Will AI replace Transportation Inspectors?

Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 44 official task statements scored for Transportation Inspectors (United States, SOC 53-6051), 18% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 23 out of 100 (range 19–29, band: low). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.

Which tasks in “Transportation Inspectors” can AI already do?

The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Calculate gross and net tonnage, hold capacities, volumes of stored fuel and water, cargo weights, and vessel stability factors, using mathematical formulas” (88/100, very high); “Prepare and maintain detailed repair, inspection, investigation, and certification records and reports” (81/100, very high); “Prepare reports on investigations or inspections and actions taken” (81/100, very high). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.

Which tasks in “Transportation Inspectors” stay human?

About 71% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Visually inspect cargo for damage upon arrival or discharge” (0/100, minimal); “Measure vessels' holds and depths of fuel and water in tanks, using sounding lines and tape measures” (0/100, minimal); “Post warning signs on vehicles containing explosives or flammable or radioactive materials” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.

What should someone working in “Transportation Inspectors” do about AI?

Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 18% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 71% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.

How is the AI exposure score for Transportation Inspectors calculated?

Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 44 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

US dataswitch to UK

Transportation Inspectors

inspecting work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, starting aircraft and observing gauges and preparing reports on investigations or inspections and actions taken. If that's your week, this page is about your job.

The honest answer

AI is already taking a real slice of the routine work here: preparing and maintaining detailed repair. That is a slice of tasks, not of you.

Your move: what you can actually do about this ↓

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 18%
changing shape: 11%
staying human: 71%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

Whole-job exposure score 23 out of 100 (19–29 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, across 44 scored tasks. The number is the support for the sentence above it, not a headline about anyone’s future.

How we know this

What is measured: Every published task statement for transportation inspectors is rated on five dimensions: can a model produce the output, does the work need a body in a room, does it need a legally accountable person, does it depend on a person being trusted in the moment, and how much data exists. A published formula turns those five ratings into the score; the model never writes the number.

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-05. Read the full method.

That slice is not coming back; the core of the job, inspecting work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, stays yours. New tools, same person answering for it.

Your week, as this page understands it

Inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people. Includes rail transportation inspectors, such as freight inspectors, rail inspectors, and other inspectors of transportation vehicles not elsewhere classified. The job title says “transportation inspectors”. The real job is the part underneath: inspecting work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance. That is the thing someone has to be right about.

The exposed part of this job is specific, and we won’t pretend it is coming back. But transportation inspectors is not one task. It is 44 scored ones, and they are nowhere near equally exposed. The most durable of them, on this evidence, is inspecting work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, and the ledger below shows exactly why.

Where the work sits, by task weight

shifting to AI: 18%
changing shape: 11%
staying human: 71%

These bars are tasks changing hands, not people being counted out. The ledger below shows which.

How we know this

How the bar is built: Each task’s share of the bar is its published importance weight, so a task you do all day counts for more than one you do twice a year.

Release: 2026-q4.1, scores computed 2026-08-05. Read the full method.

Your job, task by task

These are the official task statements for this occupation, in plain English, sorted by what the evidence says is happening to each one. The official wording sits under every line so you can check the rewrite against it.

2 tasks scored differently between repeat runs, so their range on this page is wider. We would rather show the wobble than hide it.
7 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Shifting to AI

8 tasks

Tasks today’s tools can already do most of. This is the part we will not soften: where these rows are the bulk of your week, the week changes.

