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, and transport costs. Additionally, I am also on the core team that is entrusted to prepare the catalog and plan transportation routes. I am also expected to maintain metrics and compile data in order to present a bi-monthly report to assess productivity and suggest improvements if needed.

Most of my time is actually spent on the phone or on a video call, and the rest is devoted almost fully to making sure that I get timely and accurate updates from those working under me.

On a typical day, my primary responsibility is to maintain a constant channel of communication between those in the boardroom and all the entry-level employees, including both drivers as well as warehouse staff. Maintaining this channel primarily entails the responsibility of double-checking the list of the vehicles and who gets assigned to which one, the routes they will be taking, and the details regarding what is being shipped. My team in the warehouse constantly updates me with said info.

I also work in tandem with the IT Department as all records are digitized and we need to ensure that no discrepancies or omissions occur in the data. Additionally, I am also expected to maintain lists for all the stock being stored in our warehouses across Illinois. This is done by directly coordinating with other logistics managers.

And finally, as I stated, I have to prepare a bi-monthly report to assess productivity and suggest improvements, if needed. This can only be done with the correct use of data analytics, and this is where the issue of the extent of available data arises. Time taken to complete shipping, all positive and negative feedback that is received, the condition of machinery that is in use, any issues that we have faced with regards to regulatory compliances or permits – all such details are needed to prepare an accurate and holistic report on how to improve productivity and create a better working atmosphere. And as mentioned earlier, this cannot be done without the help of our IT Department and their Data Wing. In very simple terms, work is all about ensuring that the collective effort is greater than the sum of our parts.

Pros: The biggest pro is undoubtedly the fact that it teaches you the value of teamwork by providing so many opportunities to give and receive help. Efficient communication and coordination are tantamount to a business such as logistics. There is an unavoidable need to stay in touch with so many different kinds of people scattered across the globe if you wish to run a logistics business smoothly, and the effort that goes into maintaining these lines of communication is an invaluable learning experience. The pay is good and the working conditions are excellent. And it gives you ample free time to sustain a healthy work-life balance.

Cons: The biggest difficulty is obviously the amount of time one will have to devote to sitting in front of a screen, talking to people on the phone, and constantly being available for video calls. Additionally, whatever free time you get away from this routine is mostly spent within the confines of the warehouse or in a board meeting. Some may begin to find the work a bit repetitive after a few months, although that has never been the case for me. And finally, there is the fact that you will have to analyze a very large amount of data. Extreme caution is required to ensure that all figures are correct and that all variables and contingencies are accounted for. This may prove to be a bit stressful at the start of your career in the logistics business.

Charlotte Robinson
Charlotte is a logistics manager. She also runs the website Robot Powered Home.

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 is required to organize the storage and distribution of goods. Whether these are foods, toys, tech, or medicines, you’ll need to make sure that they’re stored correctly and securely, especially if they’re perishable items. You’ll need to ensure that the goods are delivered to the right place at the right time in the right condition and all at a good cost too. you’ll then have to ensure that you’re tracking goods across the journey so that you can rectify any mistakes and mitigate any potential issues that you might face. You’re a key part of the supply chain and so having a good understating of that would help you to manage your daily tasks and realize the effect that you’re able to have on other businesses and people.

You’ll also need to be aware of things like the quality and quantity of stock so that you can properly plan around your needs. This pairs well with having to keep tabs on the warehouses that you use to make sure that they’re able to fulfill their promises and contract with you. You can do all of this through a number of different platforms and software to make your life a little easier. This can also help you to track productivity and ensure that you’re hitting your targets as best you can.

A logistics manager needs to be comfortable talking to people on the phone or in-person and so if you’re not up to that kind of communication, it may not be the best job for you. Being good with people and managing them can be a big part of this job and so having to handle clients, employees and third parties as well can create a high level of stress.

Pros:

I think one of the best parts of this job is the fact that you always have something to do. Whether you’re organizing transport or trying to find lost stock after a warehouse has misplaced it, there will always be a challenge to face and that keeps you on your toes.

Cons:

One of the only cons of working as a logistics manager is that you often have to rely on a lot of technology. From tracking vans and lorries to keeping tabs on stock and warehouse processes, everything is tracked, recorded, and reported on using a platform or some kind of software. While these are often reliable and easy to use, there is always the chance that something could go wrong. If there’s an error that has an effect on your entire process, you’ll be falling behind and it can make it hard to know what is going on. With that in mind, redundancies and processes should be put in place for the event that this happens, however unlikely it is.

I would also say that one of the common hurdles that you should be aware of is the fact that it can be hard to keep track of everything that’s going on. If you’re not an organized person and struggle to think about a number of projects at once, it can be tricky to stay focused, track your projects, and complete necessary tasks.”

Hollie Coxon
Nationwide Courier Service

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 new challenge and there isn’t a day that is similar to a day before. When I get to my office first thing I do is to read mails and reports from the day before. Then I have a meeting with my team so we can discuss our result in the past day or week, problems we can predict in the future, fuel price increase, hours that drivers drive vs miles they passed. For example, we are facing a problem on the German border because all our truck drivers need to do a PCR test and get a negative result so they can cross the border. So we spend most of our time trying to calm down our drivers who are waiting on the border for days, and we also try to find a solution to that problem.

