Storage and Transportation Managers

At a Glance

Transportation managers work for airlines, trucking companies, and railroads
Storage managers coordinate the activities in warehouses
Have a mix of administrative duties
Usually work more than 40 hours a week
Have many years of related work experience

Career summary

Storage and transportation managers direct the pickup, transport, and storage of goods.

#No alternate titles CJ

Storage and transportation managers move goods around the world. They work for shipping organizations such as:

Airlines
Railroads
Trucking companies

Storage managers

Storage managers coordinate the activities in warehouses. They oversee workers who receive, store, and ship products. They negotiate contracts with shippers in other areas of the country.

Transportation managers

Transportation managers decide which routes their company will cover. They select routes based on different factors such as customer needs and fuel costs. Transportation managers supervise workers who dispatch, route, and track vehicles.

Transportation companies may need approval from government commissions before making route changes. Managers represent their companies at hearings or meetings with these commissions.

Storage and transportation managers interview, select, and train staff. They determine how many employees are needed and supervise their work. They make sure their company follows union rules. Managers work with unions to negotiate contracts or solve complaints.

Storage and transportation managers maintain their buildings, equipment, and vehicles. They inspect vehicles and buildings to make sure they are safe. When needed, they order repairs and purchase new equipment. They may also develop plans for security and warehouse expansions.

Managers have a mix of administrative duties. They:

Bill clients
Resolve customer complaints
Write reports

Related careers

This career is part of the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Military careers

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to storage and transportation managers.

Coordinate or oversee operations.
Supervise employees at work.
Resolve customer complaints.
Plan and use programs for central control, safety, and security.
Watch over spending and budgets.
Review orders and predict how many workers are needed.
Direct central control centers to schedule deliveries or distribution of materials.
Create policies and procedures with management.
Improve employee and public health by reducing work-related accidents and pollution.
Check invoices to make sure they follow tariff and customs rules.
Write reports, letters, or safety manuals.
Create contracts with unions, suppliers, and shippers.
Make sure companies follow rules for safety, environmental impact, and labor unions.
Put management suggestions to use.
Inspect equipment and buildings. Ensure buildings follow plans for security, repair, and environmental impact
Interview, select, and train staff.
Represent companies at hearings about future changes.
Research warehouse locations and new equipment based on fuel cost and impact on the environment.
Report transportation charges to other departments. Coordinate plans to reduce fuel costs.
Track and trace shipments or products.

Common work activities

Storage and transportation managers perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

Make decisions and solve problems
Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
Get information needed to do the job
Use computers
Communicate with people outside the organization
Organize, plan, and prioritize work
Guide, direct, and motivate others
Evaluate information against standards
Schedule work and activities
Develop and build teams
Identify objects, actions, and events
Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
Coordinate the work and activities of others
Process information
Update and use job-related knowledge
Establish and maintain relationships
Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
Teach others
Think creatively
Analyze data or information
Document and record information
Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
Monitor and control resources
Coach others
Judge the value of objects, services, or people
Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
Develop goals and strategies
Convince others to buy goods or change their minds or actions
Perform administrative tasks
Explain the meaning of information to others
Provide advice and consultation to others
Recruit, interview, or hire others
Perform for or work with the public

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, storage and transportation managers:

Interpersonal relationships

Have a high level of social contact. They spend a lot of time talking to coworkers and the public.
Are greatly responsible for the work done by the employees they supervise.
Are greatly responsible for the health and safety of their staff.
Often deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous people.
Are often placed in conflict situations during negotiations.
Communicate with coworkers and the public daily by telephone, e-mail, or in person.
Write letters and memos on a weekly basis.
Work in a group or as part of a team.

Physical work conditions

Often work in indoor environments that do not have heat or air conditioning, such as a warehouse. They may occasionally work outdoors.
Often wear safety attire when in a warehouse, such as hard hats.
Work somewhat close to other people, such as when sharing office space.
May be exposed to loud or distracting sounds or noise levels.

Work performance

Must be exact in their work. Errors could seriously endanger workers.
Must repeat the same activities.
Make decisions on a daily basis that strongly impact coworkers and the public. They rarely consult with other managers before making decisions.
Rarely meet with other managers before setting tasks and goals for the day.
Are moderately competitive with other storage and transportation companies.
Must meet strict deadlines on a daily basis.