Examining maintenance records and flight logs to determine if service and maintenance checks and overhauls were performed at prescribed intervals
This is reading one thing and writing another: maintenance records in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 5 · Core
Source: “Examine maintenance records and flight logs to determine if service and maintenance checks and overhauls were performed at prescribed intervals.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 69 out of 100 (62–76 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Checking maintenance records and flight logs against required intervals is exact record comparison that software does well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Preparing and submitting reports after completion of freight shipments
This is reading one thing and writing another: reports after completion of freight shipments in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 5 · Core
Source: “Prepare and submit reports after completion of freight shipments.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 66 out of 100 (59–73 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Writing up a shipment report from recorded findings is document work software does well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Preparing and maintaining detailed repair
This is reading one thing and writing another: detailed repair in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Prepare and maintain detailed repair, inspection, investigation, and certification records and reports.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 81 out of 100 (74–88 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Preparing inspection and certification records is structured document work that software produces reliably.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Determining cargo transportation capabilities by reading documents that set forth cargo loading and securing procedures
This is reading one thing and writing another: cargo transportation capabilities in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Determine cargo transportation capabilities by reading documents that set forth cargo loading and securing procedures, capacities, and stability factors.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 81 out of 100 (74–88 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Working out what a vessel can carry from loading, capacity and stability documents is exactly what software is good at.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Changing shape

4 tasks

Tasks where the machine takes the producing and a person keeps the checking, the deciding, or the answering-for-it. For most jobs this is the biggest group, and it is where "transformation, not termination" is literally visible.

Recording details about freight conditions
The software now makes the first pass at details, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Record details about freight conditions, handling of freight, and any problems encountered.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 49 out of 100 (42–56 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Recording freight conditions and problems is routine note-taking, though the observations come from being there.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Notifying workers of any special treatment required for shipments
The software now makes the first pass at workers of any special treatment, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Notify workers of any special treatment required for shipments.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 42 out of 100 (35–49 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Telling workers what special handling a shipment needs is looking up documented requirements and passing them on.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Recommending remedial procedures to correct any violations found during inspections
The software now makes the first pass at remedial procedures, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Recommend remedial procedures to correct any violations found during inspections.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 42 out of 100 (35–49 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Recommending fixes for a violation follows published rules, so software can draft the recommendation.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.

Staying human

32 tasks

Tasks that stay with a person, because they happen in the physical world, because the rules need someone accountable, or because the value is that a specific person does them.

Inspecting work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance
This work happens in the physical world: work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 5 · Core
Source: “Inspect work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, modification, or repair and overhaul of aircraft and aircraft mechanical systems to ensure adherence to standards and procedures.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Checking a mechanic’s work on an aircraft means being at the aircraft with it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 3/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Inspecting new, repaired or modified aircraft to identify damage or defects and to assess airworthiness and conformance to standards, using checklists, hand tools and test instruments
This work happens in the physical world: new, repaired or modified aircraft, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 5 · Core
Source: “Inspect new, repaired, or modified aircraft to identify damage or defects and to assess airworthiness and conformance to standards, using checklists, hand tools, and test instruments.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Inspecting an aircraft for damage with tools and instruments means hands and eyes on the airframe.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Inspecting vehicles or other equipment for evidence of abuse
This work happens in the physical world: vehicles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Inspect vehicles or other equipment for evidence of abuse, damage, or mechanical malfunction.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Looking a vehicle over for abuse or mechanical faults means being at the vehicle.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

