Transportation Specialist Interview Questions & Answers

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Tell the interviewer about your detail oriented capabilities in a work environment by providing an example in a professional or volunteer capacity, or alternatively in a university setting.

The document remains with bank and importers have to pay the exporter before they release the documents. In this payment is immediate, and document is released quickly

It is the most versatile attachment used for handling and transporting multiple unpalletized products such as furniture, carton, appliances, etc.

Cross docking is a process of unloading materials from an incoming semi-truck and loading directly into out-bounds trucks or trailers. It reduces handling costs, operating costs and the storage of inventory.

Compliance label are used as shipping labels, carton labels, pallet labels and they usually contain bar codes. It is used for the identification of goods delivered.

Deadweight tonnage is the difference between the laden and unladen weight of the ship. In other words, it is the weight of everything that ship carries except the ship itself.

☛ Advice of shipment: It is a notice sent to a foreign buyer or local trader informing them that the shipment has processed forward and carried information about packing, routing, etc. A copy of the invoice is often sent with it and if recommended a copy of landing also attached along with that.
☛ Advising Bank: Advising bank is a bank operating in the seller’s country, that handles letters of credit in behalf of a foreign bank

Tell the interviewer about your time management and organizational skills.

Provide an answer as to the reasons that led you to pursue a career in transportation management, and link this answer to the position you are applying for - so as to demonstrate your chosen career field/original career goal is in line with this role.

Look storage place which has the facility of single, double or multiple depth locations

☛ Bulk storage in vertical or straight direction: It is the most common method of organizing the container, it is organized in a vertical direction piling the container over each other.
☛ Bulk storage at angle: It is one of the solutions that can be applied in a situation when there is a limited place to accommodate containers. But it is applicable in special cases only, depending upon what material it carries.

A documents against acceptance are an arrangement or provision, where exporter instructs a bank to hand over shipping and title documents to the importer only if the importer agrees the accompanying bill of exchange or draft by signing it. This provision ensures that the buyer is legally bound to pay the full price to the exporter for the shipments, before ownership is transferred.

Anti-dumping duty is an import duty levied in cases where imported goods are priced at less than the normal price in the exporter’s domestic market and cause material loss to the domestic industry of the importing country.

Freight class is based on four factors

☛ Density: Weight per cubic foot
☛ Freight Stowability: width and length based on carrier mode rules
☛ Ease of handling: Evaluation of the effort required in transporting
☛ Liability: It includes liability to damage, breakability and perishability, freight price per pound and susceptibility of theft

Before you are hired for a company, an employer wants to be assured that you are willing to comply with all safety precautions. If you are transitioning to a similar, but different mode of transportation than the one you were trained in, take the time to educate yourself. Be as familiar as you can about the safety rules. Knowing the specific safety needs of the vehicle you plan to operate is of the utmost importance.

This is a very common question that is asked in almost every interview. I love this question because it gives you the opportunity to sell yourself. Discuss what makes you standout from the crowd and show them how you can help advance their company. Remember to be specific. This is where all the company research you have done comes into play. You should have an idea as to why the company is hiring or looking to hire someone for that position. What problem do they have that they are looking for people to help them solve? And once you can establish this, you are to show them how you can solve this problem for them.

Consignment inventory is in the possession of the customer but still owned by the supplier. It means you will pay the supplier only when their goods are sold.

A way bill which covers two or more consignment of freight is referred as blanket way bill.

It is a notice that is sent to the customer about the detailed shipment information in advance of delivery. It may also include carrier and shipment related information like time of shipment and expected time of arrival.

Stock Keeping Unit also referred as SKU number is a unique code used to identify particular line items.

Provide an example in a position held in a professional or volunteer capacity, or alternatively in a university setting, e.g., when working on a project with classmates.

Tell the interviewer your greatest weakness which can nevertheless benefit you in this position.

☛ Document against payment: The document remains with bank and importers have to pay the exporter before they release the documents. In this payment is immediate, and document is released quickly
☛ Document against acceptance: In this importer gives 30-45 days to bank to deduct the amount and then release the documents. In this provision, there is much risk, and if there is no sufficient balance in the account then, the process will get delayed.

