The following article discusses the career path of Logistics Supervisor. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Logistics Supervisors.
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Job Duties
Logistics supervisors may also be called supply chain managers. Their main responsibility is to oversee each of the steps involved in ensuring that a finished product is delivered to consumers. For instance, they may focus on the acquisition of raw materials, on manufacturing and processing, on storing products, on moving products between the retail site and the distribution center, or on customer service. These are all vital steps in the overall chain of logistics, ensuring that costs are brought down without compromising on quality.
On a day to day basis, logistics supervisors have a range of different duties. These include buying whatever raw materials are needed to ensure production can continue, creating an inventory of storage, bringing down storage and delivery costs with third parties, ensuring the workflow of production is efficient, and so on. They must, therefore, be highly organized and have strong planning skills, and they must be able to cope with high levels of stress. Additionally, they must be innovative thinkers that can come up with new ways to increase efficiency and save on costs.
In today’s manufacturing world, logistics supervisors are also heavily reliant on technology and computers. Hence, their role is also strongly on identifying new software processes that help increase the efficiency of the supply chain. Clearly, they have a high multi-faceted role.
Other job duties of logistics supervisors include:
- Ensuring that all incoming and outgoing deliveries meet the relevant specifications, after which they can either be accepted or returned
- Ensuring that the entire work area is safe and clean, and that it complies with relevant industry standards
- Holding responsibility for the administration of shipping orders, work orders, and the inventory and stock
- Ensuring that all distribution, loading, and unloading are handled safely
- Scheduling the different workers in the warehouse
Where We Work
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 148,700 logisticians in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals were:
- Manufacturing: 25%
- Federal government: 20%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services: 17%
- Management of companies and enterprises: 10%
- Wholesale trade: 9%
How to Become
A logistics supervisor usually needs a specialized undergraduate degree in operations engineering, operations analysis, or a related field. It is common for organizations to look for those who have a graduate degree in business management, analysis, or related field. Furthermore, a logistics supervisor is usually expected to have at least three years’ work experience at middle management level.
Education Requirements
A logistics supervisor has to be able to manage the complexities of supply chains and logistics. As a result, a bachelor’s degree is usually the minimum requirement. Supply chain management, systems engineering, and business are common study subjects. During a bachelor’s degree, they will learn about system dynamics, database management, and operations. Furthermore, they can be exposed to common logistics software, such as RFID (radio-frequency identification).
There is no legal requirement for a logistics supervisor to become certified. However, certifications do demonstrate commitment to excellence and a broader knowledge. Hence, logistics supervisors may choose to become certified through the International Society of Logistics (SOLE) or through the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). Work experience and education are required for these certifications. Other options are offered through the DUA (Defense Acquisition University), which is required for those who work as a logistics analyst for the Department of Defense.
Work experience is also vitally important. A logistics supervisor will need to have gained several years of experience in supply chains, logistics, and business. Some start in logistical support, as clerks or dispatchers, and many have a military background. Through work experience, these specialists get to know about supply chain and production processes.
Traits & Qualities
The most effective logistics supervisors have the following traits to some degree or other:
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
- Strong critical thinking skills
- Great customer service skills
- Excellent organizational skills
- Strong problem solving skills
Minimum Education
Bachelor’s Degree
The national average salary estimate for Logistics Supervisor was $52,796. This number is estimated from over 234,424 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $27.50 and monthly of $4,400.
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$17,000
$107,000
The following section lists Logistics Supervisor salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Alaska had the largest quoted salary of $60,845 while Washington had the smallest quoted salary of $25,881.
According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Logistics Supervisor. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.
| Employer Name | Location | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Ordnance Brewing | California | $98,850 |
| Halliburton | Texas | $80,012 |
| Crossfire | Michigan | $73,422 |
| The Wickline Group | Texas | $67,454 |
| Career Development Partners | Tennessee | $62,450 |
| The Job Jobber | Tennessee | $62,450 |
| fulltimeGiGS | Tennessee | $62,138 |
| The Hire Authority | Pennsylvania | $60,000 |
| ECI’s Family of Companies | DC | $60,000 |
| U.S. Army | California | $59,360 |
| Robert Half Finance & Accounting | Minnesota | $59,184 |
| AB InBev | Missouri | $58,101 |
| AppleOne | California | $57,933 |
| Aerotek | New Jersey | $56,268 |
| International Business Promotion, Inc. | Ohio | $55,328 |
| U.S. Navy | Virginia | $55,185 |
| At-Tech | California | $54,774 |
| TOP GROUP | Ohio | $53,706 |
Learn More
- SENIOR LOGISTICS SUPERVISOR – bart.gov
- Becoming a Logistics Supervisor: Job Description & Salary Info
- What is a Logistics Manager? (with pictures) – wiseGEEK
- Best Online Logistics Degree
- Salary Outlook with a Logistics Degree
| Career Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Information Specialist | $56,877 |
| Food Service Director | $55,529 |
| Purchasing Buyer | $55,296 |
| Human Resources Generalist | $54,497 |
| Marketing Specialist | $52,815 |
| Accountant | $52,461 |
| Program Specialist | $51,759 |
| Personal Banking Manager | $51,369 |
| Public Relations Manager | $51,303 |
| Procurement Specialist | $51,075 |