Show the other 34 tasks

Calculating gross and net tonnage
shifting to AI
This is reading one thing and writing another: gross in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance not published
O*NET hasn't yet published importance ratings for this occupation's tasks, so the ordering here is ours, not theirs.
Source: “Calculate gross and net tonnage, hold capacities, volumes of stored fuel and water, cargo weights, and vessel stability factors, using mathematical formulas.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 88 out of 100 (84–92 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Tonnage, capacity and stability calculations follow published formulas, which software computes faster and more reliably.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 4/4.
Preparing reports on investigations or inspections and actions taken
shifting to AI
This is reading one thing and writing another: reports in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Prepare reports on investigations or inspections and actions taken.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 81 out of 100 (74–88 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Writing up inspection findings and actions taken is structured report work software does well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Examining carrier operating rules
shifting to AI
This is reading one thing and writing another: carrier operating rules in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 3 · Supplemental
Source: “Examine carrier operating rules, employee qualification guidelines, or carrier training and testing programs for compliance with regulations or safety standards.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 81 out of 100 (74–88 allowing for uncertainty): very high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Comparing a carrier’s rules and training programs against regulations is document review software does well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Reviewing commercial vehicle logs, shipping papers or driver and equipment records to detect any problems or to ensure compliance with regulations
shifting to AI
This is reading one thing and writing another: commercial vehicle logs in, a record out. That is the shape today's tools are built for.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Review commercial vehicle logs, shipping papers, or driver and equipment records to detect any problems or to ensure compliance with regulations.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 61 out of 100 (54–68 allowing for uncertainty): high exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Checking logs, shipping papers and driver records against the rules is exact document comparison software handles well.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 4/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Recommending changes in rules, policies, standards and regulations
changing shape
The software now makes the first pass at changes, but the deciding part still needs a person. So the job becomes checking and deciding rather than producing.
importance 3 · Core
Source: “Recommend changes in rules, policies, standards, and regulations, based on knowledge of operating conditions, aircraft improvements, and other factors.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 50 out of 100 (43–57 allowing for uncertainty): partial exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch.
The rating behind it: Software can draft rule changes from operating evidence, but the judgment behind them comes from long experience.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Issuing notices and recommending corrective actions when infractions or problems are found
staying human
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for notices, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Issue notices and recommend corrective actions when infractions or problems are found.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 36 out of 100 (29–43 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: reading one thing and writing another; the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Notices follow set formats and published rules, but issuing one carries official weight.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 3/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Recommending replacement, repair or modification of aircraft equipment
staying human
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for replacement, repair or modification of aircraft equipment, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Recommend replacement, repair, or modification of aircraft equipment.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 32 out of 100 (25–39 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Software can suggest repairs from the evidence, but a certified inspector is expected to make the call.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 1/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Approving or denying issuance of certificates of airworthiness
staying human
The rules require a named, qualified person to answer for issuance of certificates of airworthiness, and that person cannot be a piece of software.
importance 5 · Core
Source: “Approve or deny issuance of certificates of airworthiness.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 29 out of 100 (25–33 allowing for uncertainty): low exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: An airworthiness certificate is legally the act of an authorized inspector, whatever analysis sits behind it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 0/4 · needs an accountable person 4/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Investigating complaints regarding safety violations
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: complaints regarding safety violations, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 3 · Supplemental
Source: “Investigate complaints regarding safety violations.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 19 out of 100 (12–26 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Following up a safety complaint usually means going to look and speaking to people.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Investigating incidents or violations, such as delays, accidents and equipment failures
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: incidents, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Investigate incidents or violations, such as delays, accidents, and equipment failures.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 19 out of 100 (12–26 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Investigating an accident or equipment failure means visiting scenes and talking to the people involved.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Conducting remote inspections of motor vehicles
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: remote inspections of motor vehicles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Conduct remote inspections of motor vehicles, using handheld controllers and remotely directed vehicle inspection devices.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 19 out of 100 (12–26 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Remote inspection tools already move part of this off site, though someone still directs the equipment.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Analyzing training programs and conducting oral and written examinations to ensure the competency of persons operating
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: programs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Analyze training programs and conduct oral and written examinations to ensure the competency of persons operating, installing, and repairing aircraft equipment.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Test questions are easy to draft, but examining someone’s competence to work on aircraft is a regulated, in-person judgment.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Checking temperatures and humidities of shipping and storage areas to ensure that they are at appropriate levels to protect cargo
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: temperatures, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Check temperatures and humidities of shipping and storage areas to ensure that they are at appropriate levels to protect cargo.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Sensors can log temperature and humidity, but checking storage areas is still largely done on site.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Measuring heights and widths of loads to ensure they will pass over bridges or through tunnels on scheduled routes
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: heights, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Measure heights and widths of loads to ensure they will pass over bridges or through tunnels on scheduled routes.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 13 out of 100 (6–20 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: the same decision, made over and over; mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Route clearance can be calculated, but measuring the actual load means being at the vehicle with a tape.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 3/4.
Conducting vehicle or transportation equipment tests
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: vehicle, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Conduct vehicle or transportation equipment tests, using diagnostic equipment.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Running diagnostic tests means connecting equipment to the vehicle and operating it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Identifying modifications to engines, fuel systems
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: modifications, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Identify modifications to engines, fuel systems, emissions control equipment, or other vehicle systems to determine the impact of modifications on inspection procedures or conclusions.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 11 out of 100 (4–18 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: mistakes that are cheap to catch; work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Spotting engine or emissions modifications means looking under the hood of the actual vehicle.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Investigating air accidents and complaints to determine causes
