The United States Armed forces own and operate over 50,000 heavy trucks and transport vehicles, which include water/fuel tank trucks, semi-tractor trailers, troop transports, heavy equipment transports, and passenger buses. Transportation is the backbone of Logistics, and therefore Motor Transport Operators (88Ms) are the backbone of the Army¿s support and sustainment structure, providing advanced mobility on and off the battlefield. To operate and maintain the Army¿s complex vehicle systems, Transportation Corps Soldiers must be of the highest quality, with unparalleled motivation and self- discipline.

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:

• Operating all wheel vehicles and equipment over varied terrain and roadways for support of Army or Joint-service operations
• Operating vehicle mounted, automated information, communication, and navigation systems
• Managing loading, unloading, and safety of personnel being transported
• Overseeing and checking proper loading and unloading of cargo on vehicles and trailers
• Securing cargo against inclement weather, pilferage, and damage
• Operating vehicle component material handling equipment (MHE), as required
• Employing both mounted and dismounted land navigation techniques
• Must be knowledgeable with the operation of radios and weapons when they are mounted on the vehicle
• Employing convoy defense techniques
• Performing vehicle self-recovery and field expedient repairs, to include towing vehicles
• Identifying, correcting, or reporting all vehicle deficiencies; supporting mechanics where necessary
• Preparing vehicle for movement/shipment by air, rail, or vessel

Job training for a Motor Transport Operator requires 10 weeks of Basic Training, where you'll learn basic Soldiering skills, and seven weeks of Advanced Individual Training, including hands-on training with some of the world's most unique and complex vehicle systems. Part of this time is spent in classroom and simulation, but over 200 training hours are spent in actual vehicles and field training environments. Some of the skills you'll learn are:

• Basic and advanced medium/heavy vehicle control and operation, with/without semi-trailer, on/off road
• Accident prevention and local driving laws
• Safety check procedures
• Proper use of operator records, maintenance, and accident forms
• International road signs
• Basic vehicle maintenance
• Transporting hazardous materials

Helpful attributes include:

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

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

• Organizing and participating in convoys
• Dispatching vehicles; verifying vehicle logbooks
• Receiving and filling requests from authorized persons for motor transport
• Compiling time, mileage, and load data
• Planning and supervising convoy and truck company defenses
• Operating the Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Transport (HEMTT), Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET), and Palletized Loading System (PLS) vehicles to include performing self-recovery operations
• Executive and protocol driving assignments, to include the White House Transportation Agency

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, and heavy truck or bus driver.

• Transportation Management Coordinator (88N)

Learn more about the relationship between military training and civilian certification requirements.