo carrier. Let's see if these people have anything incommon other than being bound for St. Louis.

All of them work in the transportation industry. Trans-portation is the business of moving people and goodsfrom one place to another. It includes travel by air, rail,water, on roads and highways, even underground. Some-day it may include travel in space.

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This man is training to become a riverboat pilot.

3

Exploring Careers

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The Nation's 200,000 miles of railroad track are an important means of movingpeople, food and industrial goods.

We all depend on the transportation industry. Forexample, you may take a bus to get to school eachmorning. Your parents may travel to work by car, bus,train, or subway. Even if you walk or ride your bicyclemost of the places you need to go, the transportationindustry serves you in other ways.

It is the means through which energy, raw materials.and finished products are channeled where they areneeded. Railroads and trucks carry the food, lumber,automobiles, furniture, clothing, and thousands of othergoods that fill our stores. Ships and airplanes carry goodsbetween cities in America and throughout the world.The food we eat may come from farms hundreds or eventhousands of miles away. All this is possible becauserailroad trains, trucks. and planes are constantly on themove. The transportation industry links Americans witheach other and with the rest of the world.

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The people we usually think of as "transportationworkers" are those who operate the vehiclespilots andbusdrivers, for example. However, people with manydifferent skills are needed to keep America on the move.Mechanics and technicians keep the vehicles and equip-ment in top working condition. Railroad yard clerks andtaxicab dispatchers are transportation workers who per-form clerical and administrative tasks. Still other trans-portation workers deal with the public. They may seeknew customers,- make reservations, help children orhandicapped travelers, or take care of complaints.

We can begin to explore transportation careers bylooking at each of four groups of transportation occu-pations: Air transportation, merchant marine, railroad,and driving.


Air transportation occupations. The pilot and flightattendant may be the first people who come to mindwhen you think about flying, but many other workersare needed to ensure a safe flight. Helping the captain,or pilot, guide the plane is the co-pilot. The co-pilot isthe second in command on any flight. Also aboard is the

flight engineer, who monitors the engine, fuel, and allother systems. Just as important are those who provideairplane services on the ground. These include the airtraffic controllers who monitor the path of the airplanefrom start to finish. Generally, the pilot does not makeany move without first "okaying" it with the controllers.Aircraft mechanics keep airplanes running safely andwell. Besides repair work they do maintenance regularly.Many different people are employed to book customersand coordinate flights. Reservation, ticket, and passengeragents give customers flight information, sell tickets,assign seats, and check baggage. The personal contactwith the public in this job is very important. It can makeall the difference between a satisfied customer and adissatisfied one. Ramp agents help guide airplanes intothe gates using hand signals to pilots. They also load andunload baggage, freight, or mail. Other jobs in aviationinclude flight instructors who teach people to fly and cropdusters who fly over fields and spray them to aid growthof crops.

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Flight attendants have to serve people graciously,but quickly.

Commercial aviation offers jobs on the ground and in the air.

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Exploring Careers

Merchant marine occupations. The maritime industryoffers travel and adventure and many different kinds ofwork. Work aboard ship is divided among the deck,engine, and steward's departments; sailors in each ofthese departments do different things. The captain ormaster commands the ship and has complete authorityover everyone and everything aboard.

The deck department is responsible for regulating thecourse, position, and speed of the ship: maintaining andrepairing the hull and deck equipment; and loading,unloading, and storing cargo. New sailors in the deckdepartment start out as ordinary seamen. They do generalmaintenance, such as scrubbing the decks and painting.Able seamen, those who steer the ship and do skilledrepair work on deck, are the next rank. The boatswain,or bosun, is the top ranking able seaman. The deckofficers, or "mates." include the chief mate, who is thecaptain's top assistant in assigning duties to the deckcrew, and the second and third mates.

The engine department crew works below deck andruns all the engines and machinery. It includes workersat all skill levels. Wipers are beginning level sailors whokeep machinery clean. Other sailors include oilers, wholubricate and maintain equipment, and fire- watertenders,who check gauges on the ship's boilers. Other enginecrew members include the electrician and the refrigera-tion engineer. The chief engineer is in charge of the enginedepartment, and has the help of the first, second, andthird assistant engineers.

The steward's department feeds the crew and main-tains the living and recreation areas. Sailors in thisdepartment begin as utility hands, doing kitchen worksuch as scouring pots and preparing vegetables, and messattendants. serving meals and taking care of the ship'sliving quarters. The chief cook plans and prepares themeals. The top sailor in this department is the chiefsteward, who is responsible for the meals and upkeep ofliving quarters. This is the only department head who isnot an officer.

Railroad occupations. The Nation's 200.000 miles ofrailroad track are an important means of moving people,food, and goods among our cities and towns. Over halfa million people are employed to operate trains and keepthem in top working condition. Conductors are in chargeof running the train. Their primary concerns are safetyand running on timeOn passenger trains, conductorscollect tickets and fares as well. Conductors are alwaysin communication with locomotive engineers, who workall the controls--such as acceleration and brakes--onthe train. Brake operators work on trains and in railroadyards. making sure that trains are coupled for linked)and uncoupled properly. They also inspect airhoses andhandbrakes on all cars and assist the conductor when

6

Experience in the Coast Guard or Navy may help geta merchant marine job.

necessary. Other members of the train crew are hostlers,who help prepare the locomotives for their run, andswitchtenders, who throw track switches in railroad yards.But many others are responsible for seeing that trainsrun efficiently. Shopworkers a.e the skilled employeeswho build, maintain, and repair railroad cars and otherequipment. Some of these workers are machinists. elec-trical workers, cc r repairers, sheet-etal workers, boiler-makers, and blacksmiths. To direct train movement andassure train safety, railroad signal workers install, main-tain, and repair the communications and signaling sys-tems. Track workers inspect and regularly maintain rail-road tracks. They also put down new track when it isneeded. Dispatchers work in stations along the railroadlines, sending messages to train crews by way of teleg-raphers. telephoners. and tower operators. These messagescontain such things as tracl conditions and routinginstructions. Station agents are the railroads' contact withthe public. They offer information and try to get newbusiness for the company.


Applicants for truckdriving jobs must have gooddriving records.

Driving occupations. Truck, bus, and taxi driversmove passengers and goods over the Nation's highwaysand through the streets every day. More people than youmight think are local truckdrivers. These are the peoplewho drive moving trucks, newspaper trucks, mail trucks,freight delivery trucks, and other kinds of trucks in andaround the city. Those who carry goods thousands ofmiles across the country in large trucks such as "I 8-wheelers" are known as long-distance truckdrivers. Thereare other kinds of drivers, too. Taxiccb drivers operatewithout fixed routes or schedules and offer individual-ized service to passengers. Local transit :.usdrivers drivecity and suburban routes to transport millions of Amer-icans daily. They also collect fares and answer questions.Intercity busdrivers follow a route between communities,which may be on city roads or on highways or both. Insmall towns, these buses may be the only public trans-portation to other towns. Then there are support workerssuch as traffic agents, who try to get new business forcompanies, and dispatchers, who supply the drivers withscheduling and route information.

Personal Characteristics

Although it takes people with many different skills tokeep our planes, ships, railroads, trucks, and buses onthe move, transportation workers have certain traits incommon.

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Because of the millions of travelers who depend onthem, transportation workers must be conscientious intheir work and pay close attention to detail. The shop-workers who build and repair railroad cars, for example,must do their work carefully so that cars don't breakdown while they're in use. Air traffic controllers have topay strict attention to guide planes safely on their propercourse. Long-distance truckdrivers must stay wide awakeand concentrate on driving for hours at a time. Sailors,drivers, pilots, and railroad engineers all need to be alertwhile they're on the job.

For many transportation workers, the ability to keepcalm and work under pressure is important. Meetingschedulesdelivering goods or people on timeis veryimportant in the transportation industry. Yet storms,accidents, traffic tie-ups, and other unexpected situationscrop up from time to time. Transportation workers haveto be able to think quickly and act decisively in order toget things back on schedule as soon as possible.

An easygoing personality is an asset for transportationworkers who are in direct contact with the public. Localtransit bus and taxicab drivers, for example, must havethe patience to deal effectively with passengersthe rudeones as well as the pleasant onesand the steady nervesto drive in all traffic situations. Workers who sell tickets,

Taxicab drivers have to work in all kinds of weather.

7

Exploring Careers

answer questions, listen complaints, or try to get newbusiness need to be good at dealing with all kinds ofpeople.

