Perhaps the most common public transportation jobs available are drivers. A driver may operate a bus, taxi cab, limousine, or other public transportation vehicle operated on roads, though many other public transportation jobs exist. In some areas, boat operators are necessary to shuttle people from place to place, and air transportation is exceptionally popular among long-distance travelers. Airline pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, security personnel, and many others help make the airline industry possible. Many cities also have train and subway systems that require mechanics and operators, as well as ticket takers and customer service agents.
Drivers may operate cars, trucks, buses, and other road vehicles that transport passengers. In most cases, these public transportation jobs require a driver's license, while other jobs require the operator to have a specific commercial driver's license. The operator must, in most cases, have a clean driving record to be considered for such public transportation jobs, but the requirements may change from region to region.
Other operators do not work on land, but instead in the air or on the water. In just about all cases, airline pilots and boat captains will need to undergo extensive training in order to secure public transportation jobs. A boat captain may operate a ferry that transports people and cars, or he or she may operate tourist guide boats. Some regions require water transportation rather than road transportation, in which case the boat captain can pilot a boat of varying size. Airline pilots must be educated both in the classroom and in the air, and they must spend a significant amount of time piloting aircraft before they can be considered for a position as a commercial airline pilot. If the pilot prefers not to work for an airline, he or she can work as a charter pilot who operates his or her own aircraft. This, too, requires special licensing and training.
Of course, the vehicles the drivers will operate need continual upkeep and repair. Mechanics will take care of vehicle repairs and maintenance, and depending on the industry, the mechanic may need specific training and education pertaining to repair and maintenance jobs. Airplane and helicopter mechanics, for example, may need to take part in schooling that trains the candidate how to work on specific aircraft, while car and truck mechanics may not need education beyond an apprenticeship and extensive experience working on vehicles.