Ground Transportation — Salary, ROI & AI-Proof Rating at 96 Schools

What Ground Transportation Graduates Do

Your career in ground transportation puts you directly in the driver’s seat of the economy. You might be navigating a tractor-trailer on cross-country routes, managing logistics and conducting pre-trip inspections on your rig. Or, you could be the local link in the supply chain as a light truck driver, making time-sensitive deliveries across town and interacting with customers daily. Another path involves operating heavy equipment like bulldozers or excavators, shaping the landscape at construction sites.

Many drivers begin with local delivery or shuttle routes to build experience before earning a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). This license unlocks higher-paying roles in heavy trucking or transit bus operation. With strong overall demand and fast-growing roles like light truck driving, your skills will be highly sought after. This is hands-on work that requires real-world problem-solving and a physical presence, skills that can't be done from home or easily automated. As you gain experience and specialized endorsements, your earning potential increases significantly, moving you from a solid starting salary to a top-tier income.

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 14 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Ground Transportation. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship	Training Hours	Type	Salary RangeSalary	Growth
Asphalt Paving Machine Operator (Alt. Title: Concrete And Asphalt Equip Op) RAPIDS 872	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$45K – $51,650 – $66K	3.2%
Construction Driver RAPIDS 1032	2400 hrs ~1.2 yrs	Time	$47K – $57,440 – $66K	4.0%
Dredge Operator RAPIDS 117	2000 hrs ~1.0 yrs	Time	$46K – $48,430 – $60K	1.2%
Driver Service Provider (Existing Title: Truck Driver, Heavy) RAPIDS 980	5000 hrs ~2.5 yrs	Time	$47K – $57,440 – $66K	4.0%
Elevating-Grader Operator RAPIDS 138	4000 hrs ~2.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $58,710 – $76K	3.6%
Heavy And Tractor Trailer Truck Driver (Existing Title: Truck Driver, Heavy) RAPIDS 0980CB	Competency	Competency	$47K – $57,440 – $66K	4.0%
Locomotive Engineer RAPIDS 287	8000 hrs ~4.0 yrs	Time	$73K – $77,400 – $84K	0.7%
Motor-Grader Operator RAPIDS 932	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $58,710 – $76K	3.6%
Operating Engineer RAPIDS 0365HY	4000-6000 hrs	Hybrid	$48K – $58,710 – $76K	3.6%
Operating Engineer (Alternate Title: Heavy Construction Equipment Mechanic) RAPIDS 365	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$48K – $58,710 – $76K	3.6%
Truck Crane Operator (Alternate Title: Crane Operator) RAPIDS 14	6000 hrs ~3.0 yrs	Time	$51K – $66,370 – $82K	3.0%
Truck Driver, Heavy (Alternate Title: Freight Driver) RAPIDS 980	2000 hrs ~1.0 yrs	Time	$47K – $57,440 – $66K	4.0%
Truck Driver, Heavy (Alternate Title: Commericial Bobtail, Utility, Or Transport Driver, Propane) RAPIDS 0980CB	CB hrs	Competency	$47K – $57,440 – $66K	4.0%
Truck Driver, Heavy (Alternate Title: Motor Transport Operator) RAPIDS 0980HY	3000-4560 hrs	Hybrid	$47K – $57,440 – $66K	4.0%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Best Schools for Ground Transportation