Some transportation workers need the ability to workas part of a team. In the merchant marine, for example,cooperation and interaction among the deck, engine, andsteward's departments are essential for the "smooth sail-ing" of the ship. Not only do members of the ship's crewwork as a team, but they eat, sleep, and socialize togethertoo.

Others in transportation need to be able to work inde-pendently. Long-distance truckdrivers may Ff-sr.nd daysalone on the road. They must organize their time and seta steady speed in order to deliver goods on sched4le.

The things that transportation worker are notnecessarily strenuous, but they require good health andphysical stamina.. Baggage attendants, for example, carryand load passengers' luggage on trains, buses, and air-planes. Parking attendants and flight attendants are ontheir feet and serving customers most of the time. Somejobs may not require much physical activity but demandexcellent health just the same. Air traffic controllers,local and long-distance bus and truck drivers, and loco-motive engineers are some examples. These jobs allrequire workers who are levelheaded and have steadynerves. In many cases workers must pass strict physicalexams to enter these occupations.

A job in this field is likely to mean working nights orweekends or on rotating shifts, because transportation isnot just a 9-to-5 operation. Many trucks, buses, planes,ships, and trains run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Training

Through your hobbies or school activities you mayalready have begun acquiring skills that will lead to acareer in transportation. Do you enjoy building andfixing things in your spare time? Mechanical aptitudeand analytical ability are important in such occupationsas airplane mechanic. able seaman, and locomotive en-gineer. Perhaps you are a ham radio operator. Thishobby can provide a solid foundation for the trainingyou'd need to become an air traffic controller or arailroad tower operator. You may have had the oppor-tunity to sell tickets, collect money, schedule events, orgive information to others. Can you think of transpor-tation occupations that require these skills?

Formal training for transportation occupations variesa great deal. Detailed information on training require-ments can be found in the Job Facts at the end of thischapter.

In some transportation occupations, the necessaryskills are learned right on the job. In railroading and the

In railroading, workers typically learn their skills onthe job.

merchant marine, for example, beginners start out ashelpers and work their way up, a process that typicallytakes many years.

Some transportation workers get their training in tradeschools or technical institutes. Many airplane mechanics,for example, attend trade schools that provide practicaljob experience as well as classroom instruction. Long-distance truckdrivers also may train in this way.

If you're interested in a career in aviation, plan onattending college. A college degreeor at least severalyears of college trainingis preferred for most aviationoccupations, including pilot, air traffic controller, flightattendant, and reservation, ticket, or passenger agent.

In some transportation occupations, workers musthave a license that demonstrates their expertise in thefield. This is the case for airplane pilots, who must havea flying license certified by the Federal Aviation Admin-istration, and for truckdrivers, busdrivers, and taxicabdrivers, all of whom must have a State chauffeur's li-cense.

Regardless of which transportation occupation you'reinterested in, you'll find a high school diploma an asset.Even in jobs that don't require it, advancement to moreresponsible positions often goes to those who have adiploma. High school courses in math and English arehelpful for any of the transportation occupations. Othercourses, such as machine shop, driver education, andpublic speaking, may be helpful for certain occupations.


Air Traffic Controller

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As a ground controller, Mia Ftensen is responsible for directing runway traffic.

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Exploring Careers

"Washington Tower, this is Global Airlines Flight702. Request permission for takeoff."

Mia Hensen carefully checked the radar screen infront of her. It was filled with lines that representedairspaces, and moving blips, or symbols, that indicatedplanes. To the untrained eye, this large glowing screenwould seem impossible to interpret. But to Mia, a veteranair traffic controller, checking traffic patterns and posi-tions of airplanes from the radar screen was a routinepart of every takeoff and landing.

After closely reviewing the radar screen, Mia turnedher head slightly to the right where the flight strips wereposted. These long strips of paper contained informationabout each flight that was due for takeoff, such as itsdestination and scheduled time of takeoff. They helpedMia get the waiting planes off the ground in the safest,most efficient manner.

"Cleared for takeoff, Global 702 ... Wind is from thesoutheast at 14 miles per hour," Mia radioed the pilot.At the same time, her fingers were punching out thisinformation on the keyboard in front of her. It wouldthen be relayed to the computer that kept track of allinbound and outbound flights.

Although she made it seem effortless, working hershift as ground controllerdirecting traffic down therunway and out of Washington National Airportwasa demanding job. Besides checking the pattern from theradar screen and the flight strips, there were dozens ofother details running through Mia's mind. Every con-troller had to know the geography of the area as well as

the weather conditions and visibility. Other facts, suchas the size, weight, speed, and route of each airplane hadto be considered in order to direct the outbound trafficsafely and smoothly.

From the glass-enclosed airport tower, Mia watchedFlight 702 gain speed down the runway. As the planegracefully lifted into the air, she phoned downstairs toinform the department controllers. These air traffic con-trollers were responsible for watching aircraft and guid-ing them by radar for as much as 30 miles from Wash-ington National Airport.

Mia was interrupted by the voice over the radio. "Thisis Pacifica Flight 445 ready for takeoff."

"Proceed down the ramp to runway 9, Pacifica 445,"Mia radioed to the pilot a few seconds later. She thenannounced the wind and weather conditions.

The silence on the radio lasted no longer than 20seconds. "This is Southern Airlines Flight 32 scheduledto leave for Miami at 4:57 p.m. We've had some problemsin refueling and won't be finished for at least half anhour. I'm requesting a delay of 30 to 40 minutes."

"Roger, Southern 32 ... this is ground control. I'llreschedule your departure for approximately 5:40 p.m.Keep me posted if there are any further delays." As Miaspoke, her fingers raced over the keyboard in order tocommunicate this information to the computer.

Mia had just finished answering some questions aboutthe expected weather conditions for this evening when asoft tap on the shoulder startled her. It was MannyMcGinnis, who was waiting to relieve her.

"I like knowing that people trust me to make the right decisions."

10


"I didn't mean to scare you, Mia," Manny apologized,"but I couldn't get your attention. It's time to stand upand stretch for a few minutes."

The level of Mia's concentration was intense at thistime of day, when traffic was at a peak.

"I didn't even hear you come in, Manny," Mia re-sponded. She had been at her post as ground controllerfor about 2 hours now, but the time had passed veryquickly.

Mia stood up and Manny slipped into her chair. Shebriefed Manny on the traffic situation, and then headeddownstairs to relax.

Mia entered the tmployees' lounge, picked up adoughnut and a cup of coffee from a tray in the farcorner of the room, and joined some others at one of thetables. She made an effort to relax her neck and shouldermuscles.

"Hi, Mia, how's it going?" Norman Walton greetedher. Norman was also an air traffic controller, and hertennis partner as well.

"Have you met George Foster? He's just completedtraining at the Federal Aviation Administration Acad-emy in Oklahoma."

"Pleasure to meet you, George," Mia said as theyshook hands. "Welcome aboard."

"Thanks a lot," replied George.Norman smiled and said, "I was just trying to reassure

George. I was telling him that directing air traffic at ametropolitan airport is not as scary as it seems at first."

"I must admit I am a bit nervous," acknowledgedGeorge. "I've had some experience in the military as apilot and navigator, and then the training in Oklahoma.But to think that over 500 planes fly in and out ofWashington National daily ... !"

"Don't let it bother you, George," Mia responded."It's not as though you have to direct all those planesyourself! Besides, your military training is excellentbackground. And the on-the-job training you'll get hereat Washington National is outstanding. Especially those"practice problems" that are programmed into the com-puter."

Norman added, "All you need to build up your con-fidence is a little time and experience. We all felt the wayyou do when we started out."

"I'm sure you're right," George replied. He glanceddown at his watch. "I hate to run, but I'm due in thetower in 5 minutes. Thanks for the pep talk."

As he walked away, Mia recalled her first days on thejob. She had not had military training, and some peoplehad questioned her ability to handle the job without it.Mia had been sure that she could. That had been 7 yearsago in Miami. Since then. she had worked in threedifferent airports.

Mia and Norman chatted for a few minutes more.

Some people questioned my ability at first, but I was confident that I could do theob.

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Exploring Careers

These short breaks helped to relieve the tension andrefresh the controllers for their next 2-hour shifts.

Mia finished the last of her coffee and then headeddown the hall. She walked through a set of double doorsand entered the approach control room from which'incoming aircraft were being directed. A number ofvoices could be heard throughout the large room.

