◆ Transport & Delivery

What a logistics coordinator
really does.

20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.

20evidenced tasks
97,670in the US (2025)
$52,260median pay / year
8systems it runs on
See the 20 tasks ↓Open in the atlasThe full career map →
This is what one task looks like here
Determine method of shipment
For the 2,400kg pallet destined to Phoenix, compare road vs. air quote…3 sources agree

The shape of the day

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The work, task by task

20 tasks
Hands on the work17
Determine method of shipment+
For the 2,400kg pallet destined to Phoenix, compare road vs. air quotes, check hazardous-materials rules and delivery windows, pick the method that meets the 72-hour delivery SLA at the lowest landed cost and confirm carrier by 5pm today.
jdonetwiki3 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Track shipment delivery progress+
Update the delivery dashboard with live scan times for the five shipments in transit, highlight any stop exceeding its ETA by over 90 minutes, notify the assigned driver and customer service with expected revised arrival times within 30 minutes.
jdonetwiki3 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Check the condition of the cargo+
Inspect the palletised electronics consignment on Dock 4, note any dented cartons, wet pallets or broken straps, photograph damage, complete the cargo condition report, and flag shipments that need quarantine or immediate repair before loading today.
escowiki2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Enter shipping information into computer systems+
Enter the airway bill numbers, consignee details, dimensions, gross and net weights, declared value and special handling codes for today’s outbound loads into the shipment ledger so records match the physical bills before the 14:00 handoff to operations.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Prepare manifests for passengers and freight+
Prepare passenger and freight manifests for Flight 312 departing 18:30: list each passenger with seat and ID, itemise freight by AWB with commodity, weight, dimensions and any hazardous declaration, then print three originals for customs and the captain.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Advise clients on transportation and payment methods+
Advise Acme Imports and their finance lead which transport mode and payment terms best fit the 20 pallets of electronics—compare air, sea, and road transit times, total landed cost, and letter of credit versus open account, then send my recommendation by Friday.
jdonet2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Resolve issues related to shipment delays or damages+
Investigate the delayed export to Global Retail: retrieve carrier PODs, inspection photos, and claims history, determine if damage occurred in transit or at terminal, propose acceptance, repair, or full claim action, and notify procurement and the carrier by end of day.
onetwiki2 agree
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Maintain a supply of packing materials.+
Replenish packing stock: audit current inventory of cartons, void fill, and tape, forecast monthly usage for outgoing LTL and FCL, create a reorder for approved vendors to arrive within ten days, and circulate the purchase to the warehouse manager.
onet
when the reply comes backPush once: ask it to sharpen the weakest part, and to say what it assumed. Helpful?
Keep the record1
Keep it safe1
Work with people1

What the work runs on

named inside the evidenced tasks
6 tasksTransportation management system TMSevaluates carrier options, transit times and costs to select the method that meets SLA and regulatory constraints
6 tasksMicrosoft Excelcaptures weight and cost line items, performs reconciliations and highlights variances for reviewOpen its task library →
3 tasksTransportation managementmaintains live shipment statuses and ETAs so delays can be detected and notifications issued to drivers and customers
3 tasksPostinglogs truck assignments, arrival times, and door allocations at the terminal
2 tasksSAPstores shipment master data and links to billing and tracking modules
2 tasksMicrosoft Outlooksends formal arrival notices with pickup windows and contact details to customers
1 taskBrokerageused to submit and track customs filings and declarations for export shipments
1 taskMicrosoft Wordused to draft a formal memo citing regulations and listing permits for review and approvalOpen its task library →
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The same task, four heights

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ExecuteDo today's task, with fewer mistakesyou are here → ImproveMake it easy for the next person to acceptin the atlas → DecideWork out the right move when it is unclearin the atlas → BecomeLearn the pattern so it stops coming backin the atlas →

Can AI actually do this job?

the honest answer

It can

where it genuinely helps
  • Explain the theory behind the work
  • Draft, tidy and structure your writing
  • Rehearse a hard conversation before you have it
  • Build a study plan that fits your gaps

It cannot

where it stops, completely
  • Be in the room where a logistics coordinator actually works
  • Carry the responsibility when the call is wrong — that weight stays yours
  • Notice what no one wrote down: the hesitation, the thing left unsaid
  • Live with the outcome

What the work pays

two countries, two different measures

United States

this exact occupation · BLS 2025
  • $52,260 a year — the middle: half earn more, half earn less
  • The lowest tenth earn near $38,340; the top tenth near $79,810
  • 97,670 people employed in this occupation

India

the occupation GROUP, not this job · PLFS via ILOSTAT 2025
  • ₹26,152 a month — the median for Technicians and associate professionals, the group this work sits in
  • India publishes pay by broad occupation group, so this covers many jobs besides this one. It is a shape, not a salary.
read this carefullyThese two numbers are not comparable and must not be converted into each other. One is a yearly figure for this job alone; the other is a monthly figure for a whole family of jobs. What travels between them is the pattern, not the amount: experience lifts pay almost everywhere.

Where the evidence lives

open any of it yourself
O*NETThe US Department of Labor's own record of this job10 of these tasks ESCOThe European skills and occupations register7 of these tasks Job descriptionsReal postings, in the wild7 of these tasks WikipediaHow the world describes this work7 of these tasks US Bureau of Labor StatisticsPay and employment, by occupation2025 figures UK NOS SfLC2Assist in the planning of logistic servicesnational standard UK NOS SfLC1Communicate with clients and colleagues regarding logistics servicesnational standard

Close to this work

12 nearby
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Questions people actually ask

You usually split time between a desk and the dock. Mornings often mean checking the Transportation Management System (TMS) and Microsoft Outlook for new shipments, customers, and delay alerts.

Then you prepare or update manifests, enter weights and costs into Excel or SAP, direct delivery trucks to doors, and walk the yard to check cargo condition and fuel or safety equipment as needed.

Start with a Transportation Management System (TMS) and Microsoft Excel. TMS is where you schedule shipments, track delivery progress, and record service choices; Excel is used for cost, weight logs, and quick reports.

Next learn SAP basics (if the employer uses it) plus Outlook and Word for customer messages and manifests. Brokerage interfaces and posting modules come after you know TMS and Excel.

Yes — AI can draft emails, summarize tracking updates, or suggest routing options, but never paste confidential shipment numbers, customer IDs, or customs documents into public AI tools.

Keep sensitive data inside company systems (TMS, SAP) and use AI only for non-sensitive drafting or analysis after checking company policy and removing identifying details.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were about 97,670 logistics coordinators employed and the median pay was $52,260 per year. The lowest tenth earned $38,340 and the top tenth $79,810.

Actual pay depends on location, employer, and experience; large freight brokers or companies using SAP and complex multimodal routing tend to pay more.

A logistics coordinator focuses on daily shipment handling: choosing shipment methods, tracking deliveries in TMS, preparing manifests, and resolving delays or damages.

A freight forwarder arranges international moves and customs more broadly; a dispatcher primarily assigns trucks and drivers. Coordinators often bridge those roles by preparing customs documents and directing trucks at the site.

Attention to detail: you must record shipment costs, weights, and manifests accurately in TMS or Excel, and spot cargo damage or missing safety equipment during inspections.

If you miss a weight entry, a customs form, or a broken safety item, it creates delays and extra cost. Good communication (phone and email) to notify customers and carriers is the other essential skill.