Many young people wonder, “How do I become a logistics coordinator?” While a career in logistics can be a financially and emotionally rewarding experience for many people, it’s important to understand the educational requirements and experience one must have before starting this career. The following guide provides simple tips and tricks on how to become a logistics coordinator.
Logistics coordinators can be found at many different types of businesses. For example, logistics coordinators work at warehouses, retail outlets, shipping companies, restaurant distribution centers, manufacturing plants, automotive factories, farms, government offices and more.
A logistics coordinator helps move products or commodities from one location to another as quickly and efficiently as possible. For example, moving a trailer of grain from Iowa to Florida could cost thousands of dollars in fuel if the shipper uses a regular vehicle. However, it’s often possible to save a significant amount of money by using trains to transport goods for part of their journey. By combining different types of transportation networks, a logistics coordinator can help reduce the cost of transporting goods and commodities across long distances.
In addition, logistics coordinators work in warehouse environments to develop efficient means of delivering goods. For example, it can be time-consuming for an individual to pick up an item off a shelf in a warehouse and put it in a box for mailing. It’s often possible to reduce the cost of these processes by automating them. Many large companies, like UPS, Fedex and Amazon, use logistic coordinators to develop efficient shipping systems.
Logistics coordinators also help develop systems for managing the cost of vehicles and other transportation tools. For example, logistics coordinators often help develop automated tools to improve the routes that delivery drivers follow. By making right turns instead of left hand turns, it’s possible for delivery drivers to reduce the amount of time they spend in traffic. By enhancing the routes that delivery drivers follow, it’s possible to reduce package delivery times and reduce fuel usage by delivery trucks. In addition, these types of practices can help promote a healthy, green environment.
It takes a moderate amount of education and experience to become a logistics coordinator. In many cases, an individual will need to have a bachelor’s of science in systems engineering or transportation technology. After getting a degree, an individual will need to spend at least a few years working in the field before reaching the position of logistics coordinator. In many cases, an individual will work as a dispatcher before he or she becomes a logistics coordinator. Most dispatchers help manage the location of vehicles on the road.
The average salary for a logistics coordinator in the United States was $83,324 in 2011. However, this salary can vary based on many factors. For example, people starting out in the field of logistics will usually only make $20,000 to $30,000 a year. However, it may be possible for an individual to receive a six figure salary after several years of experience on the field.
Logistics coordinators play an important role in modern society. Without logistics coordinators, it wouldn’t be possible to receive products and commodities quickly and easily.