Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers: Job Description
Plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations. Includes logistics managers.
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The Daily Work of Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of transportation, storage, and distribution managers span:
- 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.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Top transportation, storage, and distribution managers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies that matter most in this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Aerial Planting and Cultivation Manager
- Air Export Logistics Manager
- Airport Manager
- Ammunition Storage Superintendent
- Area Manager
- Auto Fleet Manager
- Automotive Services Manager
- Bridges Supervisor
How Many Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers Are There?
There are about 203,709 transportation, storage, and distribution managers working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +11.6% over the projection horizon.
How Much Do Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers Make?
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $76,615 |
| Hourly median | $36.83 |
| 10th percentile | $52,095 |
| 25th percentile | $64,355 |
| 75th percentile | $88,874 |
| 90th percentile | $101,134 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Delaware | $150,590 |
| District of Columbia | $144,190 |
| Washington | $131,620 |
| New Hampshire | $128,070 |
| Colorado | $123,750 |
| New Jersey | $123,390 |
| New York | $121,310 |
| Georgia | $111,640 |
| Alaska | $109,770 |
| Wyoming | $108,070 |
| Massachusetts | $107,200 |
| Maryland | $107,050 |
| Virginia | $107,050 |
| Hawaii | $106,960 |
| Illinois | $105,250 |
| California | $104,930 |
| Minnesota | $104,560 |
| Indiana | $104,450 |
| Vermont | $104,210 |
| Kansas | $103,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $103,530 |
| South Dakota | $103,530 |
| Connecticut | $103,500 |
| South Carolina | $102,650 |
| Alabama | $102,540 |
| Montana | $102,480 |
| North Carolina | $100,490 |
| Kentucky | $100,110 |
| Oregon | $100,020 |
| West Virginia | $99,830 |
| Michigan | $98,240 |
| Utah | $97,980 |
| Texas | $97,690 |
| Louisiana | $97,630 |
| Arkansas | $97,010 |
| North Dakota | $96,910 |
| New Mexico | $96,510 |
| Missouri | $96,410 |
| Nebraska | $96,310 |
| Ohio | $96,290 |
| Wisconsin | $95,860 |
| Maine | $95,860 |
| Iowa | $95,620 |
| Florida | $95,090 |
| Tennessee | $94,920 |
| Arizona | $94,470 |
| Rhode Island | $94,290 |
| Oklahoma | $94,270 |
| Nevada | $88,630 |
| Idaho | $83,680 |
| Guam | $81,450 |
| Puerto Rico | $78,940 |
| Mississippi | $77,390 |
| Virgin Islands | $47,840 |
Where Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers Earn the Most
Earnings for transportation, storage, and distribution managers differ across the country. Top regions by median wage:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $115,793 | 12.4% | 0.95 |
| New England | $106,022 | 3.9% | 0.86 |
| Far Western US | $105,816 | 19.4% | 1.21 |
| Rocky Mountains | $104,934 | 3.1% | 0.86 |
| Great Lakes | $100,527 | 17.0% | 1.24 |
| Plains States | $99,875 | 5.6% | 0.83 |
| Southeast | $98,969 | 22.0% | 0.97 |
| Southwest | $97,225 | 16.1% | 1.40 |
Top Metro Areas
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $164,180 | 1,570 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $138,900 | 2,150 |
| Boulder, CO | CO | $137,950 | 160 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | CO | $137,110 | 120 |
| Niles, MI | MI | $133,360 | 130 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $132,510 | 2,420 |
| Decatur, IL | IL | $132,320 | 120 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | CA | $130,940 | 4,070 |
Top Industries Employing Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
The bulk of transportation, storage, and distribution managers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 68,620 | $99,610 |
| Wholesale Trade | 36,200 | $95,340 |
| Manufacturing | 27,300 | $114,180 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 15,270 | $148,130 |
| Retail Trade | 10,810 | $75,030 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 8,950 | $129,000 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 6,120 | $97,160 |
| Construction | 4,790 | $80,630 |
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers work in the following industries:
Software Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers Use
- Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D (hot technology)
- Computer aided design CAD software: Bentley MicroStation (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Project management software: Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft SQL Server (hot technology)
- Process mapping and design software: Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Project management software: Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (hot technology)
Work Environment
The work environment for transportation, storage, and distribution managers reflects the following characteristics:
- Telephone Conversations
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Contact With Others
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
Getting Started in This Career
The role falls in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), signaling the level of preparation typically expected.
Other Careers to Consider
Similar Occupations
- Facilities Managers (Primary-Long)
- Industrial Production Managers (Primary-Long)
- Purchasing Managers (Primary-Long)
- Supply Chain Managers (Primary-Short)
- Logisticians (Primary-Short)
- Logistics Engineers (Primary-Short)
- Logistics Analysts (Primary-Short)
- Project Management Specialists (Primary-Long)
Where to Study
Future transportation, storage, and distribution managers typically earn programs in:
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
4 programs across 2 majors
References
This profile draws on the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 11-3071.00 (Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers).
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