After a short briefing on the current traffic situation,Mia took her place behind a large radarscope keepingtrack of planes approaching from the East. Working asan approach controller now, Mia's duties included as-signing planes to the proper courses and sending mes-sages to the ground controllers (who directed planesfrom the runway to the gates) upon their arrival.

"This is Atlantic Airlines Flight 572 to WashingtonNational," a voice said over the radio. "Request finalapproach instructions."

Mia turned to the circular radar screen and found thesymbol that represented Atlantic Airlines 572 fromamong the flashes of light.

"Washington National approach to Atlantic 572," Miasaid into the microphone. "Your position is 30 milesnorthwest of the airport. Expect approach to runway 9.Wind is from the east at 10 miles per hour."

"Roger, approach control," acknowledged the pilot.Mia then gave the pilot direction and altitude instruc-

tions to bring the airplane close to the airport. When theflight was about 6 miles away, Mia said, "Atlantic 572... cleared for approach. Call Washington tower now."

Assured that the plane was safely on the approach, shetook a deep breath and then relayed the information tothe computer and phoned ahead to ground control.Having finished that, Mia could now answer a call froma Central plane that was waiting. "Go ahead, Central324."

"This is Central 324," the pilot responded. "I'm in aholding pattern at 8,000 feet. I've been informed thatrunway 6 has been closed temporarily and would likefurther instructions for landing."

Mia followed the regular procedures and directed thepilot down runway 9.

She leaned back in her chair for a moment to relievethe tension from her lower back. However, what ap-peared to be an unmarked symbol flashed on the radarscreen. This brought Mia back to the edge of her seat totake a closer look. She watched the symbol fade to theright and disappear off the edge of the screen. Immedi-ately Mia phoned Teressa Williams, the approach con-troller directing incoming traffic from the south. Teressahad just picked up the flash on her screen.

"I'll try to establish contact with the aircraft and thenget back to you," she told Mia.

A few minutes later. Teressa phoned and explained

12

that the "mysterious flash" they had both seen was asmall private plane that hadn't bothered to radio in.

"I directed it in safely, though. I also made it clear tothe pilot that he should have called and told us where hewas!"

"I just don't understand why some pilots don't usetheir common sense," observed Mia.

The pace of the traffic slowed as the evening rushended. Mia continued giving directions and answeringquestions, always alert for the urexpected. Before sheknew it, Bert Johnson came by to relieve her.

"Is it that time already?" Mia asked. She looked downat her watch, which read 7:30. Just then her stomach letout a growl. Mia smiled at Bert and said, "Well it lookslike my stomach knows what time it is! I guess I'll getsome dinner now."

Exploring

Air traffic controllers must have confidence in theirjudgment as well as the ability to make decisions quickly.

Can you make decisions on your own? Arc youwilling to take the responsibility for your decisions?Do you trust your own judgment?Do friends often confide in you?

Air traffic controllers must be able to see objects on atwo-dimensional screen and visualize them in the air.

Can you read and understand graphs, diagrams, andcharts?Can you look at a drawing and picture the three-dimensional object in your mind?Do you ever put together models?Are you good at solving geometry problems?

Air traffic controllers are subject to stress and tensionwhen they're on the job. They must be able to keep calmand be able to concentrate under pressure.

Are you able to organize your thoughts during testseven though you may be nervous beforehand?Do you usually perform well at crucial momentsfor example, the big play in a ball game?Are you good at giving reports in front of the class?

Air traffic controllers must have a good memory fordetail. They must remember wind and weather condi-tions, geography, and the size and speed of planes whengiving directions.

Do you remember people's names easily?


Can you relate an exact conversation the next day?Can you remember what you ate for lunch yesterday?

Air traffic controllers often have to work early IL. themorning or late at night. To keep up with these demands,they must be in good physical condition and have stamina.

Do you enjoy jogging, bicycling, hiking, backpack-ing, climbing, basketball, and other active sports?Do you enjoy dancing? Gardening?Do you like being active most of the time?

Suggested Activities

Join the Civil Air Patrol. This organization, supportedby the Air Force, exists in every State. Membership isopen to those who are at least 13 years old. The CivilAir Patrol offers its members the opportunity to flyand to learn about the aerospace industry. Some ofthe subjects studied are navigation, aerodynamics, andelectronics. For more information, call the "Civil AirPatrol" listed in your phone book.

Join a Transportation or Aerospace Explorer Post ifthere is one in your area. Exploring is open to youngmen and women aged 14 through 20. To find outabout Explorer posts in your area, call "Boy Scouts ofAmerica" listed in you hone book, and ask for the"Exploring Division."

If you are a Boy Scout, try for merit badges in Aviation,Communications, and Weather.

If you are a Girl Scout, see if your local troop has theFrom Dreams to Reality program of career explora-tion. Troops also offer opportunities to try out careersthrough internships and service aide and communityaction projects, and proficiency badges in a number ofareas including Aviation and Weather.

Ask your teacher to talk to the manager of your localairport and arrange for a class tour of the airport.

Prepare a report for a scien7...e class on the differencesbetween an airport traffic controller (who guidesplanes in and out of the airport) and an en routecontroller (who keeps track of planes between air-ports).

What sort of followup occurs after a plane crashes? Usethis topic for a report in a science or social studiesclass. You might begin your research in the library.You also can write for information to governmentagencies such as the Civil Aeronautics Board and theFederal Aviation Administration. Officials of yourlocal airport may be willing to talk to you or comeand talk to your class about how they investigate planecrashes.

Try to ncrease your ability to observe and rememberdetails. Some things you can do include recallingpeople's names and phone numbers and playing cards.

Prepare a report for your science class on the kinds ofweather conditions that permit or cancel a flight. Bringin and explain a flight weather chart.

Spend time on hobbies in which you learn about avia-tion. Some activities include building model airplanes,reading about aviation, and taking flying lessons.Learn the characteristics of different planes.

Prepare a report on the history of air travel for a socialstudies class.

Become familiar with electronic communications equip-ment. Become a ham radio operator. Learn how radarworks.

Related Occupations

The air trafficon

is one of a team of workersin the sky and on the ground who follow each planefrom takeoff to landing. They ensure a safe, smoothflight. Below are 13 of these occupations. See how manyof them you can unscramble.

1. PLAENARI CHINMAEC

2. PLAENARI NTAIEMNNCEA REWC

3. GGABGEA NAERLDH

4. POICTLO

5. DIPATSCHRE

6. CEETCILSRON TCHCINIANE

7. NE TOURE TFFAICR CLLERONRTO

8. GHLIFT TTEANADNT

9. GHLIFT GIEENREN

10. SSEGNERPA GEANT

11. TOIPL

12. SERVEARITON NGAET

13. CKTEIT NGAET

See answers at end of chapter.

13

Exploring Careers

Railroad Passenger Conductor

1

:jr-"Ir

4

Together, Charlie and Max have more than 60 years of railroad experience.

,

'

14


It was a crisp spring morning, not yet dawn. CharlieCampbell, in his freshly pressed white shirt and dark tie,was on Track B giving the final inspection to train 171,scheduled to leave for Washington in 10 minutes. Asconductor of the Baltimore-Washington commuter run,Charlie was responsible for the train. He liked to checkthe railroad cars to make sure they were in top runningcondition before the train left the station. To do this,Charlie reported for work promptly at 5:30 a.m. everymorning, a full 30 minutes before the train made its firstrun.

Charlie had a routine he followed daily to prepare thetrain and its crew for departure. After signing in, Charliereported to the dispatcher to pick up his copy of thetrain's orders. Then he headed out to the tracks to checkthe condition of the train and greet his crew.

"Morning, Jim ... morning, Max. How's everythinglook?"

Charlie confers with Jim Beall, the locomotiveengineer.

"Should be about set," replied Max Spiegel, the brakeoperator. "She's all fueled and the cars are coupled.Right now I'm going to check the tail markers."

"Good work, Max."Charlie then turned to Jim Beall, the locomotive en-

gineer, who was up in the cab eyeing the brakes andother controls. "Have you had a chance to look over theorders?"

"Yes, Charlie," Jim responded. "Doesn't look like weshould have any delays. Track and weather conditionsboth are excellent."

"Good," said Charlie. "We should be ready to roll inabout 15 minutes." Charlie and Jim synchronized theirwatches at exactly 5:48 a.m.

Passengers were boarding the train now. Charlieclimbed aboard so that he could doublecheck the lightsand other equipment. Everything looked fine.

