Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation

Coastal and Great Lakes Freight Transportation employers move cargo by ship along U.S. coasts and the Great Lakes, coordinating loading, safe transit, and delivery through ports and terminals. You’ll see jobs in marine operations (deckhands, marine engineers, mates), port and dock work, and logistics roles like scheduling, cargo handling, and dispatch. Expect hands-on, safety-focused work with shift work and possible time away, and entry to many positions requires basic maritime safety training and merchant mariner credentials.