10 Careers in Logistics You Should Consider

Transportation and logistics offer a wide range of career choices. Professionals in this sector have the lucky option of working for a variety of industries, the demand for logisticians has grown incredibly in recent years. 

1. Freight Agent
A freight agent coordinates, oversees and tracks the shipment of goods through airlines, trains or shipping docks. They ensure that shipments are collected and delivered on time on behalf of various businesses and companies. Excellent organisational skills come into play, as freight agents are responsible for arranging shipping methods and routes and other logistics details with freight companies, such as taking orders and tracking cargo. As a freight agent, you will also have the responsibility of managing paperwork and negotiating payments for shipment costs.

2. Supply Chain Manager
Supply chain managers are one of the lead logistics positions in a company. If you consider yourself managerial and communicative, this role might be for you. Supply chain managers are in charge of the entire supply chain for the equipment or raw materials of a company. This career, therefore, involves overseeing the purchasing, warehousing, inventory and production of various distribution products. Your main responsibility as a supply chain manager will be to streamline the process and to make costs and productivity efficient among team members. 

3. Warehouse Logistics Manager
Businesses need to be sure that their stock is controlled and maintained. For this reason, they hire warehouse logistics managers. This particular role in logistics involves operating the storage of company goods and managing warehouse staff. Warehouse logistics managers must process orders, arrange the dispatch and delivery of materials, and keep up the quality, quantity and safety of stocks. Other than training staff, this role also requires that you keep accurate records, liaise with suppliers and manufacturers, and maintain health and safety standards.

4. Transportation Analyst
As a transportation analyst, you’ll be responsible for improving the supply and transportation strategy of a company’s goods. You will analyse the planning and movement of supplies using specialised software and determine new processes for inventory management, supply chain plans or procurement. Computer and organisational skills are, therefore, vital for this role. Transportation analysts should also have great communication skills, as they will be required to develop business relationships with suppliers and clients. Whether for freight shipping or the transportation of military goods, transportation analysts will focus on methods to save costs and time throughout the lifecycle of a product. 

5. Logistics Engineer
Those with a knack of science and mathematics can opt for a career in logistics engineering. These professionals strive to enhance and streamline the distribution of goods and services using a variety of scientific and mathematical skills. They will create or review process and method analyses, capacity enhancement and routing, and shipment optimisation throughout the supply chain of a product. As a logistics engineer, your main responsibility will be to develop the efficiency of distribution and generate higher profits for the company. This is usually achieved through tasks like inventory planning, order processing and shipping strategies. 

6. Inventory Manager
If you’re aiming for a management role in logistics, there’s the possibility of becoming an inventory manager. If you chose this position, know that you will be responsible for ensuring your company is in control of its inventory needs. Using your attention to detail and organisational abilities, you will monitor and record stock levels, allocate goods and resources onto shelves or trucks, enhance order and distribution schedules, and train new employees. Inventory managers will typically use a range of data and computer programs to identify any inventory issues and offer solutions. 

7. Procurement Manager
Similar to a purchasing manager, an individual responsible for procurement is in charge of the purchasing of goods for a company. Using their sales skills, procurement managers will communicate and negotiate with suppliers to secure orders and purchases at competitive prices. By networking and building relationships with suppliers, procurement managers can successfully work towards their goal of implementing cost-saving strategies and improving overall company operations. If you choose this logistics career, bear in mind that you will also need strong problem-solving and decision-making skills when monitoring the company’s purchases, deliveries and expenditures. 

8. Customer Service Representative
A logistics customer service representative acts as the middleman between clients or suppliers and the logistics team. They will communicate any issues to engineers or managers and relay the solutions to the client or supplier. This job also involves offering quotations, handling sales invoices and maintaining client records. Ideally, a customer service representative in this field should have experience or knowledge of logistics in order to properly understand the process and have a firm grasp of client and supplier concerns. 

9. Logistics Consultant
If you’re exploring careers in logistics, there’s the option of choosing a role in consulting. Logistics consultants will create and implement solutions for a client’s supply chain. They will inspect a company’s production and distribution operations and advise the best methods for change and improvement. This might involve reducing costs, finding new suppliers or changing transportation strategies. A career as a logistics consultant requires travelling to different distribution sites, maintaining relationships with clients and managing several projects at once. With a love for logistics, and if you’re equipped with interpersonal and organisational skills, this role might just be for you.

10. International Logistics Manager
If you’re keen on logistics and want to make it big in this field, there’s always the option of aiming for an international logistics manager role. These individuals build relationships and communicate with global partners to make the supply chain of their company smoother and more efficient. They also keep up with international laws and regulations to ensure that the import and export of goods are properly executed. International logistics managers will make decisions for the routing, shipping methods and carriers for raw materials, and they will evaluate and determine global transportation costs and distribution strategies

Article by - Career Addicts - October 2021