A bill of lading includes following details

☛ Name and complete address of shippers and receivers
☛ Special account numbers or PO used between business for order tracking
☛ Instruction for the carrier for secure delivery
☛ Date of the shipment
☛ Number of shipping units
☛ Types of packaging that includes cartons, pallets, skids and drums
☛ Description about the shipped items (common name & material of manufacture)
☛ Declared value of the goods being shipped
☛ Note included if there is any hazardous substance in it
☛ Exact weight of the shipments – for multiple commodities, weight for each commodity is mentioned separately
☛ Freight classification of the items shipped, according to NMFC (National Motor freight classification)

The reason why you are asked this question is to hear what you consider difficult and how you approached the situation. Select a difficult work situation, which wasn’t caused by you and can be explained in a few sentences. You can then show yourself in a positive light by explaining how you handled the situation.

☛ 1. What attracted you to this position?
☛ 2. Are you willing to work as a substitute driver in all areas of the district?
☛ 3. Are you regularly available to drive, even when called at the last minute?
☛ 4. How do you plan to adapt to many different bus routes?
☛ 5. Have you ever had to control and discipline a group of children between the ages of 5 and 18?
☛ 6. What techniques do you plan to use in order to maintain control of the students who you will only drive for a few days on a substitute basis?
☛ 7. How would you handle a phone call from an angry parent accusing you of treating their child unfairly?
☛ 8. Do you feel it is important that bus stops and schedules be regular and on time? Why?
☛ 9. What specific skills have you acquired or used in previous experience that relate to this position?
☛ 10. You have a school bus tipped over on its right side with the front door obstructed. There are K-12 students on board, some of whom are seriously injured. What is your first priority? What is your follow-up plan?
☛ 11. Are you prepared to undergo an intensive training program that may take a minimum of six days?
☛ 12. We recognize one’s financial needs must be considered, but beyond this, what attracts you to this position?
☛ 13. What experience do you have operating a large vehicle?
☛ 14. If you were to encounter icy conditions, how would you handle the situation?
☛ 15. How would you handle a situation on your bus in which a student attempted to or did physically harm you or another student?
☛ 16. Would keeping a schedule or being on time on a bus run be of any importance, in your opinion?
☛ 17. You are leaving school at the end of the day. It is the last run and a fellow driver cuts you off. Will this affect your schedule? How will you react?
☛ 18. What is the most difficult situation you have been faced with involving another person? How did you deal with it?
☛ 19. You have come upon a serious accident where it is apparent there may have been loss of life. How would you deal with your bus? The students?
☛ 20. In our school system, a formal bus pass signed by a school official must be given to the driver before a student who is not normally your passenger can ride on your bus. A strange student boards your bus and insists he always goes to his friend’s house whenever he wants to. How would you handle this?
☛ 21. You have entered a busy intersection and a passenger vehicle cuts in front of you. What would be your response?
☛ 22. A student changes seats several times. You have asked him to sit still without success. What would be your response?
☛ 23. Have you ever had a strong disagreement with another person (adult or student)? How did you handle this conflict?
☛ 24. What would you consider good judgment when dealing with children?
☛ 25. Do you know a bus driver you believe is very good at his job? In what way do you feel that he is doing a good job?
☛ 26. What kind of things would you do to prepare to drive a school bus?
☛ 27. Why do you want to make a career of driving a school bus?
☛ 28. What do you like about the children that you have been transporting?
☛ 29. What characteristics do you possess that make you a good bus driver?
☛ 30. Give an example of a difficult problem you have experienced with a student or students on a bus run. How did you handle it?
☛ 31. A person you do not know comes to your bus to pick up a kindergarten student on your K-2 run. The student does not seem to know them. What would you do?
☛ 32. Do you practice defensive driving? On a daily basis, what are the techniques you practice?
☛ 33. In the event of a serious accident, what procedure would you follow?
☛ 34. What specific skills have you acquired that you feel have made you a better school bus driver?
☛ 35. Have you had time to prepare for this interview? If not, why not? If yes, how?