"All aboard!" called Charlie as the last few passengershurried down the platform.

With everyone safely seated, Charlie pulled the lastdoor shut. Then he gave the engineer the go-ahead.

"Move her out," Charlie said to Jim over a two-wayhand radio. They would communicate by radio fre-quently during the run.

"Have your tickets ready, please," Charlie announcedas he began down the aisle of the first car to collecttickets and fares. Most of the faces were familiar ones, asmany of the passengers were daily commuters who hadbeen riding the 171 as long as Charlie had been itsconductor.

"Excuse me," said a middle-aged man as Charlie madehis way down the aisle. "Will the train be on its normalschedule next week on Memorial Day? Or do you havea holiday schedule? t.'m ilew in town and don't know thetrain schedules around here."

"Well, sir, we do have a holiday schedule and that'swhat we'll be using on Memorial Day," replied Charlie."By the way, you can pick up the schedule for all ourBaltimore-Washington commuter runs at the station.Just ask any of the ticket agents."

"Thanks a lot, I'll do that.""Not at all," Charlie said with a slight smile. He got

a feeling of satisfaction from helping passengers.The train rode along smoothly, making stops at Elk-

ridge, Columbia, and St. Dennis. At each stop, Charliecollected tickets and fares, working his way from the firstcar back to the third.

"Sir ... ," Charlie heard a woman calling loudly fromthe rear of the car. He moved quickly down the aisle.

"Can I help you, ma'am?""You certainly can! Would you tell this gentleman to

put out that smelly cigar? I've tried to ask politely. butas you can see he has ignored me."

15

Exploring Careers

"I'm afraid you're going to have to put your cigar out,sir. If you want to smoke, the next car is the smokingsection on this train," Charlie said politely but firmly.

With a sour look on his face, the man said, "Okay,okay, I'll put it out. But if you ask me, her manners areworse than my cigar is!"

Charlie felt that it would be best to separate the twopassengers before one or both of them completely losttheir temper. "There are a few empty seats up front, sir.You'd probably be more comfortable if you moved toone of those. Then, if you want, you can move to thesmoking car at the next stop."

"That suits me just fine," he replied as he picked uphis briefcase and headed up the aisle.

"Now that that's cleared up, I hope you can relax andenjoy the rest of the trip, ma'am," Charlie said as hebreathed a slight sigh of relief. He then walked up to theman and thanked him for being cooperative.

He had never taken a course in psychology or super-vision, but Charlie knew he was good at working withpeople. He had the tact and judgment to deal with peoplesuccessfullythe train crew as well as the passengers.

The train chugged on ... Odenton, New Carollton,and Cheverly. Almost every seat was taken now.

The next stop, the last one, was College Park. It wasusually one of the more crowded stops along the route to

Washington. As the train came to a halt, Charlie openedthe door of the first car and lowered the steps. He steppedonto the platform and announced, "Have your ticketsready, please," so he could board the passengers andcheck their tickets in the most efficient way. Most of thepassengers were regular riders. They greeted Charlie,showed him their weekly or monthly passes, and steppedonto the train.

At exactly 6:48 a.m., the 171 pulled into Washington'sUnion Station. Charlie and Max helped the passengersdown the steps and onto the platform.

The train empty now, they both climbed back ontothe first car and each sank into a seat. "I'd say we hadabout 200 paying customers on that run," Charlie of-fered.

Max calculated out loud and nodded his head. "Let'ssee ... all the seats filled, that is 65 times 3 cars or 195.. and about half a dozen standing. Yes, that seems

about right to me."Next, Charlie counted the number of tickets sold and

then added up the money collected. He made notationsin his notebook which would help in writing his reporttonight after the last run.

With a few minutes left before the return journey toBaltimore, Charlie and Max relaxed and began to chat.

"You know, I thought working the commuter line was

a.

4

Charlie knows many of the commuters by name.

16


going to be a breeze after 27 years on freight trains,"Max said. "It isn't as physically demanding as work ona freight train, I'll say that. But the business of collectingfares, answering questions, and keeping the passengershappy certainly keeps me on the go."

Charlie nodded in agreement. "And keeping the pas-sengers happy is no easy job!" he said. "Two of mypassengers got into an argument this morning becauseone was smoking and it bothered the other one."

After a comfortable silence, Charlie began to remi-nisce. "You know, I started working for the railroads 36years ago. I began right after high school as a substitutebrake operator in a switching yard. It was tough work,blistering hot summers and winters so cold they'd numbyour fingers and toes. After a year and a half, I becamea regular, and 4 years after that I got promoted to apassenger brake operator. Like you, I expected the workon a passenger line to be easier."

"Tell me more," Max said."Well, after 22 years as a brake operator, 10 years as

a freight train conductor, and over 4 years as a passengerconductor, I guess I've learned that things don't get easy.After all those years, I still get to work at 5:30 eachmorning, make three morning and three evening runs,have a daily layover in Washington, and don't get homeuntil 8:00 each night!

"I must admit, though, that I wouldn't trade this jobfor anything else in the world. There are so many re-wards. I like working with people as well as machinery.I enjoy the responsibility and freedom I get on the job.There's no close supervision. And there's the 5- or 6-hour layover each day in Washington,' when I can catchup on my sleep, read a good book, take in a movie, oranything else I want to do." Charlie paused for a mo-ment. "Yes," he said, "Working on the railroad is morethan just a job to me, it's a way of life!"

Glancing down at his watch, Charlie noticed it wasnearly 8 o'clock. "I could probably go on talking forhours, but we'd better prepare for the next run."

Exploring

Conductors are in charge of running the train. They areresponsible for the care and comfort of the passengers,for directing the other members of the train crew, andfor making sure the train runs safely and on time.

Have you ever been responsible for the care of oth-ersbabysitting, for example?Have you ever organized a school club or been anofficer of the student government?

"Working on the railroad is more than just a job to me, its a way of life," saysCharlie.

17

Exploring Careers

Have you ever taken care of pets or plants for yourneighbors while they were out of town?

Conductors must be tactful and courteous when dealingwith passengers. This can include anything from givingout information to dealing with a passenger who doesn'thave enough money for the fare. The conductor is th?railroad's representative to the public.

Have you ever been the spokesperson for your classor school club?Are you good at settling arguments among yourfriends?Can you remain calm and courteous, even whenpeople irritate you or something troubles you?

Conductors must have an eye for detail. They must makesure all cars are clean and have been properly coupled.At the end of each run they must report such things asthe number of passengers, track conditions, and depar-ture and arrival times.

Do you enjoy working with numbers?Do you like to play games where you must findhidden objects or words?Do you like to put together puzzles?Can you read maps easily? Can you find a place ona map quickly?

Conductors must be flexible about their work schedules.The job may call for time away from home.

Have you ever spent a few weeks away from yourfamilyat camp or visiting relatives, for example?Do you like to stay overnight with friends?Can you find plenty of things to do with free time?

Conductors must understand how the train operates.This takes mechanical ability.

Do you have any hobbies in which you build orrepair things? Have you ever done woodworking,sculpting, carpentry, or put together models?Have you ever tried to fix your bicycle or replace afuse or a light switch?


Take a train ride if there is a railroad line in your town.If the train is not very crowded, talk to the conductorabout the work.

Find out the difference between a passenger train con-ductor and a freight train conductor.

18

To get experience in handling money and selling tickets,volunteer to sell tickets at a school play or dance.

Role-play a passenger conductor on a commuter run.Include some common situations, such as a passengerwho needs scheduling information and a passengerwho doesn't have enough money for the fare.

Join a Transportation Explorer Post if there is one inyour area. Exploring is open to young men and womenaged 14 through 20. To find out about Explorer postsin your area, call "Boy Scouts of America" listed inyour phone book, and ask for the "Exploring Divi-sion."

Write for information on careers in railroading to theAssociation of American Railroads, American Rail-roads Building, 1920 L Street, N.W., Washington,D.C. 20036.


Related Occupations

Besides the conductor, many others work to ensurethat the train runs safely and smoothly. Hidden in thepuzzle below are 15 of these occupations. See how manyyou can find. The words may be forwards or backwards,either horizontal or vertical.

