Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Identifying problems, considering possible solutions, and choosing appropriate actions.
Guiding people or projects, setting direction, taking responsibility, and helping others succeed.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager Transportation, storage, and distribution managers need strong interpersonal skills. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers typically need a high school diploma, although some employers prefer or require a bachelor’s degree. They also need related work experience to enter the occupation.
Education
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers typically need at least a high school diploma, but education requirements for individual positions may vary. High school classes in subjects such as English, mathematics, and economics may be helpful for prospective transportation, storage, and distribution managers. Employers may prefer to hire candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in a field such as business, transportation, or engineering. Some colleges and universities offer bachelor's degree programs in supply chain management and logistics. Work Experience in a Related Occupation To enter the occupation, transportation, storage, and distribution managers typically need several years of work experience in related occupations. The amount and type of experience required often varies by organization, industry, and position. Workers may become managers by moving into roles that require increasing responsibility or by gaining experience in a particular industry, such as warehousing. For example, hand laborers and material movers may progress to become first-line supervisors before qualifying for storage and warehouse manager positions.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Some employers require or prefer that transportation, storage, and distribution managers have specific types of certifications, licenses, or both. Whether optional or required, certifications demonstrate competency in a particular area of transportation, storage, or distribution management. Information on certifications is available from CareerOneStop. Some transportation, storage, and distribution managers may need a driver's license or a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to travel to related warehouses and storage facilities or to assist with transportation operations. Depending on the type of good or facility being managed, some states have additional licensing requirements. Occupation-specific licenses, such as for engineers and marine captains, may be required of managers who oversee some types of workers.
Your Next Step
Review training, certifications, apprenticeships, or employer-based preparation that may support entry into this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of transportation, storage, and distribution managers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2025 to 2035, faster than the average for all occupations. About 18,300 openings for transportation, storage, and distribution managers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment As the growth of e-commerce makes supply chain management more dynamic and complex, transportation, storage, and distribution managers will be in demand for enhanced integration of logistics with business systems and processes. These managers will be needed to plan and coordinate an increasing volume of inventory, multiple supply chains, and sophisticated supply chain management systems. In addition, as more goods are purchased online, timeliness of delivery remains a priority for companies, further increasing demand for these workers. Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Operations specialties managers 9% Transportation, storage, and distribution managers 6% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers Do
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers plan, direct, or coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities.
Duties
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers typically do the following:
- Plan, organize, and oversee staff to ensure efficient operations
- Collaborate with other departments, such as sales, accounting, and human resources
- Prepare and manage departmental budgets
- Oversee purchasing and procurement activities
- Interview, hire, and schedule training for staff
- Evaluate the performance of staff or work groups and devise ways to increase productivity or improve operational efficiency
- Monitor operations to ensure compliance with safety policies and regulations
- Resolve problems related to transportation and storage, supply chains, or clients
Specific tasks may vary for transportation, storage, and distribution managers. For example, in some warehouse or transportation operations, a manager may spend more time overseeing workers within the warehouse and have fewer budgetary responsibilities.
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers monitor operations to ensure that staff and work practices comply with rules and regulations. For example, transportation managers may review driver logs to ensure accuracy and adherence to laws set by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Supply chain and logistics managers may verify compliance with customs procedures.
The following are examples of types of transportation, storage, and distribution managers:
Transportation managers oversee the drivers and staff of an organization’s transportation department. They monitor the workers and resources that ensure efficient, safe operations for meeting all delivery and transportation needs. In addition, they sometimes need to plan, develop, and maintain a transportation network and may be assigned a specific territory or area. Their oversight responsibilities may include a fleet of trucks for delivery; a transportation system that includes rail, bus, and paratransit; or a school bus system.
Warehouse, storage, and distribution center managers oversee the operations of storage facilities, warehouses, and distribution centers. They coordinate incoming and outgoing shipments of products and materials. They also are responsible for maintaining facilities’ cleanliness and safety, as well as for monitoring and tracking inventory levels.
Supply chain and logistics managers oversee organizations’ strategy for sourcing, storing, and moving goods to clients. These managers establish the overall supply chain framework and monitor the logistics of its operation. They communicate with suppliers, distributors, and internal departments, such as sales and accounting. They also respond to and remedy disruptions that impede the flow of goods or services.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers held about 228,100 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of transportation, storage, and distribution managers were as follows:
| Transportation and warehousing | 30% |
| Wholesale trade | 15 |
| Manufacturing | 13 |
| Government, excluding state and local education and hospitals | 8 |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 7 |
Transportation, storage, and distribution managers typically work in a variety of settings, including warehouses or offices. They may need to travel to inspect or visit other segments of the transportation or logistics network.
The work may be stressful because of the need to coordinate activities, often on tight deadlines, that must occur in a specific sequence or on a fixed schedule.
In some settings, such as railyards and warehouses, these managers may need to wear high-visibility vests, eye or ear protection, or other safety clothing and equipment.
Work Schedules
Most transportation, storage, and distribution managers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Work schedules vary and may include nights, weekends, and holidays. Some transportation, storage, and distribution managers must be on call in case of emergencies.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers must be able to convey ideas clearly, both orally and in writing. Customer service skills. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers may interact with clients and must respond appropriately to them. Interpersonal skills. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers must work well with a variety of people, including those they supervise, workers in other departments, and external clients. Leadership skills. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers must be able to motivate employees while coordinating supply chain and logistical operations. Organizational skills. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers must keep track of many details to efficiently manage a facility or a logistics network. Problem-solving skills. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers must identify and address issues that arise, including supply chain disruptions, staffing concerns, and client complaints. Time-management skills. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers often work under tight deadlines and must use their time efficiently to keep coordinated activities on schedule.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about transportation, storage, and distribution managers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
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Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.