Management
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
Also called: Distribution Center Manager, Distribution Manager, Fleet Manager, Global Transportation Manager
US median pay
$107,230
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+6.1%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
18,300
228,100 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 4/5 · Considerable preparation
What this job is
Plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations. Includes logistics managers.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Monitor operations to ensure that staff members comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, environmental policies, or government regulations.
- Analyze the financial impact of proposed logistics changes, such as routing, shipping modes, product volumes or mixes, or carriers.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Coordination3.8/5
- Time Management3.6/5
- Systems Analysis3.6/5
- Negotiation3.6/5
- Instructing3.6/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.6/5
- Systems Evaluation3.5/5
- Persuasion3.5/5
Knowledge
- Transportation4.5/5
- Administration and Management4.1/5
- Customer and Personal Service4.0/5
- English Language3.8/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
- Personnel and Human Resources3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 4 of 5 — Considerable preparation. Usually a bachelor's degree and several years of related experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent, plus 5 years or more of related work experience.
Who this job suits
Mostly Enterprising
Leading, persuading and starting things
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.