Top 20 of 96 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

#	School	Score	EarningsEarn	ROI
1	Johnson County Community College Overland Park, KS	95 93–95	$74,114/yr	326.6x
2	Fox Valley Technical College Appleton, WI	92 91–93	$67,999/yr	111.6x
3	Central Lakes College-Brainerd Brainerd, MN	90 89–90	$64,164/yr	108.0x
4	Community College of Allegheny County Pittsburgh, PA	90 89–90	$59,330/yr	121.5x
5	Elgin Community College Elgin, IL	90 89–91	$51,945/yr	192.4x
6	Hagerstown Community College Hagerstown, MD	89 88–89	$53,495/yr	114.3x
7	Waukesha County Technical College Pewaukee, WI	88 86–88	$50,682/yr	119.8x
8	Lincoln Land Community College Springfield, IL	88 87–89	$49,142/yr	141.2x
9	Cape Fear Community College Wilmington, NC	88 87–89	$46,329/yr	167.6x
10	Arkansas State University-Newport Newport, AR	88 87–89	$45,980/yr	160.0x
11	Chattanooga State Community College Chattanooga, TN	87 86–87	$48,579/yr	107.6x
12	Wiregrass Georgia Technical College Valdosta, GA	87 86–88	$45,696/yr	114.7x
13	Central Georgia Technical College Warner Robins, GA	87 85–88	$43,652/yr	167.5x
14	West Georgia Technical College Waco, GA	87 85–88	$43,072/yr	179.5x
15	Davidson-Davie Community College Thomasville, NC	87 85–88	$41,081/yr	327.5x
16	Bevill State Community College Jasper, AL	86 85–86	$47,167/yr	104.5x
17	South Georgia Technical College Americus, GA	85 84–85	$42,551/yr	95.2x
18	Chattahoochee Technical College Marietta, GA	85 83–86	$40,590/yr	147.1x
19	Athens Technical College Athens, GA	85 83–85	$40,571/yr	126.9x
20	State Technical College of Missouri Linn, MO	84 82–84	$50,941/yr	75.2x
21	Alexandria Technical & Community College Alexandria, MN	84 83–84	$48,587/yr	82.1x
22	Hazard Community and Technical College Hazard, KY	84 83–84	$43,818/yr	93.1x
23	North Arkansas College Harrison, AR	84 83–84	$39,576/yr	124.1x
24	Southern Crescent Technical College Griffin, GA	83 82–83	$37,668/yr	116.7x
25	Minnesota State College Southeast Winona, MN	82 80–82	$47,171/yr	70.2x
26	Riverland Community College Austin, MN	82 81–82	$45,619/yr	72.0x
27	Meridian Community College Meridian, MS	82 81–82	$38,766/yr	99.5x
28	Albany Technical College Albany, GA	82 81–83	$36,946/yr	126.9x
29	Savannah Technical College Savannah, GA	81 80–82	$35,969/yr	119.7x
30	Atlanta Technical College Atlanta, GA	81 80–81	$35,709/yr	111.9x
31	Ogeechee Technical College Statesboro, GA	81 80–81	$35,427/yr	111.8x
32	Florida State College at Jacksonville Jacksonville, FL	81 80–81	$34,562/yr	119.1x
33	Tidewater Community College Norfolk, VA	80 78–80	$39,383/yr	78.7x
34	Southern Regional Technical College Thomasville, GA	80 79–81	$34,746/yr	110.3x
35	Northwest Iowa Community College Sheldon, IA	79 79–79	$60,943/yr	41.9x
36	Crowder College Neosho, MO	79 78–79	$40,759/yr	65.0x
37	Southeastern Technical College Vidalia, GA	79 78–79	$33,256/yr	103.8x
38	Oconee Fall Line Technical College Sandersville, GA	79 78–79	$33,226/yr	99.8x
39	Hinds Community College Raymond, MS	77 76–77	$32,532/yr	90.0x
40	Bishop State Community College Mobile, AL	76 75–76	$35,619/yr	69.7x
41	Southeast Community College Area Lincoln, NE	76 75–76	$30,980/yr	86.5x
42	Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas Helena, AR	76 75–76	$30,221/yr	92.6x
43	New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Rhode Island Pawtucket, RI	74 72–74	$51,761/yr	—
44	New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts North Andover, MA	74 72–74	$51,761/yr	—
45	Hamrick School Medina, OH	73 71–73	$47,287/yr	—
46	Fortis Institute-Scranton Scranton, PA	73 73–73	$46,797/yr	32.0x
47	Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute Wyomissing, PA	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
48	Miller-Motte College-STVT-McAllen McAllen, TX	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
49	Miller-Motte College-Charleston Charleston, SC	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
50	Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga Chattanooga, TN	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
51	Miller-Motte College-Raleigh Raleigh, NC	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
52	Miller-Motte College-McCann-Allentown Allentown, PA	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
53	Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville Fayetteville, NC	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
54	Miller-Motte College-STVT-San Antonio San Antonio, TX	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
55	Miller-Motte College-Jacksonville Jacksonville, NC	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
56	Miller-Motte College-Augusta Augusta, GA	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
57	Miller-Motte College-Conway Conway, SC	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
58	Miller-Motte College-STVT-Arlington Arlington, TX	72 71–73	$46,909/yr	—
59	Warren County Career Center Lebanon, OH	72 70–72	$44,616/yr	—
60	Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College Minden, LA	72 66–72	$24,514/yr	129.3x
61	North American Trade Schools Baltimore, MD	71 70–72	$43,827/yr	—
62	Rosedale Technical College Pittsburgh, PA	71 69–72	$43,415/yr	30.6x
63	New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Connecticut Somers, CT	71 69–71	$43,172/yr	—
64	New England Tractor Trailer Training School of CT-Bridgeport Bridgeport, CT	71 69–71	$43,172/yr	—
65	All-State Career-Baltimore Baltimore, MD	71 69–71	$43,160/yr	—
66	All-State Career School-Pittsburgh West Mifflin, PA	71 69–71	$43,160/yr	—
67	All-State Career School Essington, PA	71 69–71	$43,092/yr	—
68	Pearl River Community College Poplarville, MS	71 71–72	$27,251/yr	73.7x
69	Greater Johnstown Career and Technology Center Johnstown, PA	70 69–71	$41,978/yr	—
70	New Castle School of Trades New Castle, PA	70 69–71	$41,747/yr	—
71	City Colleges of Chicago-Olive-Harvey College Chicago, IL	70 65–70	$24,356/yr	79.1x
72	Advanced Technology Institute Virginia Beach, VA	69 69–69	$40,332/yr	26.7x
73	Diesel Driving Academy-Shreveport Shreveport, LA	69 67–69	$38,978/yr	—
74	Advanced Career Institute Visalia, CA	69 67–69	$38,651/yr	—
75	Mid-EastCTC-Adult Education Zanesville, OH	68 66–68	$37,227/yr	—
76	International Air and Hospitality Academy Vancouver, WA	68 66–68	$36,783/yr	—
77	Pennsylvania College of Technology Williamsport, PA	67 65–67	$45,504/yr	11.7x
78	HDS Truck Driving Institute Tucson, AZ	67 66–68	$36,576/yr	—
79	Midwest Technical Institute-Illinois Springfield, IL	67 66–68	$36,234/yr	—
80	Delta Technical College-Mississippi Horn Lake, MS	67 66–68	$36,234/yr	—
81	Midwest Technical Institute-Missouri Springfield, MO	67 66–68	$36,234/yr	—
82	Diesel Driving Academy-Baton Rouge Baton Rouge, LA	67 65–67	$35,588/yr	—
83	CET-San Jose San Jose, CA	66 65–67	$34,665/yr	—
84	CET-El Centro El Centro, CA	66 65–67	$34,665/yr	—
85	CET-Colton Colton, CA	66 65–67	$34,665/yr	—
86	CET-Oxnard Oxnard, CA	66 65–67	$34,665/yr	—
87	CET-Santa Maria Santa Maria, CA	66 65–67	$34,665/yr	—
88	CET-El Paso El Paso, TX	66 65–67	$34,665/yr	—
89	CET-Soledad Soledad, CA	66 65–67	$34,665/yr	—
90	Fortis College-Cuyahoga Falls Cuyahoga Falls, OH	65 60–65	$30,416/yr	33.5x
91	U.S. Truck Driver Training School Sterling Heights, MI	64 63–65	$31,688/yr	—
92	Tennessee College of Applied Technology-Jackson Jackson, TN	64 62–65	$31,124/yr	—
93	Fortis Institute-Cookeville Cookeville, TN	64 60–65	$30,416/yr	32.1x
94	Shawnee Community College Ullin, IL	64 64–65	$24,036/yr	50.7x
95	M T Training Center Grand Prairie, TX	62 60–63	$28,532/yr	—
96	Iowa Central Community College Fort Dodge, IA	62 57–63	$18,387/yr	64.2x

