Management
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.
Median pay
$107,230
Growth to 2035
+6%
faster than average
Openings a year
18,300
Time to qualify*
5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- 5 years or more
Calculate your switch to transportation, storage, and distribution managers
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Core tasks
- 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.
Also called: Distribution Center Manager · Distribution Manager · Fleet Manager · Global Transportation Manager · Logistics Director · Logistics Operations Manager · Shipping Manager · Supply Chain Logistics Manager
Outlook and AI
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers held 228,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 242,100 by 2035 (+6%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
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