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: air accidents, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 5 · Supplemental
Source: “Investigate air accidents and complaints to determine causes.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 10 out of 100 (3–17 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Accident investigation depends on wreckage, sites and interviews that only a person can work through.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 2/4 · needs an accountable person 2/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 1/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Advising crews in techniques of stowing dangerous and heavy cargo
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: crews, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Advise crews in techniques of stowing dangerous and heavy cargo.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 8 out of 100 (1–15 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Showing a crew how to stow dangerous cargo happens on the deck with the cargo in front of them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 2/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Directing crews to reload freight or to insert additional bracing or packing
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: crews, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Direct crews to reload freight or to insert additional bracing or packing as necessary.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 4 out of 100 (0–11 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, medium confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; the value is that a specific person does it.
The rating behind it: Directing a crew to reload or add bracing happens at the dock while they work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 1/4 · needs a body in a room 3/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 2/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Starting aircraft and observing gauges
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: aircraft, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Start aircraft and observe gauges, meters, and other instruments to detect evidence of malfunctions.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Starting an aircraft and watching its instruments means sitting in it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Examining aircraft access plates and doors for security
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: aircraft access plates, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Examine aircraft access plates and doors for security.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Checking access plates and doors means physically trying them.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Examining landing gear, tires and exteriors of fuselage, wings and engines for evidence of damage or corrosion
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: gear, tires and exteriors of fuselage, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Examine landing gear, tires, and exteriors of fuselage, wings, and engines for evidence of damage or corrosion and the need for repairs.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Examining landing gear, tires and fuselage for corrosion means inspecting the aircraft itself.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Conducting flight test programs to test equipment
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: flight test programs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Conduct flight test programs to test equipment, instruments, and systems under a variety of conditions, using both manual and automatic controls.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Flight testing means being in the aircraft flying it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Inspecting vehicles or equipment to ensure compliance with rules
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: vehicles, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Inspect vehicles or equipment to ensure compliance with rules, standards, or regulations.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–7 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world; someone qualified has to answer for it.
The rating behind it: Checking a vehicle against the rules means physically inspecting it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 3/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Inspecting repairs to transportation vehicles or equipment to ensure that repair work was performed properly
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: repairs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Inspect repairs to transportation vehicles or equipment to ensure that repair work was performed properly.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Checking that a repair was done properly means examining the repaired vehicle.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Attaching onboard diagnostics, OBD) scanner cables to vehicles to conduct emissions inspections
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: onboard diagnostics, obd) scanner cables, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 3 · Supplemental
Source: “Attach onboard diagnostics (OBD) scanner cables to vehicles to conduct emissions inspections.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–7 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence, and it moved between repeat runs, so the range is widened.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Plugging a scanner cable into a vehicle is physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Conducting visual inspections of emission control equipment and smoke emitted from gasoline or diesel vehicles
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: visual inspections of emission control equipment, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Conduct visual inspections of emission control equipment and smoke emitted from gasoline or diesel vehicles.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Looking at emission equipment and watching exhaust smoke means standing at the vehicle.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Inspecting shipments to ensure that freight is securely
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: shipments, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Inspect shipments to ensure that freight is securely braced and blocked.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Checking that freight is properly braced means climbing into the trailer or hold and looking.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 1/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Observing loading of freight to ensure that crews comply with procedures
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: freight, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Observe loading of freight to ensure that crews comply with procedures.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Watching a crew load freight means standing there while they do it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Inspecting loaded cargo
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: loaded cargo, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Inspect loaded cargo, cargo lashed to decks or in storage facilities, and cargo handling devices to determine compliance with health and safety regulations and need for maintenance.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Inspecting lashed cargo and handling gear means physically going over it.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Reading draft markings to determine depths of vessels in water
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: draft markings, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Core
Source: “Read draft markings to determine depths of vessels in water.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Reading draft marks means looking at the waterline on the hull.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Posting warning signs on vehicles containing explosives or flammable or radioactive materials
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: signs, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance 4 · Supplemental
Source: “Post warning signs on vehicles containing explosives or flammable or radioactive materials.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Putting hazard placards on a vehicle is physical work.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.
Measuring vessels' holds and depths of fuel and water in tanks
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: vessels' holds, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance not published
O*NET hasn't yet published importance ratings for this occupation's tasks, so the ordering here is ours, not theirs.
Source: “Measure vessels' holds and depths of fuel and water in tanks, using sounding lines and tape measures.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Sounding tanks and measuring holds is done with lines and tapes on the vessel.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 1/4.
Visuallying inspect cargo for damage upon arrival or discharge
staying human
This work happens in the physical world: inspect cargo, in a real place. Software cannot follow it there.
importance not published
O*NET hasn't yet published importance ratings for this occupation's tasks, so the ordering here is ours, not theirs.
Source: “Visually inspect cargo for damage upon arrival or discharge.” (O*NET task statement)
How this row was scored
Exposure score: 0 out of 100 (0–4 allowing for uncertainty): minimal exposure, high confidence.
Why it sits in this group: work that happens in the physical world.
The rating behind it: Looking over cargo for damage as it comes off means being on the quay.
The five ratings: output a model can produce 0/4 · needs a body in a room 4/4 · needs an accountable person 0/4 · needs to be trusted in the moment 0/4 · how much data exists 2/4.

