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INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
 The
transportation industry relies heavily on many different
technologies, from pc systems and software to midrange business
systems to the internet. Since the majority of the workforce is
mobile, the transportation industry has been an early adopter of
wireless systems. Every facet of the company relies on technology of
some sort - from the front office administration, the operations
department, the maintenance shop, in the cabs of the trucks and
right up the top management of the company. As such, there are a
wide variety of opportunities available in the industry.
Training and Education:
Community colleges offer a variety of diploma courses for the
practical aspects of the job: Systems Analyst, Computer Programming,
Networking and Web Development. For those interested in the
management aspect of Information Technology, an I.T. or Applied
Sciences degree is advisable. Because of the rapid pace of change in
the technology industry, on going training and upgrading of skills
is essential.
Systems Analyst
A system analyst holds a critical position in an IT Department.
Not only must they have a thorough understanding of all the
computer systems the company uses, they must also have a solid
grasp of the business itself. A basic understanding of how all
the functional areas of the company inter-relate and how the
computer systems they use integrate with each other is required.
When changes need to be made to existing systems, the System
Analyst needs to determine exactly what the business process is
and how to adapt it into existing systems. It is critical to
ensure that changes or modifications do not adversely affect the
entire system. The analyst determines how the changes need to be
made, documents it, and either passes the information on for
programming or personally makes the programming changes.
Programmer
The programming staff is responsible for the actual writing and
modifications of the programs used to run the business. A
logical mind and systematic approach is necessary. Not only must
they make the changes, but also thorough testing is required
before any new systems or changes are rolled out for use. All
departments of a transportation company rely on having
up-to-date information readily available at their fingertips.
Transportation is an in-the-moment business - customers need to
know where their freight is, when it is moving - not weeks
later. Therefore it is critical that the utmost care is taken to
ensure that any modifications or additions to information
systems are well thought out, tested and executed to avoid any
possible downtime or degradation of data integrity.
Network Administrator
To gain the full advantage of the many different systems used
in a transportation company, it is critical that all the systems
are connected and can communicate with each other. Due to the
nature of the business, companies often have numerous branches
and facilities spread over the country or the continent -
branches that need connectivity to host computer systems and
telecommunication systems. Network Administrators install,
configure and troubleshoot PC's and their peripherals and setup
and monitor Local Area and Wide Area networks.
Database Administrator
Maintaining the integrity of the databases is critical.
Companies rely on accuracy and availability of information. The
transportation business produces a ton of information. Databases
quickly grow to a
point where they become unmanageable. Response time slows down
and people have to wait to get the information they need
immediately. A database administer monitors all aspects of the
database - monitoring the growth and planning for it; performing
upgrades of the operating systems; archiving historical
information to ensure rapid response time. They have an in-depth
understanding of all the tables and databases that comprise an
Information System and how they interrelate.
IT Manager
The IT Manager is ultimately responsible for all the
information and communications systems. It is critical to ensure
that the reliability, security and integrity of all systems,
computing and communications, is maintained. The manager must
stay current with changes and enhancements in both the
technology and transportation industry in order to deliver
effective solutions for both internal and external customers.
The manager must also provide a leadership role for the IT Staff
- to promote growth, development and creativity.
Web Specialist
The road transportation industry relies heavily on technology,
and as such, is quick to embrace new technologies. The advent of
the Internet and the opportunities it presents is no exception.
May trucking companies rely on the corporate web site for a
myriad of purposes ranging from general information and
promotion about the company, to detailed schedules of services
it provides and job postings. Some companies have incorporated
real-time information to customers regarding the location and
estimated time of arrival of their shipments. The web specialist
maintains the site by keeping information current, and works
with other corporate functions to maximize its on-line utility.
PC Specialist
Most companies, including those in the trucking industry rely
on personal computers both in network environments, as well as
for stand-alone applications. The PC specialist installs,
modifies, and makes repairs to microcomputer hardware and
software systems, and provides technical assistance and training
to computer users. In addition to having knowledge and expertise
about the hardware and software, the PC Specialist needs to have
a basic understanding about the job functions and applications
that each computer is required for.
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