Occupation · SOC 53-6051
Transportation Inspectors
Inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people. Includes rail transportation inspectors, such as freight inspectors, rail inspectors, and other inspectors of transportation vehicles not elsewhere classified.
Median wage
$85,750
$40,090–$137,120
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
23,320
Job Zone 4
Typical preparation
Considerable preparation
Stackable credential programs
7 mapped
Core skills
WritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningTime ManagementMonitoringJudgment and Decision MakingSocial PerceptivenessCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringManagement of Personnel ResourcesInstructingActive LearningService OrientationPersuasionMathematicsLearning StrategiesTroubleshootingNegotiationOperation and ControlManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignProgrammingScienceOperations AnalysisEquipment SelectionRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
TransportationEnglish LanguageCustomer and Personal ServiceMathematicsPublic Safety and SecurityAdministration and ManagementMechanicalLaw and GovernmentEngineering and TechnologyComputers and ElectronicsTelecommunicationsEducation and TrainingProduction and ProcessingAdministrativeGeographyChemistrySales and MarketingPhysicsEconomics and AccountingCommunications and MediaPersonnel and Human ResourcesDesignBuilding and ConstructionBiologyForeign LanguageFood ProductionPsychologySociology and AnthropologyHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyFine ArtsTherapy and CounselingMedicine and Dentistry
Technology & tools
Adobe AcrobatEmail softwareGoogle AndroidMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft WordWeb browser software
Representative tasks
Getting InformationIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsDocumenting/Recording InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeoplePerforming General Physical ActivitiesInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersProcessing InformationScheduling Work and ActivitiesAnalyzing Data or InformationEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersTraining and Teaching OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersWorking with ComputersThinking CreativelyOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentPerforming Administrative ActivitiesHandling and Moving ObjectsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicSelling or Influencing OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesCoaching and Developing OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesAssisting and Caring for OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentControlling Machines and ProcessesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Freight inspection reports — draft and submit under direct supervision following completion of assigned shipments at a port or rail facility.Cargo bracing and blocking standards — recognize and verify compliance with established protocols when observing shipment loading under senior inspector guidance.Freight condition records — document details about cargo status, handling observations, and encountered problems using standardized forms with supervisor review.Dangerous cargo stowage guidelines — identify applicable regulations and relay basic stowage requirements to crew members under the direction of an experienced inspector.Loading procedure compliance — observe crew activities during freight loading and flag apparent deviations to a supervising inspector for further action.Remedial procedure recommendations — identify potential violations during entry-level inspections and escalate findings to senior staff for corrective guidance.Cargo securing devices — inspect lashing hardware and deck-stored freight for visible defects or safety concerns under close oversight at an assigned terminal.Special handling notifications — communicate prescribed treatment requirements to warehouse or vessel crews based on shipping documents and supervisor instructions.Document management software — enter inspection data and retrieve regulatory references using agency-approved platforms under structured on-the-job training.Transportation regulations — read and interpret foundational federal safety and security codes relevant to freight inspection with guidance from a senior colleague.
developing
Freight shipment reports — prepare, review, and submit complete post-shipment documentation routinely using word processing and office suite software with minimal oversight.Cargo bracing and blocking inspections — assess securement methods across a variety of freight types and independently confirm compliance with applicable standards at commercial terminals.Freight handling records — compile detailed condition logs capturing cargo status, handling anomalies, and incident specifics using spreadsheet software in a time-sensitive port environment.Dangerous and heavy cargo advisement — guide vessel or vehicle crews on approved stowage techniques for hazardous materials in familiar cargo configurations without supervisory intervention.Loading operation monitoring — systematically observe multi-crew loading sequences and apply active listening and social perceptiveness to detect procedural non-compliance in real time.Remedial procedure recommendations — formulate and communicate corrective actions for identified violations drawing on established regulatory frameworks and prior inspection experience.Cargo and handling device compliance reviews — conduct structured inspections of loaded cargo, deck lashings, and mechanical handling equipment against health and safety regulations with routine efficiency.Special treatment requirements — evaluate shipping manifests and hazard classifications to proactively notify relevant workers of handling precautions across a range of shipment types.Electronic mail and internet browser tools — coordinate inspection scheduling, share findings with stakeholders, and research regulatory updates using digital communication platforms independently.Time management in multi-assignment contexts — prioritize concurrent inspection tasks across a shift to meet reporting deadlines at a busy intermodal freight facility.