What this job pays, and how many people do it

Median pay: $92,100a year, the middle of the range, so half earn more and half earn less.bls-oews, 2025 · May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)
How we know this
Source: bls-oews
Reference period: May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)
Rounding: Shown as published.
People doing this job: 24,500in the US, 2025.bls-oews · May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx)

What is deliberately not here: a forecast of how many of these jobs exist in ten years. Where an official projection exists for a market we publish it with its vintage; where it does not, we leave the space empty rather than borrow the other country’s number.

Why this is shifting

The reason is boringly specific. Most of what is shifting here is reading one thing and writing another: detailed repair in, a record out. The rows above are exactly that shape: preparing and maintaining detailed repair and examining maintenance records and flight logs to determine if service and maintenance checks and overhauls were performed at prescribed intervals. What it cannot do is be there in the room, and that is still where work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance gets done. Which is why this page talks about your tasks changing, not your job ending.

Your move

Over a pint: what I’d tell you if you were my friend

Start with what does not change: inspecting work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance is the middle of this job, and the evidence on this page says it stays with a person.

So, given all that: 18% of this job's task weight sits in rows the software is already learning, 11% in rows that change shape rather than disappear, and 71% in rows it is nowhere near. That is the position, measured across 44 scored tasks. It is not a forecast about you.

So the thing worth your attention is not the job going away. It is the layer around it. Preparing and maintaining detailed repair is the part turning into software, and being the person who understands that layer is worth money.

This week: one thing

Ask the one question. Find whoever is bringing new software into your workplace (the manager, the office, whoever runs the system) and ask them what it is meant to do to detailed repair, and what it is not meant to touch. Ten minutes, this week, before anyone decides it for you.

What you end up holding: a straight answer about what is actually being rolled out, and when
How long it takes: ten minutes

If there’s nobody obvious to ask, or you’d rather not ask your manager: Put the same question to your union rep, your shift lead or the person who has been there longest, in person, over a break. Same ten minutes, same answer, and you will usually get a straighter one. Write down what they say. The note is the artifact, and it tells you whether work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance is in scope or not. Nothing to log into, no license needed.