BLACKSMITHS

BOILERMAKERS

BRAKE OPERATOR

CAR REPAIRERS

DISPATCHER

ELECTRICAL WORKERS

ENGINEER

MACHINISTS

SHEET METAL WORKERS

SIGNAL INSTALLERS

SIGNAL MAINTAINERS

STATION AGENTS

TELEGRAPHERS

TOWER WORKERS

TRACK WORKERS

EA.. E C T R I CALWORK E R S T E LW E GDB_RSREKAM R EL I OBAL.,T I 00B.E I OHTI BRAKE ER ORR DLBWTSENSRVES T SI N I H C A M K I AR E E N I G N E H O L L VWL,SACKE E SCT E L E G R A P H E R S G A S M I S H I BP KTAT I ONAGENTSBASM I T Y LASZ G S R E N I A T N I A M L A N G I SATMANWTOWERW O R K ER SOTGNW C C IRC)GST A I ENBM A CHPNSV_LJOO_HT

O R K E R Y M R EB E T I L A T R A C K WE R X K R O W S I G N A L I N S T A L L E R SZSHEETMETALWORKERSEUOVP XSee answers at end of chapter.

23 19

Exploring Careers

Bus Driver

Afiglra*:

L'

In 4 years of driving a bus, Betsy Han ratty has learned how important it is to becalm in dealing with custJmers.

20


A pleasant smile appeared on Betsy Hanratty's face asshe greeted Dan Martin. Dan was a regular customer onthe X-2 bus that ran from Hillside into the city everymorning.

"Looks like it's going to clear up this morning ...should be a beautiful weekend," Dan remarked as hedropped two quarters into the coin machine. He took afew steps down the aisle and chose the first empty seat.

3ehind Dan, another half dozen passengers followed,most of them also on their way to work. One by one,they deposited their coins and moved back.

Once all the riders were safely on the bus, Betsygrabbed the handle that was connected to the door andpulled it towards her to close the door. Out of habit, sheglanced up at the rearview mirror that gave her a fullview of the interior of the bus. Next, Betsy checked thesideview mirrors on both sides of the bus and turned herhead to take a quick look at the traffic. This allowed acomplete view that Betsy felt was necessary before shepulled away from the curb and joined the flow of traffic.

Light chatter could be heard throughout the bus,

which was about one. -third full now. Many of the pas-sengers, however, settled back and read the morningnewspaper or a book.

Betsy continued on her way, stopping every block ortwo to pick up passengers. The morning rush hour trafficwas heavy, as usual, but moved at a steady pace. Theearly morning fog had lifted, and the sun was beginningto break through the clouds. Betsy reached to the panelon her right and picked up her sunglasses, which hadbeen resting between the buttons marked "Defroster"and "Hi-Beam Lights".

A young woman with two children stepped onto thebus. "Does this bus go to Greenwich?" she asked in ashy voice.

"No, ma'am," Betsy responded. "The X-2 only goesas far as Cedar Crossroads. You can take this bus if youwant, but you'll have to transfer at Cedar Crossroads toget to Greenwich. Or, if you want to wait, the X-18 willbe by in about 20 minutes. That one goes all the way toGreenwich."

"Are you sure this doesn't go to Greenwich? My sister

10141111.

'

IitfWhen I first started driving, I figured that being in traffic all day would take the

most patience. But hectic traffic is nothing compared to some of the people Imeet."

tt.

21

2

Exploring Careers

told me to catch the bus at 7:15 at the corner of 35th andWilson Boulevard. Slit said that one would take me toGreenwich."

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I'm only going as far as CedarCrossroads. You can ride this bus if you'd like; thetransfers will cost 10 cents extra apiece."

"But I know my sister can't be wrong. She rides thebus all the time."

"Well, ma'am, you must decide what you want to donow. By the way, next time why don't you telephone forbus information? That way you will be sure to get thecorrect bus routes and time schedules."

The young woman, still looking bewildered, openedher purse and took out some coins. "How much ischildren's fare?"

"Thirty-five cents, plus ten cents extra if you want tobuy a transfer. That comes to a total of $1.50 for all threeof you."

As the coins fell to the bottom of the coin box Betsytore three transfers from a booklet attached to the box.The women moved to the back of the bus and Betsybreathed a slight sigh of relief. After 4 years of drivinga city bus, Betsy had learned to be calm and courteousin dealing with customers. She also had learned to answerall questions and complaints politely, but firmly. "It'sfunny," she thought, "when I first started driving, Ifigured that being in traffic all day would take the mostpatience. But hectic traffic is nothing compared to someof the people I meet!"

In the next few stops, all the seats filled up. The paceof the traffic slowed as the X-2 approached the city. Theroad became more crowded, and Betsy instinctively be-came more cautious about her driving. Too many times,Betsy had seen drivers make a last-minute decision toturnnot paying any attention to the fact that they werein the wrong lane or that the traffic light was red. Betsyfelt that a good driver must be a defensive one. She tookpride in her own fine driving record.

The bell rang frequently between stops, signalling toBetsy that a passenger wanted to get off at the next stop.Occasionally, she glanced at her watch to make sure shestayed on schedule. Along with safety, Betsy consideredbeing on time a very important part of the job.

Up ahead, Betsy saw that a delivery truck was stoppedin the right lane with its lights flashing. This meant thatthe driver was delivering goods nearby and would returnshortly. Being able to see "trouble spots" in plenty oftime was one of the advantages Betsy enjoyed because,in driving the bus, she sat quite a bit higher off theground than most of the other drivers in the traffic.Whenever she could, Betsy would plan ahead to mini-mize her delays.

22

"Good morning, Mrs. Goddfrey," Betsy greeted theelderly woman who was boarding the bus. Mrs. Godd-frey was one of the few patrons who rode the morningbus regularly on its return from the city out to Hillside.Three times a week, she volunteered at the YWCA.

"Hello, Betsy. Fine morning, isn't it?" the womanreplied as she reached into her purse for the bus fare."Oh, dear, I have forgotten my change purse. What shallI do?"

"Don't worry," Betsy replied kindly. She took somechange from her pocket, deposited it in the coin box, andsaid, "You can bang me the money on Friday."

"You're a real lifesaver! You can trust me not to forgetit on Friday." Mrs. Goddfrey made her way to the firstempty seat.

The return run from the city to Hillside went quickly,as Betsy passed many of the bus stops along the routewithout having to stop and pick up passengers.

"Excuse me, ma'am, but does this bus go by St. John'sHospital? It's on the corner of Fourth and Pine Streets,"asked a well-dressed man as he stepped onto the bus.

"Yes, it does, sir. If you'd like, I'll call out that stop aswe get to it," Betsy replied.

"That would be very helpful, thank you," he said ashe dropped some coins in the box. "By the way, what'sa pretty little girl like you doing in a job like this?"

"What do you mean? I can handle this bus as well asanyone," she replied good-naturedly.

"In fact," she thought to herself, "I can handle it betterthan most. After all, when I applied for the job of abusdriver, I had over a year's experience driving a deliv-ery truck for a dry cleaner's. And in the training programthe bus company gives, I had the best grades in myclassboth on the written exam and in driving skills!Not bad at all."

Meanwhile the man bound for St. John's had founda seat at the back of the bus.

The rest of the trip was smooth, with no major prob-lems or traffic delays. In fact, at one point Betsy had tomake an effort to pace her driving so as not to get aheadof her schedule. She didn't want to pass any of the busstops early and take the chance of leaving a passengerbehind.

After this run was finished, Betsy drove about a mileto the garage, where she checked in with the dispatcher.This included reporting the runs she made that morning,counting the fares collected, turning in her booklet oftransfer slips, recording the number of transfers givenout, and reporting special problems or delays. SinceBetsy worked a split shiftfrom 5:30 to 9:30 a.m. andlater from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.she did not have to writeup her reports until later that evening.

2


Exploring

Busdrivers must be easygoing and even-tempered to beable to deal with all kinds of passengers, weather condi-tions, and traffic problems.

Can you control your emotions when everythingseems to go wrong?Can you keep your temper when an umpire calls youout and you thought you were safe?Can you remain calm and courteous, even whenpeople irritate you or something troubles you?

Can you make your case calmly when a teacher givesyou a grade that you think is unfair?

Busdrivers must be safety conscious and follow trafficregulations in delivering passengers safely to their des-tinations.

Do you look 6.,-;',11 ways before you cross the street?Do you obey traffic regulations, such as riding yourbicycle with the traffic and only crossing at a cross-walk?

1.0

4:.'1`44

AkZ-,trIF t}`411".;

his r,

Betsy feels that a good driver must be a defensive one. She takes pride in hergood driving record.

23

Exploring Careers

Have you ever been responsible for the care of any-one elsebabysitting, for example?

