Some of it, however, requires extraordinary training and involves the use of sophisticated high-tech equipment. Examples of the latter include maintenance work on the navigational systems of ships and aircraft, trouble-shooting problems on railroad locomotives, and overseeing large fleets of vehicles to ensure that adequate numbers are available to meet peek period demands. All of these positions require a proper mix of education, skill and experience. This is why transportation agencies and companies rely on Consultants to perform tasks that are important, but only have to be done periodically. If an agency operates mass transit buses, for example, it might retain a consultant with expertise in designing new equipment whenever it becomes time to purchase new buses.
Some consulting firms specialize in providing skills and services to the transportation industry.
Other consulting firms serve a broader range of clients, but include transportation providers among their clients. These are many and varied. They involve governmental agencies that provide funding and subsidies for various transportation enterprises as well as governmental agencies that exercise regulatory control over one or another aspect of transportation. In years past, government was extremely involved in overseeing rate-setting by transportation agencies. Today, much of government's former role in the rate-setting area has been scaled back, if not entirely eliminated.