Over the next 90 days

Get inside the tool rollout rather than waiting for it. Over the next ninety days, ask to be in the group that tests, checks or signs off whatever new system arrives near recording details about freight conditions. It is usually an unglamorous seat that nobody fights for, and it is the one that decides how the software is used on your job rather than to it.

Over the next 12 months

On this evidence I would not retrain out of this job, and I will say that plainly rather than hedge it. The task list here is dominated by work that stays with a person. What I would do with a year is get formally recognised for the layer around it (the systems, the compliance, the planning), so you are the one who understands the software instead of the one it is done to. Before you pay for anything, use CareerOneStop - Find local training. It is free, it is the Labor Department's own service, and it is listed below with the rest of the free routes.

The roads out of here, and why I am not sending you down them

I looked at the obvious moves out of this job, and here is what I found.

I checked the 12 nearest US occupations to transportation inspectors (nearest by the work that AI is not taking, not by job title), and none of them survived. The closest was commercial pilots: only about 3% of its durable work is work you already do. And on the numbers you do not need one. This job scores 23/100 here, with only 18% of the task list in the top band, and “inspect work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, modification, or repair and overhaul…” is not work that hands over cleanly. None of them beats deepening what you already have.

How that was checked: this job was compared against all 830 US occupations in this release on their official task statements, and the 12 nearest were examined one by one. A move that turns on an industry, an employer or a qualification rather than on the work itself will not show up in a check like that. And this release carries no licence register, so anything you are weighing needs that looked up separately.

3 moves I checked and rejected

These are the obvious-looking jumps. They are here with their reasons rather than quietly dropped, because the ones that fail are worth knowing about. It is one less thing to turn over at night.

Commercial Pilots
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already inspect work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, modification, or repair and overhaul of…, and their equivalent is to perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance. Across both published task lists that is about 3% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 3% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already inspect work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance, modification, or repair and overhaul of…, and their equivalent is to inspect completed work to certify that maintenance meets standards and that aircraft are…. Across both published task lists that is about 2% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 2% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step. It is a pay cut, in those words: $79,870 against your $92,100, 13.3% less (OEWS May 2025 (both)). Retraining to earn less is a decision, not advice.
Look at that job’s page anyway →
Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics
Why it looked obvious: It came up as a near neighbour on the work AI is not taking: you already inspect vehicles or other equipment for evidence of abuse, damage, or mechanical malfunction, and their equivalent is to inspect vehicles for damage and record findings. Across both published task lists that is about 2% of the durable work in that job.
Why I am not recommending it: Almost none of it is work you already do: about 2% of the durable side of that job. That is a different job, not a next step. It is a pay cut, in those words: $50,620 against your $92,100, 45.0% less (OEWS May 2025 (both)). Retraining to earn less is a decision, not advice.
Look at that job’s page anyway →

What I’d stop worrying about

A friend tells you what not to spend fear on. This is that list.

The headline number you read somewhere
The big “X% of jobs” figures are about the whole economy, not about you. The number that describes your job is on this page: 18% of its task weight, across 44 scored tasks. Every row behind it is printed above with the source. Check ours; ignore theirs.
The headlines about your trade disappearing
They are usually about the technology, not the timetable. Changes to work like inspecting work of aircraft mechanics performing maintenance arrive through rules, insurance and money, slowly and visibly. This page tracks the task evidence and will move when it moves.
Retraining out of a job that is holding up
On this evidence I would not spend money leaving. Spend it on the layer around the job instead: the tools, the paperwork, the planning. That is where the change actually is.
The “obvious” next job everyone suggests
I checked the obvious moves and most of them did not survive. The reasons are printed with the routes above, including the pay and the gate. A move that fails on the numbers is worth knowing about so you can stop turning it over at night.