Busdrivers are generally free from close supervision whileat work. They must be able to drive their routes, stay onschedule, and handle any emergencies on their own.

Do you do your homework without being told to?Do you clean your room or help with chores aroundthe house without being told to?Are you generally on time for class or for meetings?Do you budget your time?Would you know what to do in case of a fire or otheremergency at home?

Busdrivers must have good driving ability to maneuverthe bus in heavy traffic. This includes good eye-foot-handcoordination, quick reflexes, and good depth perception.

Can you ice skate, ride a skateboard, or ride a bicycle?Are you a good bowler?Can you pitch, hit, and catch a softball?


Compare a bus ride through town during rush hour to aride in the middle of the day. Notice the differences inthe amount of traffic, the cost of the trip, the numberof passengers, and how long it takes to get from oneplace to another. What other differences do you ob-serve?

Learn to recognize the symbols on road signs and howto follow them.

Many people rely on buses to get around town. Busesoffer many advantages, including relatively low cost.,convenience, and the peace of mind of not having todrive yourself. Other ways to travel around towninclude cars, bicycles, and taxicabs. Make a list of theadvantages and disadvantages of each.

Find out what types of bus services are available in yourcommunity. You can start by looking in the yellowpages of the telephone book.

Invite a representative from a bus company in your areato speak to your class about training requirements andjob opportunities for busdrivers in your community.Prepare questions in advance.

Learn how to change a flat tire and handle other commonrepairs on your family car.

24

Learn how to read maps of your city and its surroundingareas. In this way, you can become familiar with themain streets and famous landmarks.

To become familiar with handling a motor vehicle, learnhow to drive a sit-down power lawnmower, a mini-bike, or a be at if any of these are available.

Join an Auto Mechanics, Road Rally, or TransportationExplorer Post if there is one in your area. Exploring isopen to young men and women aged 14 through 20.To find out about Explorer posts in your area, call"Boy Scouts of America" listed in your phone book,and ask for the "Exploring Division."

Role-play a bus driver on his or her route. Include suchcommon problems as a passenger who does not haveenough money for the fare, a passenger who needsinformation, and a passenger whose conduct is dis-turbing others on the bus.

Related Occupations

See how many of the following workers you can matchwith their job duties. Like the local transit busdriver,they are all involved in carrying people or goods overour highways and city streets.

1. Local truckdriver a. Transports sick or injuredpeople to the hospital.

2. Route driver b. Drives a group of passengersfrom one town to another.

3. Ambulance driver

4. Long-distance truck-driver

5. Chauffeur

6. Long-distance bus-driver

7. Taxicab driver

8. School busdriver

c. Drives children to school inthe morning and back homein the afternoon.

d. Moves goods from terminalsand warehouses to factories,stores, and homes in the area.

e.

f.

g.

Paid and licensed driver of aprivate motor car.

Delivers goods from the placeof business to the customers.May collect payments or tryto sell the company's services.

Picks up passengers at any lo-cation (often getting the infor-mation over a two-way radio)and drives them directly totheir destination.

h. Travels along turnpikes andhighways carrying goods be-tween terminals that are thou-sands of miles apart.

See answers at end of chapter.


Job Facts

There isn't room in this book for a story about every transportation occupation.However, you'll find some important facts about 21 of these occupations in thefollowing section. If you want additional information about any of them, you mightbegin by consulting the Occupational Outlook Handbook, a publication of theDepartment of Labor which should be available in your school or public library.

Occupation Nature and Places of Work Training and Qualifications

AIR TRANSPORTATION

Other Information

Air TrafficControllers

Controllers keep track of planeson the ground and in the air, andgive pilots instructions to keepplanes on course and prevent ac-cidents or delays.

An civilian air traffic controllerswork for the Federal Govern-ment as employees of the FederalAviation Administration (FAA).They work in the control towersat airports and at control centersalong air routes throughout thecountry.

Controllers must be in excellenthealth and pass a yearly physicalexam. They should be articulate,since directions to pilots must begiven quickly and clearly, andhave a decisive personality.

Applicants must have 3 years ofwork experience or 4 years ofcollege, or both. Civilian or mil-itary experience as a controller,pilot, or navigator is an asset.

Successful applicants receiveboth on-the-job and formaltraining. It usually takes 2 to 3years to become a fully qualifiedcontroller.

31

Controllers work a basic 40-hourweek. Because control towersand centers operate 24 hours aday, 7 days a week, controllersare assigned to night and week-end shifts on a rotating basis.

Controllers sometimes work un-der great stress. They must keeptrack of several planes at a timeand make certain all pilots re-ceive correct instructions.

25

Exploring Careers

Occupation Nature and Places of Work Training and Qualifications Other Information

Airplane Mechanics Mechanics keep planes in top op-ereting condition. They inspectand maintain planes on a regularschedule and make repairs.

Over half of all mechanics areemployed by the airlines, work-ing near large cities at the air-lines' main stops. Others workfor the Federal Government,mainly at military bases, or forsmall repair shops at airportsthroughout the country.

Most mechanics learn their jobin the Armed Forces or in tradeschools certified by the FAA.Trade school courses last about2 years.

Most of the mechanics who workon civilian aircraft are licensedby the FAA. Unlicensed me-chanics are supervised by thosewith licenses.

Experience in automotive repairor other mechanical work is help-ful, as are high school courses inmathematics, physics, chemistry,and mechanical drawing.

Mechanics must have strengthand agility to lift heavy parts anddo climbing and reaching.

Mechanics sometimes must standor lie in awkward positions whenmaking repairs. Work areas arenoisy when engines are beingtested.

Many mechanics are unionmembers.

Airplane Pilots Although most pilots fly planesthat carry passengers and cargo,some do crop dusting, inspectpower lines, or do aerial photog-raphy.

Most pilots work at major air-ports. About half work for theairlines, and the rest work forprivate businesses and the gov-ernment.

All commercial pilots must belicensed by the FAA. To receivethe license, they must pass a writ-ten and physical exam and dem-onstrate flying ability.

Flying is taught in military orcivilian flying schools. Eitherkind of training satisfies require-ments for licensing, but ArmedForces pilots have the opportu-nity to gain experience on jetaircraft that is preferred by air-lines and many businesses.

College graduates are preferredfor airline jobs. New airline pil-ots usually start as flight engi-neers.

Pilots must be able to make quickdecisions and accurate judg-ments under pressure; the mentalstress of being responsible for asafe flight can be tiring.

Pilots cannot fly more than 85hours per month. Most flightsinvolve layovers away fromhome. Work schedules often areirregular.

Most airline pilots are unionmembers.

Flight Attendants

26

Flight attendants help make thepassengers' flight safe, comfort-able, and enjoyable.

Most flight attendants are sta-tioned in major cities. Largenumbers work out of Chicago,Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami.New York, and San Francisco.

Poise. tact. resourcefulness. anda pleasant manner with strangersall are important traits.Applicants must be high schoolgraduates. Those with some col-lege, nurses' training, or experi-ence dealing with the public arepreferred.

Most large airlines give newlyhired flight attendants about 5weeks of training in their ownschools.

Ll IV

Attendants usually fly 80 hoursper month or less but may devoteup to 35 more hours on theground to prepare for flights.They may have to work nights,weekends, or holidays.

Most are union members.



Reservation, Ticket, These workers reserve seats, selland Passenger Agents tickets, and help passengers

board planes.

Most agents work in downtownoffices or at large metropolitanairports.

Because agents deal directly withthe public, airlines seek pleasant,personable. attractive applicants.A good speaking voice is essen-tial.

A high school diploma is re-quired and some college is pre-ferred.

New employees usually receiveabout a week of classroom in-struction to learn how to use theflight schedule book and thecomputer. Once they are on thejob, at least 3 weeks of close su-pervision by an experiencedworker are needed before theycan handle the job alone.

Work schedules may be irregu-lar. During holidays and otherbusy periods, agents may find thework hectic.

Many agents belong to ur. ans.

RAILROAD OCCUPATIONS

Brake Operators Brake operators couple and un-couple cars ar operate trackswitches in r Jad yards. Theyalso look for ;.-alty equipmentand make millor repairs.

Brake operators need to be ingood physical condition andhave mechanical aptitude to op-erate switches and handbrakesand to board moving trains. Em-ployers prefer high school grad-uates.

Skills are learned on the job andit takes about a year to learnthem thoroughly. It usually takesseveral years, however, beforebrake operators have enoughseniority to get regular assign-ments.