When I am done with the meeting I go back to my office and try to be creative and find any expense I can decrease, because in logistics and transport every mile and penny counts. Then I keep an eye on trucks’ GPS tracking so I can see if they are driving on the right road and they are using their driving hours correctly. I also contact our partners and customers to see if they are happy with working with us and ask are there any problems we can work on. Almost every day I research all the new laws and stuff going on in the countries we drive in so I can prepare my team for it.

Pros:

• Very active job you can’t get bored
• You can make a nice living
• You train your brain everyday with problem solving
• You are like a family with your team and you all have a nice bond because you live this business.

If you ever change your job and go out of Logistics business you will be capable to do almost anything because

My company is Express Trans. The company has 120 trucks, 20 car transporters, and 100 trucks with tarpaulin trailers.

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 to arrive for their pickup or delivery on time? Shippers impose penalties for late deliveries and many other offenses. Many shippers will look for any reason to deduct for them.
• Rising fuel costs. This year is going to be like no other. Rates compared to last year are going to be double-digit and more. Fuel is going to be a huge factor. Going from $2.25 per gal to almost $3.00 in less than 40 days who knows where it will end. What does that mean? Let’s say you paid $1,000.00 for a load going 400 miles. That same load today will be over $1,500.00. That’s as of today. It will be higher next week, and next month, so you need to be prepared to deal with rising fuel costs.
• Driver shortages. What is driving these rates is the capacity issue of drivers. There is not a pool of drivers to keep up with the demand for freight. There are very few replacements and thus the shortage of drivers. Carriers large and small are reluctant to agree to pricing that locks them in for a long period. Before it was nothing to agree to a 2-3 year agreement. Today, you are lucky to get 3 months. Shippers that have volume have a different issue. Carriers do not want to devote a high percentage of their fleet to one client. In these instances, volume is not your friend. Finding carriers is a long and tedious process. It may come down to who you know vs what you know. The who you know part is based on your years of service in the industry.
• Global logistics delays. That’s the domestic story. International shipping is another monster. Rates coming out of China for 40-foot spot load containers have jumped from $3,500.00 per box to over $8,000.00 or higher. You ask how can that be? Steamship lines have parked vessels and worked out arrangements with other steamship lines to book space. This has increased the efficiency of full vessels but reduced the number of available spots on the ship, thus driving up the price. Since these are mostly spot rates, the steamship lines are taking the loads that obviously pay more and the ones that don’t sit at the pier until they can get on the ship at their rate. This can translate to weeks-long or month-long delays in arrival times.
• Port congestion. Port congestion has not been this bad in years. What is port congestion? You send your driver to the port to pick up a container. Since the volume is so high, in many cases you must make an appointment to pick up your load. You think “great I have a slot to pick up my load”. Well, you do but it doesn’t mean much if there aren’t enough longshoremen to move the containers around. You can wait for hours just to pick up 1 container. The situation is exacerbated if you have more than 1 to pick up.
• Time constraints. “Last Free Day” means the port gives you a certain amount of time to get the container off the port. After so many days, they start assessing charges. Why would we run into last free day issues? Because there are not enough dray drivers to pull them off. Again, a driver shortage. In addition to spending too much of your time looking for domestic carriers, you are also spending your time looking for carriers that can pull your containers off the pier. There is the possibility of negotiating with the port authority to give you a break on the demurrage charges. They will not release the freight until they get paid for not getting the freight off in time.

Sound hectic? All of these examples are things that I dealt with before 10 a.m., with the rest of the day still ahead. It reminds me of a saying from the marine’s advertisement that said something like this: “We do more before noon than most people do in a week.” It’s a juggling act. The rest of your time is spent taking meetings with other clients on new projects, investigating what resources will be needed and whether you can handle it. Logistics managers have difficult jobs. So, why do they do it? Because it is rewarding and challenging and tests your ability to think on your feet. If you love problem-solving and meeting challenges head-on, logistics management is a great career option.

3PL logistics managers

If you are a 3PL, (Third Party Provider) and handle multiple modes of transportation, your load is increased even more. Finding refrigerated, flatbed, or final mile solutions just adds to your day. This may sound like “how can you cope with all of this?” To say it’s no big deal is an understatement. If you have been in this business a long time like I have, when see you these situations unfolding, you need to adapt and find new solutions. What might have worked yesterday may well be different today.

A logistics manager working for a company has their work cut out for them. He would need a staff just to source equipment, not to mention compliance and everything that goes along with each shipment. Let’s not forget about price. Breaking the bad news about price increases with management is never easy and requires excellent communication skills and the ability to work well under pressure. For instance, a shipment that cost $1000.00 last time it was transported could increase in price by $500.00. Or a container from China that previously cost $3500.00, it’s now going to cost $8000.00. You are the person who must break that bad news to the people who are very focused on staying within their budgets.

If you are a 3PL, you have those same issues, but you have a staff to help with the sourcing and your market for finding equipment and pricing. That makes doing your job a tad bit easier since you have higher buying power than the logistics manager from a company.

So, it’s now 5 pm and you think the day is over. WRONG! Everything you set up during the day must be verified to ensure things go as planned. It’s like looking after your kids. They say yes, we will behave, but you need to make sure they do.

A final bit of advice for those interesting in pursuing a logistics management career: Remember, it’s always easier to be proactive than reactive.

Steve Hurvitz
Note Logistics