proficient
Comprehensive post-shipment reports — autonomously author, quality-review, and submit detailed freight inspection reports that satisfy regulatory agency and internal audit requirements.Complex cargo securement evaluations — independently assess bracing, blocking, and lashing adequacy for non-standard or oversized freight across diverse transportation modes including maritime and rail.Freight condition and incident documentation — produce thorough, legally defensible records of cargo conditions, handling discrepancies, and systemic problems using advanced spreadsheet and document management systems.Dangerous cargo stowage instruction — serve as subject-matter authority advising multi-disciplinary crews on best-practice stowage of hazardous, heavy, and sensitive cargo under evolving shipment conditions.Regulatory compliance monitoring — apply inductive and deductive reasoning to evaluate full loading operations, identifying subtle non-conformances and systemic risks across an entire terminal shift.Violation remediation planning — develop and recommend multi-step corrective procedures addressing complex or recurring compliance failures, referencing law, government regulations, and industry standards.Holistic cargo and equipment inspections — conduct end-to-end assessments of loaded cargo, deck-secured freight, storage facilities, and cargo handling devices, integrating mechanical knowledge and near/far vision observation skills.Special handling program management — interpret hazmat classifications, weight limits, and environmental sensitivity requirements and communicate tailored handling protocols to diverse operational teams.Systems evaluation for inspection processes — analyze inspection workflows and technology tool performance, identifying inefficiencies and proposing evidence-based improvements to agency leadership.Complex problem solving under pressure — resolve ambiguous or high-stakes cargo compliance scenarios by integrating transportation knowledge, critical thinking, and stakeholder coordination in time-critical environments.
advanced
Organizational inspection reporting standards — establish agency-wide report formats, submission protocols, and quality benchmarks that govern freight inspection documentation across multiple facilities or regions.Cargo securement policy development — author and promulgate updated bracing, blocking, and lashing standards aligned with emerging federal regulations and industry best practices across a transportation network.Enterprise knowledge management — design record-keeping systems and data governance practices for freight condition and incident data that support regulatory audits, litigation defense, and continuous improvement.Dangerous cargo training programs — develop and deliver advanced stowage and hazardous-materials curricula for inspectors and crew supervisors, raising organizational competency in safety-critical cargo handling.Compliance culture leadership — set strategic direction for loading compliance monitoring across an organization, embedding systematic observation standards and accountability structures into operational policy.Regulatory remediation frameworks — lead the design of enterprise-level corrective action programs that address inspection violation trends, engaging regulators and executive stakeholders to drive systemic improvement.Multi-modal inspection program oversight — direct comprehensive inspection regimes covering cargo, lashing systems, storage facilities, and mechanical handling equipment across maritime, rail, and highway operations at scale.Stakeholder communication strategy — guide senior management and government partners on special handling risk exposures, translating complex inspection findings into actionable executive briefings and policy recommendations.Inspection technology roadmap — evaluate, procure, and implement document management, spreadsheet, and operating system platforms that modernize inspection workflows and enhance data integrity organization-wide.Inspector workforce development — mentor and coach cohorts of emerging and developing inspectors, designing competency progression pathways and performance evaluation systems that build long-term organizational capability.
Also known as
44 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
AdmeasurerBridge InspectorCargo InspectorCargo SurveyorContainer InspectorDamaged Freight InspectorEquipment InspectorFreight Car InspectorFreight InspectorFreight Service InspectorFreight SpecialistHeavy Check InspectorInspections SpecialistInspectorLoading InspectorLocomotive InspectorMaintenance InspectorMarine Cargo BrokerMarine Cargo InspectorMarine Cargo SpecialistMarine Cargo SurveyorMarine SurveyorMotor Vehicle Emissions InspectorNaval InspectorNavy Material InspectorOperations InspectorPacking InspectorPerishable Freight InspectorPerishable Fruit InspectorPetroleum InspectorRailroad Car InspectorRailroad InspectorRoadway InspectorSafety InspectorSchool Bus InspectorShip SurveyorShipping InspectorShipping LiaisonState InspectorSteamboat Inspector