You are reading the United States figures

The United Kingdom splits this work across more than one official group, of which Inspectors of standards and regulations is the closest. The pay and employment figures are not directly comparable, and we do not average them together.

Switch to the United Kingdom page →partial match

The other groups this work is counted across:

Environmental health professionals

In UK official statistics this job is counted as Inspectors of standards and regulations and Environmental health professionals. Pay is shown separately for each of those groups (medians cannot be averaged together), while the task list and the scores on this page are for this group only.

Your route through this

Where to go next, and what it costs

Free, and complete

The moves above cost nothing. These are the real services that go with them: public, government-funded, and free at the point of use. Nothing on this page is behind an email address or a payment.

Anywhere in the US:
CareerOneStop - Find local training
Search what's running near you, from the Labor Department's own database, before anyone sells you a course.
Free to search; individual programs vary, and some are funded
Anywhere in the US:
American Job Center locator
An American Job Center will sit down with you for free. Find yours by ZIP code.
Free
- CareerOneStop local help hub
Anywhere in the US:
CareerOneStop - Licensed occupations finder
Check what your state actually requires before you pay for anything.
Free
Anywhere in the US:
CareerOneStop
Free

No Space for this job, but one for what is happening to it

Nothing Collab365 runs is built for transportation inspectors, and we are not going to point you at the nearest one and call it a fit.

There is one that is not about a job title at all. The AI Authority is about being the person who directs these tools at work rather than the person they get compared to. That is worth saying here, because 18% of the work on this page is already inside what they can do.

Try The AI Authority free →

7 days free, no card needed. Explore up to 2 Spaces before you choose a plan: you pick a plan later, not now.

The AI Authority is a general community about working with AI, not a course for transportation inspectors. You do not need it to act on anything here: the moves above cost nothing and stand on their own. The data on this page is the same either way.

Noted, and thank you. We’ll email you if a Space for transportation inspectors launches. Nothing else.

That did not look like an email address, so nothing was saved. Have another go below.

We could not save that. The fault is ours, not yours, and your address was not stored. Please try again later.

No Space for transportation inspectors yet. Should there be one?

Collab365 Spaces is built by the same people as this site. We find the problems that AI and automation are creating inside one kind of work, then solve them as short courses, briefings and Blueprints. Each Space is the community too, so the research and the people doing your job are in the same place.

What a Space actually is, in full

Collab365 launches new communities where the need is real. If one for transportation inspectors existed, with researched problems, courses and people in the same boat, would you want in?

Your email

We use your email address for one thing: to tell you if a Space for transportation inspectors launches. We never sell it, never use it for unrelated marketing, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe. Our privacy policy has the full version.

This unlocks nothing. Every figure, every row and every step on this page is already yours, whether you fill this in or not.

No deadline on any of this. The page will still be here, and the data is refreshed on a published schedule rather than when someone wants a headline.

