Ground Transportation

What does the Ground Transportation career field do?

Advances the Air Force mission by providing centralized, efficient, and economical organic ground transportation capabilities for movement of personnel and cargo. Plans, organizes, and directs ground transportation support to operational missions. Operates and manages light and heavy-duty vehicles such as buses, truck and semi-trailer combinations, forklifts, and wrecker/recovery vehicles. Administers the Department of Defense Official Use program, provides examination and licensing of installation motor vehicle operators, manages the installation’s pooled vehicle fleet, provides the efficient planning and use of equipment and resources, and performs preventative maintenance of the pooled vehicle fleet. Related DoD Occupational Subgroup: 181100.

Duties and responsibilities

• Operates, services, and performs preventative maintenance on government motor vehicles. Prepares, reviews, and maintains vehicle operator forms, records, and reports. Conducts pre-, during and post-operation vehicle inspections and documents results.
• Conducts control center operations through planning and scheduling of resources to meet transportation support requirements. Designates and coordinates taxi, shuttle bus and mass transportation requirements. Manages school bus transportation. Maintains records and logs. Controls and safeguards trip kit and packet supplies and equipment such as credit cards, toll tickets, and passes. Serves as unit control center and initiates quick reaction checklists, operation plans, and personnel recalls.
• Coordinates and schedules documented cargo movement. Uses automated and non-automated tracking processes for cargo accountability and maintains applicable forms. Reviews records and logs to ensure proper turn in of accountable documents.
• Provides transportation services for distinguished visitors and special events. Plans and coordinates special arrangements with protocol, security agencies and other functions. Displays appropriate customs and courtesies. Supports personal security details.
• Administers installation motor vehicle operator qualification, examination, and licensing program. Serves as liaison with federal, state, local, host nation and multi-national authorities on licensing matters; ensures compliance by base agencies. Initiates vehicle trainer background checks. Coordinates and maintains vehicle plans of instruction.
• Makes official use of government motor vehicle determinations. Documents and tracks reported cases of vehicle misuse.
• Develops and implements tactics, techniques, and procedures commensurate with expeditionary operational requirements in support of the USAF Agile Combat Support CONOPS. Reviews contingency, mobility, and natural disaster plans to determine ground transportation requirements. Identifies and establishes required bare-base ground transportation activities. Establishes sub motor pool procedures and implements deployment and redeployment actions. Prepares and conducts convoy operations. Operates vehicles while in mission oriented protective postures.
• Partners and combines skill sets with other functional communities, and entities in providing a full range of ground support capabilities in meeting the commander’s intent.
• Uses mobile communication and navigation systems. Determines and implements personal and collective security measures for expeditionary and in- garrison operations.
• Manages work centers. Establishes work methods and performance standards. Advises commander, staff, and operating agencies of availability, limitations, and requirements for motor vehicles and personnel. Develops operating and administrative procedures. Develops cost center resource requirement estimates. Compiles operating costs and maintains expense records. Prepares and defends budget. Allocates and inspects facilities and equipment. Conducts self-inspections. Investigates accidents or incidents within functional areas. Coordinates manning requirements with manpower agencies. Evaluates ground transportation services. Reviews and validates support agreements. Evaluates and approves special requests. Reviews, interprets, and validates records, directives, and documents. Performs as quality assurance evaluator and functional area chief. Partners with base contracting in developing and monitoring contract transportation services.

Specialty qualifications

Knowledge. Knowledge is mandatory of: safe operation of Air Force government motor vehicles, official use of government motor vehicles and equipment; control center operations, operator qualification and licensing functions; evaluating, staffing, and validating transportation support agreements; evaluating requirements and developing operating procedures to support contingency and mobility operations; resource management; custodial responsibilities; budget preparation; and developing and monitoring contracted services.

Education. For entry into this specialty, completion of high school is desirable.

Training. For award of AFSC 2T131, completion of the Ground Transportation Apprentice course is mandatory.

Experience. The following experience is mandatory for award of the AFSC indicated:

• 2T151. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2T131. Also, experience performing vehicle operations functions such as inspecting, servicing, operating, scheduling, and dispatching vehicles; controlling equipment and performing custodial duties; or preparing, reviewing, and maintaining vehicle forms and records.
• 2T171. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2T151. Also, experience performing or supervising functions such as vehicle dispatch, planning and scheduling transportation support, administering operator qualification and licensing program, developing cost center resource estimates, or investigating accidents or incidents.
• 2T191. Qualification in and possession of AFSC 2T171. Also, experience managing vehicle operations functions such as vehicle dispatch, operator records, and licensing.

Other. The following are mandatory as indicated:

• See attachment 4 for entry requirements.
• Must possess a valid state driver’s license to operate a government motor vehicle (GMV) in accordance with AFI 24-301, Ground Transportation, prior to entry into the Career Field.
• For entry, award, and retention of these AFSCs:
• Must possess a valid state driver’s license to operate government motor vehicles (GMV) in accordance with AFI 24-301, Ground Transportation.
• Must maintain eligibility to deploy and mobilize worldwide. Of the three assignment limitation codes, C-1, C-2, and C-3, those coded C-1 or C-2 with approved waivers for PCS/Deployment are acceptable provided they are capable of performing the core tasks of AFSC 2T1XX.
• Normal color vision as defined in AFI 48-123, Medical Examinations and Standards.
• For award and retention of these AFSCs, must maintain local network access IAW AFI 17-130, Cybersecurity Program Management and AFMAN 17-1301, Computer Security.
• Retraining into the 2T1XX career field within the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard is restricted to the grades of E-6 and below with less than 10 years of Total Federal Military Service.

Civilian career paths

Comparable civilian careers for this field pay roughly $27,640–$96,390 per year (median salaries; varies by role and location):

• Bus Drivers, School: $32,320
• Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity: $45,900
• Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment: $27,640
• First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators: $54,870
• Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver: $47,130
• Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators: $37,560
• Light Truck Drivers: $37,050
• Logisticians: $76,270
• Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks: $49,640
• Public Safety Telecommunicators: $43,290
• Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs: $32,320
• Taxi Drivers: $32,320
• Transportation Inspectors: $78,400
• Transportation Planners: $87,260
• Transportation Vehicle, Equipment and Systems Inspectors: $78,400
• Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers: $96,390