Highest Earning Ground Transportation Programs

Schools where Ground Transportation graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

School	1-Year Earnings	Score
Johnson County Community College	$74,114/yr	95
Fox Valley Technical College	$67,999/yr	92
Central Lakes College-Brainerd	$64,164/yr	90
Northwest Iowa Community College	$60,943/yr	79
Community College of Allegheny County	$59,330/yr	90
Hagerstown Community College	$53,495/yr	89
Elgin Community College	$51,945/yr	90
New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Rhode Island	$51,761/yr	74
New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts	$51,761/yr	74
State Technical College of Missouri	$50,941/yr	84

Best ROI for Ground Transportation

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Ground Transportation.

School	ROI Multiple	Earnings	Score
Davidson-Davie Community College	327.5x	$41,081/yr	87
Johnson County Community College	326.6x	$74,114/yr	95
Elgin Community College	192.4x	$51,945/yr	90
West Georgia Technical College	179.5x	$43,072/yr	87
Cape Fear Community College	167.6x	$46,329/yr	88
Central Georgia Technical College	167.5x	$43,652/yr	87
Arkansas State University-Newport	160.0x	$45,980/yr	88
Chattahoochee Technical College	147.1x	$40,590/yr	85
Lincoln Land Community College	141.2x	$49,142/yr	88
Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College	129.3x	$24,514/yr	72

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Ground Transportation graduates make in their first year?

The median first-year salary across 96 Ground Transportation programs is $41,481. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($18,387) and highest ($74,114) earning programs is significant.

How AI-proof is a career in Ground Transportation?

Ground Transportation is rated "AI-Proof" for AI resilience — 80% of job tasks involve hands-on work shielded from AI automation. That means the vast majority of career tasks in this field rely on skills AI cannot replicate.

Which school has the best Ground Transportation program?

Our data ranks Johnson County Community College first among 96 Ground Transportation programs. Its score of 95/100 reflects strong outcomes across earnings ($74,114/yr), return on investment, and career durability.

Is Ground Transportation worth it?

On average, Ground Transportation graduates earn 106.7x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.