Questions people ask about this job

Will AI replace Transportation Inspectors?: Not as a job, but it is already doing parts of the work. Across the 44 official task statements scored for Transportation Inspectors (United States, SOC 53-6051), 18% of the importance-weighted core work is made of tasks today's AI could already do most of. The overall exposure score is 23 out of 100 (range 19–29, band: low). That is a statement about tasks, not about headcount: this measures what AI could do, not whether any employer adopts it, whether the law allows it, or whether doing the routine parts faster creates more demand for the human parts. Figures are from release 2026-q4.1.
Which tasks in “Transportation Inspectors” can AI already do?: The highest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Calculate gross and net tonnage, hold capacities, volumes of stored fuel and water, cargo weights, and vessel stability factors, using mathematical formulas” (88/100, very high); “Prepare and maintain detailed repair, inspection, investigation, and certification records and reports” (81/100, very high); “Prepare reports on investigations or inspections and actions taken” (81/100, very high). Each score comes from five published 0–4 ratings turned into a number by a published formula, and each carries the model's one-sentence reason on the page.
Which tasks in “Transportation Inspectors” stay human?: About 71% of this job's task weight sits in work that scores low for AI exposure. The lowest-scoring tasks in release 2026-q4.1 are: “Visually inspect cargo for damage upon arrival or discharge” (0/100, minimal); “Measure vessels' holds and depths of fuel and water in tanks, using sounding lines and tape measures” (0/100, minimal); “Post warning signs on vehicles containing explosives or flammable or radioactive materials” (0/100, minimal). Low scores usually mean the task needs a body in a room, a legally accountable human, or trust built in real time. Those are the three things the scoring rubric treats as gates rather than obstacles.
What should someone working in “Transportation Inspectors” do about AI?: Start from the ledger rather than the headline: 18% of this job's weighted core work is exposed, and roughly 71% is not. The practical move is to spend more of your week on the tasks that score low, the ones above, and to get fluent at directing AI through the tasks that score high, because those are the parts that change whether or not you are ready for them. This page does not predict your job, and nothing here is career advice tailored to you: the score describes the occupation, not the person.
How is the AI exposure score for Transportation Inspectors calculated?: Each official task statement for the occupation is rated on five published 0–4 dimensions (output replicability, physical embodiment, licensed accountability, real-time human trust, and data availability) by claude-opus-5 using scoring prompt task_scoring_v1.0. The model never writes the score; a published formula turns the five ratings into a 0–100 number, so every score can be recomputed by hand. The occupation figure is the importance-weighted mean across 44 scored tasks. The prompt, the rubric, the formula and the full dataset are published at https://futureproof.collab365.com/method and https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1 under CC BY 4.0.

Where these numbers come from

About the data on this page

2 tasks scored differently between repeat runs, so their range on this page is wider. We would rather show the wobble than hide it.
The match between this job and its counterpart in the other country is partial, so the two pages count slightly different groups of people.
7 of this occupation's scored task statements carry a score that was measured under a different occupation's context, because the statement is shared between jobs and has only been scored once so far. Each one names the occupation it was measured under in the free routes below; none is presented as a measurement for this job.
Task clusters are not derived in this release, so the task-cluster field is empty and no Collab365 Space routing is attached to this occupation yet.

Task statements: onet-dbProcessing: catalogue-bridge → onet-im-rt-weighting → task-scoring → score-aggregation
Task weights: onet-db (im-rt-with-imputed)
Scores: Rubric task_scoring_v1.0, model claude-opus-5, computed 2026-08-05.
Pay and employment: bls-oews (May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx))bls-oews (May 2025 estimates (national_M2025_dl.xlsx))

Figures on this page come from release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Every release keeps its own permanent address, so a figure you cite in March is still there, unchanged, in November.

The plain-English wording on this page is assembled directly from the task statements and the published ratings, not written by hand for this occupation. That is why it is specific, and it is also why we say so.

The routes and free resources further up are today’s, not the release’s (last reviewed 2026-08-05). A route is an offer, not a historical fact, so it moves on its own clock.

How we score a job Download this release Look up another job

Using these figures?

Cite this

Everything on this site is published under CC BY 4.0. Quote it, chart it, sell something built on it. Just say where it came from, and cite the dated release rather than the site, so the figure you quote stays checkable.

Plain text

Collab365 (2026). Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1 (methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0). https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1. Licensed CC BY 4.0. Built with O*NET data (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); ONS data (Open Government Licence v3.0); GAISI task framework (arXiv:2507.22748, MIT); BLS data (public domain).

BibTeX

@misc{collab365futureproof2026q41,
  title        = {Collab365 Futureproof: task-level AI exposure for US and UK occupations, release 2026-q4.1},
  author       = {{Collab365}},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1},
  note         = {Release 2026-q4.1, methodVersion 2.0.0, promptVersion task_scoring_v1.0, CC BY 4.0}
}

Permalink

https://futureproof.collab365.com/data/2026-q4.1

Data as of release 2026-q4.1, published 2026-08-05. Releases never change after publication; when the figures move, a new dated release is published beside this one and this one stays exactly where it is.