19 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You start by checking the Transportation Management System (TMS) and email (Microsoft Outlook) for new shipments, delays, and customs messages. Expect to update manifests, enter weights and costs into Excel or SAP, and notify customers about arrivals.
Midday you’ll direct delivery trucks to loading doors, help load or unload goods safely, inspect cargo condition, and lead any freight or safety equipment inspections. Late afternoon is paperwork: prepare freight reports, post updates in the TMS, and clear customs documents.
Start with a Transportation Management System (TMS) because it’s where you plan shipments, track delivery progress, and prepare manifests. Learn how to create and update shipments, print labels, and run tracking reports.
Then learn Microsoft Excel for weight/cost recording and reporting, SAP if your employer uses it for posting and billing, and basic Microsoft Word and Outlook for customer notices and customs paperwork.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were about 97,670 employed Aviation Logistics Coordinators and similar roles. The median pay is $52,260 per year; the lowest tenth earn about $38,340 and the top tenth about $79,810.
Local pay varies with airport size, certifications, and experience. Jobs at large cargo hubs or with hazardous-materials responsibilities often pay toward the higher end.
You usually need to know which specific licenses apply: for example, certifications for handling dangerous goods (IATA DG), customs brokerage knowledge, or security badges for airside access. Part of the job is to analyse which licenses are required for each shipment.
Employers often require training for freight inspection equipment, hazardous-material rules, and airport ID/badging. The job includes advising clients on transportation and payment methods that depend on those licenses.
Use AI to draft emails, summarize delays from TMS logs, or extract data from PDFs, but never trust it to input legal or safety-critical details like weights, manifests, or customs entries without human verification.
Keep customer data secure: do not paste passport numbers or full tracking numbers into public AI tools. Use company-approved plugins or local models that follow your employer’s data rules.
A warehouse shipping clerk focuses on loading/unloading, packing materials, and local dock work. An Aviation Logistics Coordinator adds flight-related tasks: preparing passenger and cargo manifests, coordinating multi-modal transport, and analysing fuel and safety equipment implications for air moves.
A freight broker focuses on finding carriers and contracts; coordinators work inside an airline or airport system (using TMS, SAP) to execute, track, inspect, and report on shipments and may assist with customs and regulatory checks.