Hours/travel

Generally have a set schedule each week.
Usually work more than 40 hours a week.

Physical demands

Storage and transportation managers frequently:

Sit for long periods of time.

It is important for storage and transportation managers to be able to:

Understand the speech of another person.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for storage and transportation managers to be able to:

See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
Determine the distance between objects.

Skills and abilities

Storage and transportation managers need to:

Communicate

Understand written information.
Understand spoken information.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Write clearly so other people can understand.
Listen to others and ask questions.
Read and understand work-related materials.

Reason and problem solve

Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Recognize the nature of a problem.
Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
Think of new ideas about a topic.
Identify what must be changed to reach goals.
Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
Develop rules that group items in various ways.
Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.

Use math and science

Use math skills to solve problems.
Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.
Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

Check how well one is learning or doing something.
Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
Manage the time of self and others.
Decide how to spend money to get the work done and keep track of how the money was used.

Work with people

Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
Persuade others to approach things differently.
Solve problems by bringing others together to discuss differences.
Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
Teach others how to do something.
Look for ways to help people.
Use several methods to learn or teach new things.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

Other programs of study to consider

Training

To work as a storage or transportation manager, you typically need to:

have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
have more than five years of related work experience.

Education after high school

Some storage and transportation managers prepare for this field by earning a bachelor's degree. Some universities offer bachelor's degrees or master's degrees in logistics, transportation, or supply chain management. Other programs of study to prepare for this field include business administration, accounting, or economics. Most schools offer these degree programs.

Work experience

Most storage or transportation managers begin in entry-level positions, with only a high school diploma or equivalent. They gain experience by working their way up through the ranks. Many storage and transportation managers have more than five years of experience.

On-the-job training

You should consider participating in an internship while in college. An internship is usually part of a four-year degree program. It offers you a chance to apply what you have learned in the classroom to a work situation. It also allows you to build skills and make contacts with people in the field.

Military training

Some branches of the military train people to be transportation managers. You need a bachelor' degree to enter this military occupation. Training lasts eight to 12 weeks, depending on your specialty. Additional training occurs on the job.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

Accounting
Computer Applications
Economics
Introduction to Business

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Most employers require managers have many years of related work experience. Some employers require managers to have at least a bachelor's degree. They prefer to hire applicants who have a degree in logistics, business, or marketing. They also hire applicants who have a degree in industrial relations, accounting, or economics.

Employers look for applicants who communicate well with staff and customers. They also look for people who can solve problems. Storage and transportation managers must be able to look at a lot of information and decide what is most important.

Costs to workers

Some workers may wish to join a professional association, which may have annual dues.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website (external link) .

