This book provides a brief history and a comprehensive overview of the engineering profession and practice, describing the functions and career paths for various branches of engineering. Paul Wright offers suggestions on communications and creativity, as well as guidelines for the engineering code of ethics.

Traveling along the path of the previous editions, "Transportation Engineering Planning and Design," follows the United States transportation system from its development, to its operations and control of the vehicle used to its planning (planning process, data collection, finances, procedures for future developments and evaluation of transportation plans) and on to the design of land, air and water transportation facilities (which includes highways, railways, runways, pipelines, terminals, harbors, ports, lighting for these areas, sizing and more.)