Transportation Manager Career Profiles

Transportation managers are responsible for coordinating all transportation matters within an organization. They fulfill an essential role within the supply chain for companies, helping to ensure goods and raw materials are delivered to factories, customers, suppliers, and distributors. Transportation managers may also coordinate the transport of people for tour companies, taxi services, and other businesses that regularly get people from point A to point B.

Transportation companies work with brokers, agencies, and employees to facilitate transportation of people or items. They monitor the costs of transportation to keep expenses down and ensure operations run smoothly without delays. Communication skills, bargaining skills, and insider knowledge of the transportation industry are required for success in this position. Transportation managers should know standard rates and costs for transportation. Furthermore, they should be able to manage routes and speak clearly and concisely with carriers from throughout the U.S. and internationally.

An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in logistics or transportation management is usually required. Some managers are trained on-the-job and work their way up through experience in the transportation industry. Most work routine hours, although overtime, evening work, and weekend work may be necessary in certain positions.

When considering any profession, it is helpful to know what the real-world experience is like among people who work in the field. We have prepared career profiles by interviewing professional transportation managers. You can browse these profiles below to find out what it is really like to work in the field, so you can make an informed choice about whether or not this is the career for you.