A strong transportation industry-and a skilled workforce to build, operate and maintain it- is vital to economic success, driving productivity, supply chain reliability and competitiveness across sectors. However, employers in the transportation industry face complex workforce challenges including labor shortages, an aging workforce nearing retirement and difficulty recruiting younger workers. To meet growing talent demands, employers in the transportation industry are increasingly turning to Registered Apprenticeship, a proven solution for recruiting, training, and retaining world-class transportation talent. In 2025, there were 27,418 registered apprentices served in the transportation industry, a 10 percent increase over the past 5 years.
Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program Funding Opportunity Announcement
Discover the new Pay-for-Performance Incentive Payments Program, a national initiative making up to $145 million available to expand high-quality Registered Apprenticeships across the following designated industries including Shipbuilding and Defense Industrial Base, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Semiconductor, and Nuclear Energy Infrastructure, Information Technology, Healthcare, Transportation and Telecommunication. Additional information about the industries above is contained in the FOA. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the FOA in its entirety. Learn more about the Pay for Performance Funding Opportunity Announcement.
“The Apprentice Program at Oceaneering International, Inc. is first and foremost a proven talent development strategy. There is customized related instruction and on-the-job training tailored to our specific business needs. The end result is highly skilled employees, craftsmen in their chosen trade, and the next generation of leaders ready to move forward.”
Guy St. John, Apprentice Program Manager, Oceaneering International Inc.
High-Demand Apprenticeship Occupations
- Diesel Mechanic
- Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
- Avionics Technician
- Truck Driver
- Storage and Distribution Manager
To explore more apprenticeship occupations in the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics industry, view our Occupation Finder.
Competency-Based Occupational Frameworks
In collaboration with the Urban Institute, we offer national frameworks for occupations in this industry that are consensus based, meaning they are drafted in cooperation with employers, educators, and other workforce and training experts. Employers and businesses can use these frameworks to fast-track the development of their registered apprenticeships. The frameworks are competency based rather than time based, meaning that abilities are emphasized over memorized knowledge or skills. The result is high-quality, competency-based occupational frameworks (CBOFs) that are freely available for all to use. CBOFs are available for the following occupations:
Transportation Industry Resources
- Transportation Fact Sheet
- Strengthening Skills Training and Career Pathways across the Transportation Industry
- Transportation Workforce Development at Community Colleges
- Strategies to Attract and Retain a Capable Transportation Workforce
- Midwest Transportation Workforce Center
- National Training Standards Project (Transportation Learning Center)
- Transportation Industry Competency Models
Transportation Registered Apprenticeship Success Stories
Hear from Ariel on how Apprenticeship Drives Success.
Good jobs change lives. Apprenticeships can get you started. Ariel Cruz shares how an apprenticeship set him on the road to career success.
For more resources, program examples, and marketing materials, go to the Transportation, Logistics & Distribution Community of Practice page.
Disclaimer Statement: Transportation resources and speaker presentation content in slide decks and recordings do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Training Administration, Office of Apprenticeship, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the federal government.