What skills do Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers use most?

Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Monitoring, Coordination, Writing, and Speaking.

Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers

Also called Distribution Center Manager, Fleet Manager, Logistics Operations Manager, or Supply Chain Logistics Manager

Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations. Includes logistics managers.

Who tends to enjoy it

Leading

People who like persuading, selling, starting things, and taking charge.

Organizing

People who like keeping things accurate, orderly, and running on schedule.

Hands-on

People who like building, fixing, working with tools, machines, plants, or animals.

What you'd actually do

Supervise the activities of workers engaged in receiving, storing, testing, and shipping products or materials.
Plan, develop, or implement warehouse safety and security programs and activities.
Inspect physical conditions of warehouses, vehicle fleets, or equipment and order testing, maintenance, repairs, or replacements.
Plan, organize, or manage the work of subordinate staff to ensure that the work is accomplished in a manner consistent with organizational requirements.
Collaborate with other departments to integrate logistics with business systems or processes, such as customer sales, order management, accounting, or shipping.
Analyze all aspects of corporate logistics to determine the most cost-effective or efficient means of transporting products or supplies.
Resolve problems concerning transportation, logistics systems, imports or exports, or customer issues.
Develop and document standard and emergency operating procedures for receiving, handling, storing, shipping, or salvaging products or materials.

A typical day involves

Email Face-to-face with people Part of a team Deadlines and time pressure Indoors, climate controlled

Skills that matter most

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Monitoring
Coordination
Writing
Speaking

What you'll need to know

Transportation
Administration and Management
Customer and Personal Service
English Language
Mathematics

Where to study for this

College programs that commonly lead to this career, and how many US colleges offer each.

Business Administration and Management 2,431 colleges
Business / Commerce 948 colleges
Public Administration 497 colleges
Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management 468 colleges
Aeronautics / Aviation / Aerospace Science and Technology 105 colleges
Aviation / Airway Management and Operations 99 colleges
Transportation / Mobility Management 51 colleges
Transportation and Infrastructure Planning / Studies 3 colleges

Related careers

Office and Administrative Support

Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks

Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments of an establishment according to production schedule. Duties include reviewing and distributing production, work, and shipment schedules; conferring with department supervisors to determine progress of work and completion dates; and compiling reports on progress of work, inventory levels, costs, and production problems.

Little to some preparation

Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA), occupation 11-3071.00, used under CC BY 4.0 and modified by Whittle. Program links: NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. How we build these pages.