Brake operators may have towork nights, weekends, and hol-idays. Those who don't have reg-ular assignments may be calledto work on short notice. The joboften calls for time away fromhome.

Most brake operators are unionmembers.

Conductors Conductors are in charge of trainand yard crews. They must makesure passengers and cargo are de-livered safely and on time.

Qualified brake operators arepromoted to conductors on a sen-iority basis. They must pass ex-ams covering signals, timetables,operating rules. and related sub-jects.

Until permanent positions be-come available. new conductorssubstitute for experienced con-ductors who are absent.

Conductors may have to worknights; weekends, and holidays.The job often calls for time awayfrom home. Since most freighttrains are unscheduled. freightconductors may be called towork on short notice.

Many conductors are unionmembers.

27

Exploring Careers


LocomotiveEngineers

Engineers operate the throttle tostart and accelerate the train anduse airbrakes to slow and stop it.They also watch gauges and me-ters that measure speed, fuel, bat-tery charge. and air pressure inthe brake lines.

Openings for locomotive engi-neers are filled by promoting en-gineers' helpers on a senioritybasis. Helpers qualify for pro-motion by proving their abilityto operate locomotives and bypassing a written exam.

For engineer helper jobs, -ail-roads prefer applicants who arehigh school graduates and atleast 21 years old. They musthave good hearing, eyesight. andcolor vision. Good eye-hand co-ordination, manual dexterity,and mechanical aptitude also arerequired.

Helpers receive on-the-job train-ing that lasts about 6 weeks.

Locomotive engineers may haveto work weekends and holidays.The job often calls for time awayfrom home. Since most freighttrains are unscheduled, freightengineers may be called to workon short notice.

Most engineers are union mem-bers.

Shop Trades Every railroad employs its ownworkers to maintain and repaircars and other equipment. Theseskilled workers include car re-pairers. machinists, electricalworkers, sheet-metal workers.boilermakers, and blacksmiths.

They work in railroad yards. ter-minals, and engine houses, aswell as in locomotive repairshops.

Apprent.ceship training is themost common way of enteringthe railroad shop trades, al-though some workers learn onthe job and are upgraded fromjobs as helpers and laborers.

Applicants who have had shoptraining in high school 01 voca-tional school are preferred. Au-tomobile repair and machiningcourses are useful for machinists.Courses in electricity and physicswill help those who want to beelectrical workers.

Shop work is active and stren-uous. It involves stooping. lifting.and climbing. Some workers mayface noisy shop conditions. Otherworkers, such as car repairers.must work outdoors in all kindsof weather.

Most shop workers are unionmembers.

Signal DepartmentWorkers

28

Railroad signal workers install.repair, and maintain the traincontrol, communication, and sig-naling systems that direct trainsand assure safety. These includegate crossings. signal lights, andswitches.

Applicants who are high schoolor vocational school graduatesare preferred. Courses in blue-print reading, electricity, andelectronics provide a helpfulbackground. Applicants alsoshould be able to do heavy work,

New workers are assigned ashelpers to experienced workers.After 60 to 90 days of training.they may advance to assistants.After another 2 to 4 years. qual-ified assistants may he promotedto signal installers or maintai-ners.

Since they work over large sec-tions of track, installers usuallylive away from home during theworkweek. frequently in campcars provided by the company.Maintainers usually live at homeand service signals over a limitedstretch of track. However, theymust make repairs regardless ofweather conditions or time ofday.

Most signal installers and main-tainers are union members.



Station Agents Station agents are the customerscontact with the railroad. Theytake customer orders, arrange adelivery schedule. inspect mer-chandise, and prepare customers'bills. At passenger stations.agents supervise and coordinateselling tickets and checking bag-gage.

Most agents work in railroadfreight stations. Some work inpassenger stations.

Station agents usually risethrough the ranks of other rail-road occupations. such as tele-phoners, telegraphers, tower op-erators. and clerks.

At major freight and passengerstations, the agents' duties aremainly administrative and super-visory.

Most station agents are unionmembers.

Telegraphers.Telephoners, andTower Operators

Following instructions given bydispatchers and yardmasters.tower operators route train trafficby working controls that activatesignals and switches on thetracks. Telegraphers and tele-phoners receive orders about thetrain's movement, such as itsspeed or its route, and pass themon to the train crews.

Tower operators work in towerslocated in railroad yards or atmajor junctions near cities. Te-legraphers and telephoners woi'in yards and at railroad stations.

Telegraphers. telephoners. andtower operators should be re-sponsible and alert. as they haveto make quick decisions. Goodhearing and eyesight. includingnormal color vision, are required.

Jobs usually are filled from theranks of clerical workers by sen-iority. Newcomers receive on-the-job training that covers op-erating rules. train orders, andstation operations. Trainees mustpass exams and demonstrateabilities before they qualify.

Until permanent positions be-come available. newly qualifiedworkers substitute for experi-enced workers who are absent.

Most telegraphers, telephoners.and tower operators are unionmembers.

Track Workers Railroads employ these workersto service. repair, and replacesections of track.

Railroads prefer applicants whocan read. write. and do heavywork. The job is active and stren-uous. A physical examinationmay he necessary.

Most new track workers learntheir skills through training onthe job. which lasts about 2 years.

Track workers on traveling crewsmay have to commute long dis-tances to work. Many live incamp cars or trailers provided bythe railroads.

Most track workers are unionmembers.

29

Exploring Careers


MERCHANT MARINE OCCUPATIONS

Merchant MarineOfficers

In command of every oceangoingvessel is the captain, who hascomplete authority and respon-sibility for the ship. A typicalcrew on a ship is divided into thedeck department, the engine de-partment, and the steward's de-partment.

Deck officers direct the move-ment of the ship and the main-tenance of the deck and hull.Engine officers are responsiblefor starting, stopping, and con-trolling the speed of the mainengines, as well as maintainingthe machinery and equipmentaboard ship. Steward officers su-pervise the cooking and servingof meals, and the upkeep of liv-ing quarters.

Officers work aboard dry-cargoships, tankers, barges, ferries,freighters, passenger liners, andexcursion steamers.

No educational requirementshave been set for merchant ma-rine officers. However, becauseof the complex machinery andnavigational and electronicequipment on modern ships. for-mal training usually is needed topass Coast Guard examinations.

Candidates must meet certain le-gal (age, citizenship) and medicalrequirements. For example, theymust be at least 21 years old, U.S.citizens, and have a health certif-icate proving good physical con-dition. They also must have atleast 3 years of appropriate seaexperience or be a graduate of anapproved training program.

Formal training for merchantmarine officers is available at theU.S. Merchant Marine Academyin Kings Point, N.Y., and in sixState merchant marine acade-mies. These 4-year programs innautical science or marine engi-neering ptovide classroom in-struction as well as practical ex-perience at sea.

Officers must be able to live andwork in close quarters as part ofa team. They are away fromhome for long periods of time.

Generally, officers at sea work 7days a week with two 4-hourshifts every 24 hours and 8 hoursoff in between. Overtime pay isreceived for over 40 hours workper week. Vacations range from90 to 180 days a year.

Almost 90 percent of all officersbelong to maritime unions.

Merchant MarineSailors

30

Sailors may be assigned to eitherthe deck department, the enginedepartment, or the steward's de-partment. Under orders fromtheir officers, they do most of themanual labor in these depart-ments.

Sailors work aboard dry-cargoships, tankers, barges. ferries.freighters, passenger liners, andexcursion steamers.

Although not required, sea ex-perience in the Navy or CoastGuard provides a good back-ground for merchant marinejobs. Applicants must get ahealth certificate from a doctorand then must obtain a letterfrom a shipping company statingthat they will be hired when ajob becomes available. In addi-tion, applicants must registerwith the U.S. Coast Guard andacquire identification papers.

All these requirements do notguarantee a job; they merelyqualify you. To get a job. youmust be present at a hiring hall,when an opening becomes avail-able. Hiring halls are located inthe chief ports around the coun-try.

Sailors must be able to live andwork in close quarters as part ofa team. They are away fromhome for long periods of time.

Generally, sailors are required towork 7 days a week, with two 4-hour shifts every 24 hours and 8hours off in between. Overtimepay is received for over 40 hour.per week. Vacations range from90 to 180 days a year.

Most sailors belong to unions.


