Transportation Coordinator Job Description, Duties and Outlook

Transportation Coordinator: Job Description, Duties and Outlook. Transportation coordinators require little formal education. Learn about the training, job duties and requirements to see if this is the right career for you. Transportation coordinators oversee transportation logistics and ensure products are delivered on time and according to regulations. This career is expected to grow at a slightly slower than average rate according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Essential Information. Companies that manufacture or distribute products to customers rely on transportation coordinators to ensure deliveries are made on time. Transportation coordinators must adhere to government regulations and rules regarding the transportation of goods, and may be employed in a variety of industries. Experience counts more than education in this field; most transportation managers have a high school education or the equivalent. Sources: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Job Description. Transportation coordinators typically work in the material movement and warehousing industry. They arrange the delivery products to customers or companies such as production facilities. Coordinators may work in a logistics company arranging the transport of goods for multiple clients or in a materials department of a company arranging deliveries. Logistics and transportation coordinators also arrange for the storage of deliverable goods. Coordinators work in a fast-paced environment, which includes daily scheduling and handling multiple routes, drivers, and deliveries. Find schools that offer these popular programs. Air Transportation and Distribution Ground Transportation Marine Transportation. Transportation coordinators oversee the time delivery of goods. They maintain delivery schedules and track deliveries to ensure deliveries are met. Coordinators update and provide tracking information to customers as well as to internal managers. They monitor and report driver issues such as accidents, safety concerns, or licensing issues. Coordinators may also analyze delivery costs and recommended more cost effective methods of transportation. They may negotiate contracts with outside transportation companies, assign drivers to routes, handle customer complaints, and investigate delivery issues. These may include damaged products and late or lost deliveries. Career Outlook. Transportation coordinators work in a variety of industries, including warehousing and storage, government, and manufacturing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicted that jobs in the management of transportation, storage and distribution field would grow by an approximated 2% between 2014 and 2024 ( www.bls.gov ). The median annual salary for transportation, storage and distribution managers in May 2015 was $86,630, the BLS noted. Workers in the bottom 10% of the pay range earned $50,840 or less annually, while individuals in the top 10% earned $149,770 or more a year. The top paying industries for such managers were in securities and commodity contracts intermediation and brokerage, automobile dealers, and insurance carriers. The BLS added the states with the highest employment of these workers were California, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, and New Jersey. Every business in the world relies on transportation in some capacity and the complexities of this process can give anyone a headache. Transportation coordinators must have extensive knowledge in delivery logistics, regulatory delivery practices, and superb time management skills. This can be a personally and financially rewarding career for anyone who meets these criteria.