There are numerous jobs and career openings in the transport and logistics industry. If you have a degree or higher qualification, you are eligible for employment in a growing industry. Companies offer lucrative jobs and career development opportunities in not only transport and logistics but related sectors in the supply chain
Jobs and Careers in Transport and Logistics
Jobs in the transport and logistics industry range from entry-level opportunities to highly specialized management level positions that require specific educational qualifications. Whereas the pay will vary, most employers will offer you top pay commensurate with job demands and qualifications.
Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment opportunities in transport and logistics will grow by 5 percent between 2018 and 2028. This projection is at a rate that is equivalent to or faster than most other occupations.
Basically, there is no shortage of jobs and you can further your career in such fields as warehousing, inventory management, and freight forwarding among others.
Let’s list these employment and career opportunities- with a note that management-level jobs pay higher salaries.
Drivers
The job of a truck driver is one of the most common entry-level opportunities in transport and logistics.
What do they do? Transport goods and people. Drivers link production, distribution and warehousing sectors of supply chain management.
What’s needed? You don’t have to possess a college degree, but companies may require relevant certifications and licenses to secure these jobs.
Related job openings include train drivers, taxi drivers, and bus drivers.
Salary range: $45k – $70k
Freight Handlers/Movers
There are several entry-level jobs in this general category. In transport and logistics, companies employ the so-called laborers that include truck loaders, conductors, forklift operators, package handlers and materials planners.
What do they do? Material movers’ work in logistics and transport is to handle freight or raw materials- inbound or when transported from company to warehouse or customer.
Requirements: You may need no major academic or education qualification to land one of these jobs. However, basic training can see you rise in rank and earn higher perks.
Salary range: $30k – $65k
Dispatcher
A dispatcher is an individual whose role involves coordinating drivers in the field. They provide a link between the truck or train and the company and customers.
What’s needed? You need a college-level education in logistics operations for this entry-level position. You must also have strong communication skills and knowledge about customer service operations.
Where can you work? Dispatchers get employed all the time by freight transport companies, train operators and other related institutions.
Dispatchers have similar responsibilities to transport schedulers.
Salary Range: $50k-$120k
Analysts
Being hired as an analyst is yet another very common job offer available in the logistics sector.
Most positions are entry-level, though you may require experience to land a more lucrative analyst job. There are so many opportunities to develop your career and climb the ladder to higher-paying positions.
What logistics analysts do: They gather and analyze data to help companies get solutions to problems.
What’s needed: You need a college-level degree in logistics and possess good computer and math skills.
Salary range: $55k – $110k
Distribution Manager
There are jobs available for both white-collar and blue-collar staff in this section. Among the many opportunities available is to work as an estimator, inventory control analyst, operations manager, and receiving clerk among others.
What do you do as a Distribution Manager? Your work is the day-to-day management of the distribution center. A DM works with a team to oversee the supply, organization, transport, and storage of goods.
What do you need? You need a degree in logistics or supply chain management and experience.
Salary Range: $90k – $140K
Customer Service Specialist
Job opportunities abound also for people with customer service training and skills. You can work as a customer service specialist in any company or government institution offering transport and logistics services.
What do they do? Customer Service providers act as the first link between the company and its clients. They relay client needs to other teams within the company, including supervisors, center managers, and engineers.
What do you need? Training in customer service is required though college-level logistics qualifications can see you rise to management levels.
Salary range: $55k – $90k
Inventory Manager
Transport and Logistics providers also employ inventory managers, a core workforce in the entire supply chain business. Inventory Managers oversee inventory management- working with a team on data related to resources, supplies, goods distribution, and computer systems.
What qualifications do you need? It’s an entry-level position that requires a college degree in inventory management. Knowledge of transport logistics and import/exports is a plus.
Salary range: $45k – $90k
Supply-Chain Manager
Transportation and logistics companies employ supply chain managers to oversee the planning, executing and implementation of distribution logistics.
Supply chain managers are in charge of transport and logistics operations related to purchases, production, inventory, storage, warehousing, and distribution to customers.
What are the requirements? It’s a top-level management position and requires a graduate degree or higher in supply chain management and logistics. Extensive experience and strong communication skills also matter.
According to Indeed.com, top companies pay huge salaries to snare supply chain managers.
Procurement Manager
Procurement is another vital component of transport and logistics. Procurement Managers work with other personnel in maintaining purchase orders and sourcing of suppliers.
What is needed? Graduate-level training in procurement and transport and operation logistics.
