Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
Plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations. Includes logistics managers.
Also called: Distribution Center Manager · Distribution Manager · Fleet Manager · Global Transportation Manager · Logistics Director · Logistics Operations Manager
Median pay (national)
$102,010
$61,200–$180,590 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
213,000
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+6.1%
~18,500 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for transportation, storage, and distribution managers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $180,590 versus $61,200 at the bottom 10% — 3.0x. The median of $102,010 leaves roughly 77% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +6.1% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 18,500 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Delaware pays the most for this role (median $150,590, +48% vs the national median), while Virgin Islands sits lowest at $47,840 — a 215% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Monitoring as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Monitoring
- Writing
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Mathematics
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Monitor operations to ensure that staff members comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, environmental policies, or government regulations.
- Analyze the financial impact of proposed logistics changes, such as routing, shipping modes, product volumes or mixes, or carriers.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Warehouse management system WMS
- Autodesk AutoCAD Civil 3D
- Bentley MicroStation
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Microsoft Visio
- Oracle Primavera Enterprise Project Portfolio Management
- SAP software
- Structured query language SQL
- 3PL Central
- ABOL Manifest Systems
- Airline global distribution systems GDS software
- Aljex Inventory
Knowledge areas
- Transportation
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Public Safety and Security
- Economics and Accounting