Occupation Nature and Places of Work Training and Qualifications Othe... Information

DRIVING OCCUPATIONS

Intercity Busdrivers These workers drive passengersbetween communities and cities.They also inspect buses beforeleaving, collect fares or ticketsfrom passengers, and load andunload baggage. Most work outof large cities.

Since they represent their com-panies in dealing with passen-gers, bus drivers must be cour-teous and tactful. They shouldhave steady nerves and a relaxedpersonality, as heavy traffic canbe a strain.

The U.S. Department of Trans-portation requires that intercitydrivers be at least 21 years oldand be able to read, write, andspeak English. They also musthave good hearing and visionand normal use of arms and legs.Applicants must pass a drivingtest and a written exam that teststheir knowledge of State trafficregulations. Most States requiredrivers to have a chauffeur's li-cense.

Many private bus companiesprefer applicants to be at least 25years old; some require bus ortruck driving experience. Mostcompanies conduct 2- to 8-weektraining programs for new driv-ers that include both classroomand driving instruction.

Until permanent positions be-come available, new drivers sub-stitute for experienced driverswho are absent.

Since intercity buses run at allhours, drivers may have to worknights or weekends. The job mayrequire time away from home.

Most of these drivers are unionmembers.

31

Exploring Careers


Long-DistanceTruckdrivers

These workers travel along turn-pikes and highways carryinggoods between cities that arehundreds or even thousands ofmiles apart.

The U.S. Department of Trans-portation requires that long-dis-tance drivers be at least 21 yearsold and in good physical condi-tion, including good hearing andvision. normal use of arms andlegs, and normal blood pressure.Applicants must pass written anddriving examinations. MostStates require truckdrivers tohave a chauffeur's license.

Some companies require truck-drivers to be at least 25 years oldand have several years of truck-driving experience.

New drivers are usually trainedon the job under the supervisionof an instructor or an experi-enced driver.

A workweek of more than 40hours is very common. This mayinclude nights or weekends, andoften time away from home.

The noise and vibration of thetruck. and being on the road forlong periods of time, may bephysically straining and tiring.

Most long-distance drivers areunion members.

Parking Attendants

32

Parking attendants park cus-tomers' cars and collect payment.They work in public and privateparking lots throughout thecountry.

Attendants must have a validdriver's license. be able to driveall types of cars, and have goodeyesight and peripheral vision.They also must be able to keeprecords of claim tickets, computeparking charges. and makechange.

Parking attendants should beneat. tactful. and courteous whenthey are dealing with the public.Good physical condition is help-ful, because attendants may haveto stand for long periods of timeor move cars in a hurry. Al-though there are no specific ed-ucational requirements for park-ing attendants, many employersprefer high school graduates.

Most attendants are trained onthe job, under the supervision ofa more experienced worker.

Attendants often work longhours and on nights and week-ends. In addition, many attend-ants spend much time outdoorsin all kinds of weather.

A number of parking attendantsare union members.



Local TransitBusdrivers

These workers drive passengersover city and suburban streetsfollowing specific routes andtimetables. They also inspectbuses before leaving, collect faresor tickets, and answer passengers'questions.

They work in cities and townsthroughout the country.

Busdrivers must be courteousand tactful in dealing with pas-sengers. They should have steadynerves and a relaxed personality,as heavy traffic can be a strain.

New drivers should be at least 21years old, be in good health, andhave good eyesight. They mustpass physical and written exams.Most States require a chauffeur'slicense. High school graduatesmay be preferred.

Most companies conduct on-the-job training for new drivers thatincludes classroom and drivinginstruction.

Until permanent positions be-come available, new drivers sub-stitute for experienced driverswho are absent.

The workweek for regular driv-ers usually consists of any 5workdays during the week; Sat-urday and Sunday are countedas regular workdays. Some driv-ers work a split shift in whichthey work in the morning, havethe afternoon free, and go backto work in the evenings.

Most of these drivers are unionmembers.

Local Truckdrivers These workers drive aroundtown, moving goods from ware-houses and terminals to factories,stores, and homes. They oftenload and unload goods.

Qualifications for drivers vary,depending on the type of truckand nature of the business. MostStates require a chauffeur's li-cense. Applicants should be ingood health, including good vi-sion and hearing. Experience inloading and unloading freight oras a truckdriver's helper is useful.Since drivers often deal directlywith the company's customers,the ability to get along well withpeople is important.

Training given to new drivers isusually informal and may beonly a few hours of instructionfrom an experienced driver.

Local truckdrivers frequentlywork over 40 hours per week.Night or early moi ni- g work issometimes necessary.

Many truckdrivers are unionmembers.

33

Exploring Careers

Occupation Nature and Places of Work Training and Qualifications Other information

Taxicab Drivers Taxicab drivers pick up passen-gers at any location and drivethem to their destination. Al-though taxicab drivers are em-ployed in all but the smallestcities, employment is concen-trated in large metropolitanareas.

Taxi drivers usually must have aState chauffeur's license and ataxicab operator's license issuedby the local police or Public Util-ities Commission. In most com-munities, applicants must pass awritten exam on taxicab andtraffic regulations.

Many companies hire only ap-plicants who are over 21 yearsold. Although there are no min-imum educational requirements.many companies prefer appli-cants who have at least an eighthgrade education. Applicants gen-erally must be in good health andhave a good driving record.

Tact and courtesy are importantin dealing with the public. A re-laxed personality is also impor-tant.

Drivers may have to work nightsor weekends. Many cab drivingjobs are available for college stu-dents and others who want part-time work.

Many cab drivers in large citiesbelong to unions.

Answers to Related Occupations

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER

1. Airplane mechanic, 2. Airplane maintenance crew, 3. Baggage handler, 4. Co-pilot,5. Dispatcher, 6. Electronics technician, 7. En route traffic controller, 8. Flightattendant, 9. Flight engineer, 10. Passenger agent, 11. Pilot, 12. Reservation agent,13. Ticket agent.

RAILROAD PASSENGER CONDUCTOR

E L E C T R I C A L W O R K E R S

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SREKAMRELIOBBRAK OP RATOR

R STS INIHCAMREENIGNE ScTELEGRAPHERS PKSTAT I ONAGENTS AS

S R E N A T N I A M L A N G I S TMTOWERWORKERS C

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S I G N A L I N S T A L L E R SS H E E TMEITALWORKE R S

BUS DRIVER

I. d, 2. f, 3. a, 4. h, 5. e, 6. b, 7. g, 8. c.

34

One of the most widely used resources in the field of vocationalguidance, the Handbook is an "encyclopedia of careers" coveringseveral hundred occupations. A new edition is published every 2 years.The reader will find information on

What the work is like..Job prospectsPersonal qualificationsEducation and trainingrequirementsEarningsRelated occupationsWhere to find additionalinformation.

Contact any of theBLS Regional Officeslisted inside the backcover for price andordering information.

41

A periodical to help students, job seekers, counselors, and educationplanners keep up with occupational and employment developments.The Quarterly is written in nontechnical language and illustrated incolor. Articles cover such topics as these:

Job prospects for collegegraduatesHow to look for a jobMatching personal and jobcharacteristics

For sale by theSuperintendent ofDocuments, U.S.Government PrintingOffice, Washington,D.C. 20402. Subscrip-tion price per year (4issues) is $6 domestic,$7.50 foreign, single

copy $115. Pricesare subject to change.

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2211.11111"ji4

A 7'--. U.S. GOV'EfrllENT PRINTING OFFICE ; 1993 0 - 326-029 : QL. 3

Bureau of Labor StatisticsRegional JO ffices

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VIRGIN 'St.ANUS

Region I1603 JFK Federal BuildingGovernment CenterBoston, Mass. 02203Phone: (617) 223-6761

Region IISuite 34001515 BroadwayNew York, N.Y. 10036Phone: (212) 944-3121

Region III3535 Market StreetP.O. Box 13309Philadelphia, Pa. 19101Phone: (215) 596-1154

Region IV1371 Peachtree Street, N.E.Atlanta, Ga. 30309Phone: (404) 881-4418

Region V9th FloorFederal Office Building230 S. Dearborn StreetChicago, Ill. 60604Phone (312) 353-1880

Region VISecond Floor555 Griffin Square BuildingDallas, Tex. 75202Phone: (214) 767-6971

43

Regions VII and VIII911 Walnut StreetKansas City, Mo. 64106Phone: (816) 374-2481

Regions IX and X450 Golden Gate AvenueBox 36017San Francisco, Calif. 94102Phone: (415) 556-4678