What Do Logistics Managers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Logistics Managers plan, direct, or coordinate purchasing, warehousing, distribution, forecasting, customer service, or planning services. Manage logistics personnel and logistics systems and direct daily operations. They also collaborate with other departments to integrate logistics with business systems or processes, such as customer sales, order management, accounting, or shipping.

Other tasks include:

• Supervise the work of logistics specialists, planners, or schedulers.
• Create policies or procedures for logistics activities.
• Direct distribution center operation to ensure achievement of cost, productivity, accuracy, or timeliness objectives.
• Resolve problems concerning transportation, logistics systems, imports or exports, or customer issues.
• Analyze all aspects of corporate logistics to determine the most cost-effective or efficient means of transporting products or supplies.
• Negotiate transportation rates or services.

We asked Logistics Managers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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75% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 62% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Logistics Managers supervise the work of logistics specialists, planners, or schedulers. They direct distribution center operation to ensure achievement of cost, productivity, accuracy, or timeliness objectives.

A typical day for a Logistics Manager will also include:

• Resolve problems concerning transportation, logistics systems, imports or exports, or customer issues.
• Direct inbound or outbound logistics operations, such as transportation or warehouse activities, safety performance, or logistics quality management.
• Direct or coordinate comprehensive logistical or reverse logistical functions for product life cycles, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, recycling, reuse, or final disposal of resources.
• Communicate freight transportation information to customers or suppliers, using transportation management, electronic logistics marketplace, or electronic freight information systems, to improve efficiency, speed, or quality of transportation services.
• Collaborate with other departments to integrate logistics with business systems or processes, such as customer sales, order management, accounting, or shipping.

We asked some Logistics Managers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	96% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	61% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	87% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	26% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	36% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Logistics Managers also review global, national, or regional transportation or logistics reports for ways to improve efficiency or minimize the environmental impact of logistics activities. They may also negotiate with suppliers or customers to improve supply chain efficiency or sustainability.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Logistics Managers Maintain metrics, reports, process documentation, customer service logs, or training or safety records. They might also Create policies or procedures for logistics activities.

In addition, they Implement specific customer requirements, such as internal reporting or customized transportation metrics.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Recommend optimal transportation modes, routing, equipment, or frequency.

To some Logistics Managers, it is also their responsibility to Analyze the financial impact of proposed logistics changes, such as routing, shipping modes, product volumes or mixes, or carriers.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Logistics Manager, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/business-and-financial/logisticians.htm

http://www.apics.org/

http://www.sole.org/