Availability of procurement jobs: Indeed.com lists thousands of job openings in procurement every year.
Salary Range: $60k – $140k
Operations Manager
Transport logistics require the input of an Operations Manager to streamline day-to-day operations. The main job of an operations manager is to plan and coordinate staff activities to ensure the smooth running of the company business.
You also work with customer service, transport schedulers, and other management personnel to oversee proper movement and distribution of goods.
Job requirements: Like other management positions, you require experience on top of a degree in logistics or business management.
Salary Range: $75k – $120k
Logistics Manager
A Logistics Manager has job responsibilities more else similar to those of a Supply Chain Manager. The work involves working directly with the company’s CEO.
There is no shortage of Logistics Manager Jobs, (distribution managers also fall here). What do Logistics Managers do? They oversee supply chain and logistics management- with responsibilities falling on operations in purchasing, scheduling, transport of goods, and storage.
They are also in charge of staff affairs, including contracts and pay negotiations.
Job Requirements: Degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, with extensive knowledge of the regulatory environment around imports and exports.
Salary Range: $120k-$165k
Management Consultant
Transport and logistics companies employ management consultants whose main job description is to work with clients on logistics.
What do you do? Consultants help come up with solutions to logistics problems affecting clients. Most times this job is mobile. The work of a management consultant also includes offering advice that should see a company become more profitable by reducing their overall costs and increasing revenues.
What are the educational requirements? Graduate degree in logistics and consultancy studies plus knowledge of project management.
Where can you work as a logistics consultant? Pretty any company out to provide satisfactory services to clients will need the services of a consultant. Private companies and governments alike employ consultants.
Salary range:
Fleet Manager
The job of a fleet manager is largely administrative and thus comes with experience of working for a given company.
What do fleet managers do? Fleet managers have the role of overseeing and maintaining the vehicles of a commercial freight and shipping company.
What are the requirements? You need experience and a degree or higher in Logistics and transport management.
Salary range: $70k – $150k
Business Operations Specialist
You can build a career working as a business operations specialist.
What’s role does business operations specialist have in transport and logistics? Well, there is a whole spectrum of job specifications and skill sets that such title commands. This individual oversees the planning and executing of business strategies, as well as auditing these strategies to gauge their effectiveness.
You need graduate-level qualifications with logistics degree or related studies.
Salary range: $55k – $90k
Logistics Engineer
Engineer play very important roles in transport and logistics, often overseeing technical and engineering aspects related to machines, tracking, and monitoring of vehicles and goods and other equipment.
What do you need? You require college-level training and understand logistics. An advanced degree qualification is great if you eye growing your career towards an administrative position.
Salary range: $70k – $120k
Cost Estimator
This is another job opportunity available for you in the transport and logistics field. The role of a cost estimator is to collect and analyze data to help the organization or company reach certain estimates. These relate to how much time, capital, raw materials and labor a company needs to produce goods. They also estimate transportation and storage costs as part of the overall cost of production for the company.
What you need: A bachelor’s degree in business and production, with knowledge of logistics.
Salary range: $60k – $90k
Quality Control Inspector
Job openings are there for Quality Control Inspectors in the wider supply chain field and transport and logistics.
The role of a QC inspector is to examine production materials and finished products for standards. This job entails picking out any defective items or materials that may affect the quality of a product.
To qualify for this job you need a high school diploma in related studies. A degree in any relevant field counts to your advantage.
Salary range: $32k – $50k
Freight Forwarder
A freight forwarder usually acts as an intermediary in the import/export process. The forwarder needs to work out how best to transport cargo or freight- Sea, road, air.
Research and route planning are key responsibilities. However, a freight forwarder needs to know about packing, insurance, and handling of documentation for customs.
What qualifications do you need? A college education, but a degree in transport logistics, business management, and supply chain would be highly advantageous.
Salary range: $35k – $60k
Where Can You Work When Employed in the Transport and Logistics Industry?
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics in the Department of Labor, some of the biggest employers in the transport and logistics environment are:
- Truck companies
- Freight transport
- Shipping,
- Manufacturing companies,
- Warehouses,
- Federal government,
- local government among other many employers
Conclusion
Transport and logistics plays a crucial role in the world of local and international trade, and job opportunities or career paths keep increasing every other day. Government agencies, departments, multi-national companies, and other organizations are always on the lookout for highly trained and competitive individuals to fill positions related to this field.
If you are looking to work in this industry, then acquiring good training is essential. However, you need to always endeavor to learn and gain experience if you want to build a successful career in transport and logistics.