Wages

Transportation, storage, and distribution managers (SOC 11-3071)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	$32.77	$39.98	$52.18	$67.96	$82.43
	Monthly	$5,679	$6,929	$9,043	$11,777	$14,285
	Yearly	$68,160	$83,160	$108,530	$141,350	$171,450
Bellingham	Hourly	$30.50	$42.15	$50.94	$79.22	(1)
	Monthly	$5,286	$7,305	$8,828	$13,729	(1)
	Yearly	$63,435	$87,671	$105,946	$164,758	(1)
Clarkston-Lewiston	Hourly	$25.72	$27.83	$31.30	$38.64	$42.81
	Monthly	$4,457	$4,823	$5,424	$6,696	$7,419
	Yearly	$53,486	$57,892	$65,116	$80,381	$89,049
Kennewick-Richland	Hourly	$32.97	$35.46	$40.40	$55.28	$69.67
	Monthly	$5,714	$6,145	$7,001	$9,580	$12,074
	Yearly	$68,568	$73,768	$84,027	$114,975	$144,923
Longview	Hourly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Monthly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
	Yearly	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)	(1)
Mount Vernon-Anacortes	Hourly	$34.26	$39.05	$44.81	$49.55	$59.16
	Monthly	$5,937	$6,767	$7,766	$8,587	$10,252
	Yearly	$71,257	$81,234	$93,211	$103,067	$123,053
Olympia-Tumwater	Hourly	$27.86	$35.02	$45.10	$59.88	$74.97
	Monthly	$4,828	$6,069	$7,816	$10,377	$12,992
	Yearly	$57,938	$72,832	$93,795	$124,536	$155,952
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	$35.15	$43.77	$56.55	$72.33	$87.06
	Monthly	$6,091	$7,585	$9,800	$12,535	$15,087
	Yearly	$73,104	$91,041	$117,625	$150,449	$181,092
Spokane-Spokane Valley	Hourly	$30.04	$36.18	$43.25	$55.19	$63.22
	Monthly	$5,206	$6,270	$7,495	$9,564	$10,956
	Yearly	$62,491	$75,241	$89,973	$114,794	$131,508
Vancouver	Hourly	$25.50	$32.15	$43.20	$52.27	$68.73
	Monthly	$4,419	$5,572	$7,487	$9,058	$11,911
	Yearly	$53,046	$66,884	$89,860	$108,725	$142,943
Yakima	Hourly	$29.33	$34.81	$41.84	$52.42	$65.37
	Monthly	$5,083	$6,033	$7,251	$9,084	$11,329
	Yearly	$61,004	$72,404	$87,020	$109,030	$135,969
United States	Hourly	$26.95	$34.78	$45.54	$59.40	$76.14
	Monthly	$4,670	$6,027	$7,892	$10,294	$13,195
	Yearly	$56,050	$72,340	$94,730	$123,550	$158,370

(1) Wage estimate is not available.

Pay varies by the worker's level of experience. New staff are paid less than experienced employees.

Storage and transportation managers who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include health insurance, paid vacation, and sick leave. Some also receive a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers (SOC 11-3071)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	2,376	19.2%	16.1%	288
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties	49	18.4%	13.4%	5
Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman Counties	63	12.7%	8.6%	7
Benton and Franklin Counties	106	17.0%	15.0%	11
Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap Counties	18	0.0%	11.9%	1
Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties	93	9.7%	15.2%	9
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties	54	16.7%	14.1%	6
Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties	65	6.2%	14.6%	5
King County	1,414	17.7%	19.6%	165
Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties	42	9.5%	13.8%	4
Pierce County	258	41.1%	15.2%	45
Snohomish County	179	3.4%	12.4%	14
Spokane County	92	9.8%	13.9%	9
United States	131,300	5.6%	5.2%	11,400

National employment

Storage and transportation manager jobs are found throughout the nation. However, many of these jobs are located in California, New Jersey, and Texas.

Major employers:

Local and long distance trucking firms
Courier services
Federal, state, and local government agencies
Business management companies
Warehousing companies

National outlook

Demand for this occupation will be about average. The use of computers to track the movement of freight will reduce the number of transportation managers needed. However, competition is strong in the storage and transportation of goods. Businesses are trying to reduce the amount of time they need to deliver materials. They are also trying to improve their customer service.

The fastest growth for managers will be with courier services, such as UPS and FedEx. With more people buying items over the Internet, more drivers will be needed to deliver them. As a result, more supervisors will be needed to monitor delivery. Growth will also be good in the warehousing and storage industry.

Other resources

Airforwarders Association
529 - 14th Street NW, Suite 750
Washington, DC 20045
202.591.2456

Airlines for America
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1300
Washington, DC 20004
202.626.4000

Airports Council International-North America
1615 L Street NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20006
202.293.8500

American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers
1800 M Street, NW Suite 900 North
Washington, DC 20036
202.457.0480

American Trucking Associations
950 North Glebe Road, Suite 210
Arlington, VA 22203-4181
703.838.1700

Association of American Railroads
425 Third Street SW
Washington, DC 20024
202.639.2100

International Society of Logistics
14625 Baltimore Avenue, Suite 303
Laurel, MD 20707
301.459.8446

International Warehouse Logistics Association
2800 South River Road, Suite 260
Des Plaines, IL 60018
847.813.4699

National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
1325 G Street NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
202.872.0885

References

Career cluster

Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Career path

Enterprising (Business Communications)

O*Net occupations

O*Net job zone

Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.