Military Occupational Specialty

     

    88M - MOTOR TRANSPORT OPERATOR

    Description

    The United States Armed forces own and operate over 50,000 heavy trucks and buses. It's up to the Motor Transport Operators to operate vehicles, which include water/fuel tank trucks, semi-tractor trailers, heavy troop transports and passenger buses. From sedans to semi tractor trailers, troop transports and buses.

    Motor Transport Operators are primarily responsible for supervising or operating wheel vehicles to transport personnel and cargo. Some of your duties as a Motor Transport Operator may include:

    • Reading load plans
    • Checking oil, fuel and other fluid levels, as well as tire pressure
    • Driving vehicles over all types of roads and terrain, traveling alone or in convoys in support of combat operations
    • Keeping records of mileage driven and fuel and oil used
    • Washing vehicles and perform routine maintenance and repairs

    Training

    Job training for a Motor Transport Operator consists of nine weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and six weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including practice in driving several types of military vehicles. Part of this time is spent in the classroom and part in the field. In your training you will learn:

    • Operation and care of forklifts, power winches, and cranes
    • Techniques for loading and storing cargo
    • Techniques for planning and scheduling cargo shipments
    • Safety procedures for handling potentially dangerous cargo
    • The Army offers certified apprenticeship programs for some specialties in this occupation.

    Skills

    Helpful attributes include:

    • An interest or experience in driver education
    • An interest in driving
    • An interest in mechanics

    Responsibilities

    Advanced level Motor Transport Operators supervise and train other Soldiers within the same discipline. As an advanced level Motor Transport Operator, you may be involved in:

    • Verifying vehicle logbooks
    • Receiving and filling requests from authorized persons for motor transport
    • Managing vehicle maintenance reports

    Civilian Related

    The skills you learn as a Motor Transport Operator will help prepare you for a civilian career with trucking, moving or bus companies, or with businesses that have their own delivery fleets. You'll be able to consider a future as a tractor-trailer truck, tank truck, heavy truck or bus driver.

     

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