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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.
The Leader
I worked the overnight shift as a Truck Unloader. Overall, it was a very physically demanding job with minimal pay and safety risks. Boxes falling off the truck from a high pallet was common and sometimes caused injury depending on how heavy the product was.
Pros
The pros of unloading a truck to me were that it was very quiet and peaceful in the trailer while unloading it. We set rolling rails that extended all the way through the truck to roll out each individual package as we unloaded the boxes from pallets stacked in the truck. We unloaded on average two semi-tractor trailers a night between 10 pm-2 AM. During holiday seasons the total number of trailers would be three.
Cons
The cons of unloading trailers are that they are unsanitary and unsafe. They are dirty and smell. The dirt and grime from the boxes coming from warehouses would get in my clothes and I would have to wash work clothes frequently.
Trailers are not always maintained well by the drivers as well, resulting in dangerous conditions to work in. I have seen mildew in trailers and was forced to work through it as well as I fell once on a block of two feet ice in the trailer.
Advice to students considering a job as a Truck Unloader
Students who are interested in retail and unloading the trucks should consider if they have the physical stamina for that job. Many trailers can hold over 20 pallets of inventory doubled on top of each other. The work can be exhausting. Communication skills, teamwork, and proper body alignment are a requirement to prevent injuries.
If a student is interested in logistics, many career opportunities exist. Many of the logistics managers in charge of planning the incoming of inventory freight and outgoing returns started their career unloading the truck. You learn how to read SKU codes and how to account for new items into the overall inventory system. You can get promoted to supervisor and be in charge of supervising the truck unload as well as the storage of the inventory after the truck leaves. If you go to college and get a degree in Business or Logistics you can earn six figures as a manager of the logistics department in a retail store.
Featured Schools
My Typical Day Daily Outbound Route Planning We carry out logistics operations with between 500 and 1200 vehicles on an average day. Therefore, the tracking and route planning of all these vehicles covers an integral part of my day. Return Product Management My team ensures the traceability of the returned products. We set up small … Read More
I am the Logistics Operations Manager for Mickey, a commoditech company. Mickey brings physical commodity trading online for mid-size suppliers and traders around the world, modernizing the entire transaction — from sourcing to shipping to payment — making it fast and easy for global buyers to purchase, track, and acquire the commodities they need. My … Read More
I am Charlotte Robinson, an engineer based in Chicago. I have worked in the transportation sector for the last 8 years and I highly recommend this sector for any young adult seeking employment. My work consists of organizing and managing many warehouses scattered across Illinois. I keep track of quality, quantity, stock levels, delivery times, … Read More
As a logistics manager, there are a number of duties that you have to carry out on a daily basis in order to be successful within your field. Without some of these tasks and steps, you’ll find that both your boss and your clients will become rather upset due to your inactivity. A logistics manager … Read More
Being a Logistics Manager is a challenge. Logistics is a big numbers game because every mile you don’t make today you can never make up for it. Every lost mile is a direct impact on your reliability, cash flow, and income. Logistics Manager is an active and diverting job because every day you get a … Read More
Every day is an adventure. Never make the mistake of thinking today will be an easy day, whether it’s a Monday, a Wednesday, or a Friday. There are so many variables that can affect what you do. Here are just some of the roadblocks you may face each day: Late arrivals. Are the carriers going … Read More