On every logistics team, there are a wide variety of roles. This is a great industry if you’re thinking of a career change. There will always be a need for shipments and logistics as long as people keep manufacturing and buying things. Each member of the team services an important purpose from entry-level to executive. So, what are the roles available?
Merchandiser: This entry-level position is in charge of placing items in displays so they look attractive to customers. As you work your way up the ladder, you can become a merchandising specialist, a merchandising coordinator, or an account executive who works directly with clients to come up with merchandising ideas. At the top of this profession, you can become a buyer, helping to choose products for brands to sell. You can also become a category or supply chain manager, in charge of a whole line or brand’s marketing and displays.
Forklift Operator: This is a great entry-level position that is in demand. It involves driving a forklift around a warehouse and moving pallets of objects around. Once you’ve been doing it for a while you can become a warehouse manager, and oversee a whole warehouse. After a while, you can become a shipping manager or an inventory manager who oversees more of the logistics processes.
Driver: Drivers are an incredibly important part of logistics. They are the people who get shipments from point A to point B. After you’ve been driving for a while, you can become a logistics manager or director who oversees transportation programs or groups of drivers.
Technician: Technicians focus on keeping equipment up and running. You might be trained as an electrician or a mechanic. Either way, you know what you are doing and help to keep the supply chain going.
As you can see there are many career paths for a logistics flow team member.
The answer to this question depends on which type of position you are looking for. Many of them do not require a college education, but most jobs prefer either a high school diploma or GED.
To become a forklift operator you will likely need a high school education, as well as some on-the-job training. Depending on where you live, you may also need to get a certificate or license.
If you go down the technician track, some people have a 4-year college degree, but you can also find success with vocational training or an associate’s degree. Some types of technician jobs may also offer training on-site.
To become a driver, you will need a high school diploma and a driving record without any blemishes. You should do a truck driving training school, which usually lasts 3-4 weeks. Or, you can get a delivery job driving a van which doesn’t always require a special license.
Merchandisers can have a bachelor’s degree but many do not. You might get into it from working in retail, or you can get an associate’s degree in merchandising.
We might be biased but we think being a logistics team member is a great career move!
AmerTrans is a great place to get started on your logistics journey. We love working with people who can both collaborate and work independently. Our teams are agile and there’s always something new to experience or learn. We offer competitive pay with benefits packages. Curious about us? Check out our careers page.
For our clients, our teams are proud of what they do and love offering creative solutions to your logistics problems. We can’t wait to help you and figure out how to make your logistics plan even better.
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