Logistics Coordinator Job Description and Position Overview
This logistics coordinator job description serves as a guide post for employers and employees when pursuing the hire or position. These are highly sought-after roles that require a lot of experience and skill. Specialized logistics recruiters are recommended to help find the right person and prevent sunk costs in bad hires.
Efficient, smooth, and precise movement of a product from supplier to manufacturing to the consumer is essential in a well-run supply chain system. It is a dance involving many players with the Logistics Coordinator as the choreographer. The Logistics Coordinator is a critical role that gets a company’s product from supplier through all steps in the supply chain to the consumer in a timely manner. The person in this role oversees all aspects of a company’s supply chain, from the preparation to transportation and finally to delivery, ensuring the flow of raw materials and final products from suppliers to retailers and customers. Finding the right person for this job can be tough but specialized recruiters can lend a hand.
Similar Job Titles
Other job titles for a logistics coordinator are:
- Logistics Specialist Coordinator
- Logistics Specialist
- Logistics Manager
- Transportation Specialist (this role doesn’t have the full responsibility of logistics, only the transportation piece)
- Fleet Manager
The main objective of a Logistics Coordinator is the movement of a company’s product via all modes of transportation. In the movement of products, the primary overriding goals of a logistics coordinator are to execute on-time service, respond to changing demand, anticipate and mitigate potential hurdles, and continually seek opportunities to reduce miles and transportation costs. This is a tall order and requires someone who prioritizes, executes, handles a set of variables that can dynamically and quickly change, and works well under pressure.
Some core responsibilities of the Logistics Coordinator include:
- Staying apprised of all supply chain operations
- Organizing and managing inventory, storage, and transportation
- Reviewing, preparing, and routing purchase orders and contractual commitments
- Working with and negotiating with suppliers, carriers, service providers, and customers
- Coordinating communication and activity with Customer Service, Shipping, and other departments to optimize performance in scheduling and delivery
- Communicating, planning, and executing activities of warehouses/dock schedules, carriers/drivers to maximize productivity of assets and fleet utilization and attain scheduled pickup and delivery dates
- Reviewing shipment materials before distributions
- Monitoring shipment costs and productivity processes
- Reviewing purchase orders and shipping documents to ensure accuracy
- Plan and assign loads departing a distribution center, connecting at remote lots or rail yard locations to attain scheduled deliveries
- Determine and optimize fleet capacity and capabilities
- Making special shipping arrangements as necessary
- Sourcing and vetting carriers to haul shipments pursuant to requirements
- Negotiating with carriers to secure proper payout based on shipment requirements
- Working with team members and employees to make sure all requirements are understood prior to shipments being arranged
- Making decisions based on the best course of action and circumstances on a shipment-by-shipment basis maintaining service standards, profitability, and fairness to customers and vendors
- Maintaining a constant sense of urgency in moving freight without sacrificing accuracy for speed
- Planning and tracking loads, shipment activities, and identifying opportunities for improved network design
- Maintaining accurate records
- Identifying network problems/issues and creating appropriate corrective action plans to achieve desired results on time
- Tracking and correcting shipment errors
- Corresponding with customers and reporting client requests
- Managing distribution and shipment budgets
- Developing processes that make the supply chain more efficient and organized
Soft Skills:
- Collaboration
- Being a team player
- Multitasking
- Ability to prioritize
- Good retention
- Time management
- Communication
- Problem-solving
- Strong work ethic with a sense of urgency
- Attention to detail
Hard Skills:
- Working knowledge and competence with Microsoft Office Suite – Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint
- Knowledge of laws, regulations, and ISO requirements
- Working knowledge of logistics software (ERP)
- Knowledge of a Quality Management System (QMS) (ex: ETQ Reliance)
- A strong concept of math
Required/Desired Education and Qualifications
Required Education and Qualifications:
High school diploma and/or GED with 5+ years of experience in customer service or logistics management
Desired Education and Qualifications:
- College degree in business administration, logistics, supply chain management, or relevant field
- 2 – 5 years of experience in logistics management
A Day in the Life of a Logistics Coordinator
A day for a logistics coordinator can be unpredictable. Each day is different depending on issues that arise. The logistics coordinator may be tracking and fixing shipping orders at one point and then meeting with warehouse and manufacturing employees for updates the next.
Each day involves reviewing orders and tender acceptance and rejection and shipping documents, taking care of special situations, making plans for future shipments, and correcting problems. Staying on top of load planning, such as building and tendering loads are priorities for the logistics coordinator. Collecting data from procurement services and engineering can be crucial in determining the best transportation strategies for capacity, customer satisfaction, and cost efficiencies.
So, here are some daily activities in a day for a Logistics Coordinator:
- Becomes aware that a shipment hasn’t been delivered because of a mechanical breakdown that has delayed loading.
- Replans the orders and communicates with the customer.
- Receives a new rush order that requires processing the shipment and suggesting possible routes.
- Is alerted of a driver who is stuck in traffic and therefore needs to find a new route.
- Reviews the week’s data and discovers that there is a driver with a consistent issue with speeding, excessive braking, or late delivery.
- Calls a customer and suggests solutions for another delivery. Then, sends the new routes to all drivers who are impacted.
- Looks at short-term and long-term needs and poses “what if” scenarios.
- Analyzes the plans to assess how they can meet the company’s goals.
Typical Working Conditions for a Logistics Coordinator
A Logistics Coordinator will mostly work in an office setting but may need to be in warehouse environments at times.
Technology Enhancements
Planning, scheduling, and supply chain optimization software provides the critical scheduling and tracking information for a Logistics Coordinator, making their job more automated.
Logistics Coordinator Salary Range and Benefits
According to Glassdoor in March 2022, the national average salary for a Logistics Coordinator is $46,000 per year. The website www.comparably.com has the salary range in the U.S. for logistics coordinators as $32,000 to $116,000, with a median salary of $74,000.
Benefits for a Logistics Coordinator are a complete package including:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- AD&D insurance
- Vision insurance
Conclusion
This logistics coordinator job description and position overview can be a guide for employers who need to hire for this position. This job description also helps candidates to better understand if they’re a fit for the role and what they can expect from it.
