logistics managers find happiness

Though our survey shows that nine out of 10 logistics professionals find their jobs more demanding than ever, career satisfaction still remains high.

By -- Logistics Management, 11/1/2000

Our first-ever job satisfaction survey of professionals working in logistics has revealed some interesting facts about the field. Most of you like your jobs, most of you like your employers, and most of you like your careers. Most of you are even satisfied with your pay. But the results also reveal that most of you would like more training in order to do your jobs better.

Our survey of 100 Logistics Management & Distribution Report readers, conducted by Cahners Research, asked several questions about the opportunities and obstacles surrounding career advancement and the kinds of training that could improve performance. It also solicited advice for those just entering the field.

Our respondent pool represented a broad spectrum of the logistics field: Half of the respondents to our survey are working for companies with annual sales of up to $50 million, with the other half working at companies with up to $1 billion in sales. More than half-54 percent-work at companies with 100 or fewer employees. Sixteen percent work at companies with more than 1,000 employees. The age profile showed that most respondents-65 percent-were in the prime career years of 31 to 50, 7 percent were aged 20 to 30, 22 percent were 51 to 60, 5 percent were 61 to 70, and one was over 70.

Is Everybody Happy?

The key survey question asked how satisfied respondents were with their jobs. Interestingly, even though 9 out of 10 respondents said their job responsibilities had increased in the last three years, fully 65 percent answered that they were "very satisfied." Add in those responding "somewhat satisfied" and the level of contentment jumps to 96 percent. And the 4 percent who say they're dissatisfied? Those were managers who reported that they had stressful workloads.

Typical of those who like what they're doing is Christopher Campion, supervisor of transportation and warehousing for Exxon Mobil Chemical in Rochester, N.Y., a maker of plastic-packaging films for the food industry. The 15-year veteran in logistics, who has a bachelor's degree in transportation from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, N.Y., says he is very satisfied with his choice of career.

The growing recognition of the role logistics plays in achieving business success apparently contributes to the level of job satisfaction reported by respondents. Campion says that the field of logistics is gaining a higher profile, fueled by the growth of the Internet and increased interaction with other departments. "I think that logistics in general has gotten more visible than it has been in the past," he says. Rather than viewing logistics as a back-shop operation, he adds, senior management is beginning to recognize that logistics has a fairly substantial impact on both customer satisfaction and the bottom line.

But is that value reflected in the paycheck? Apparently yes. Most respondents indicated their salaries were adequate. Asked about compensation, 67 percent said they were appropriately compensated and the remaining third indicated they thought they should be paid more.

Moving Up

The high level of job satisfaction reported by respondents could be related, in part, to opportunities for career advancement. Seventy-two percent of respondents say those opportunities are available at their companies. Of the 28 percent who said there were insufficient opportunities, most reported that they were non-relatives working at family-run companies. Some said they lacked technical expertise, and some said they lacked a college degree. Others cited company politics, being female "in a male industry," and company prejudice against in-house promotions.

Asked if their employers provided training and education opportunities, 89 percent answered "yes." Three-quarters of the respondents said they needed specific training in order to do their jobs, while the remaining 25 percent indicated that specific training was unnecessary.

Yet the training already provided does not appear to be enough. More than two-thirds of the respondents, 67 percent, said they wanted more training on computers so they could improve their technical skills, with some indicating they wanted more training on specific software programs. About 18 percent said they'd like more training in areas concerning safety, use of specific equipment (such as forklift trucks), and warehousing. About 11 percent said they'd like to refine their management skills so they could improve their interaction with supervisors, customers, and staff members. Respondents also said they'd like to learn more about accounting and business practices, their companies' products, and sales.

Complexities Abound

Asked about the major challenges facing the field today, respondents came back with a variety of responses. Anthony Kozlowski, CEO of American International Cargo in Long Beach, Calif., an international transporter and consolidator, cited the difficulties of managing growth. He recommends that companies focus on internal training and that those with international clients learn the rules governing other countries' customs requirements and freight-handling regulations to stay competitive. "In the United States," he says, "most transportation professionals are not as well trained as their counterparts in Asia or the Far East are."

By contrast, Jim Monier, a 28-year logistics veteran who is maintenance manager at International Paper's Consumer Products Division in Sibley, Iowa, sees the increasing complexity of the discipline as the main challenge. "You can do more, but you need more skills," he says. "It's tougher to find people who have them and when you do, you're paying them much more." Meeting management expectations while coping with budget restrictions is a major part of his job, Monier reports.

Would You Do It Again?

Despite the challenges, 82 percent of respondents said they would choose a career in logistics if they had to choose a career all over again. Asked why, about 37 percent of those who would remain in logistics said they enjoyed the challenging nature of their jobs. One respondent said the "constant challenges and changes" in logistics made the endeavor worthwhile. "There's always something new at work," explained another. About 18 percent said they enjoyed the freedom to manage their departments and staff as they saw fit. "I like the independence to have interaction with customers [as well as] the technical nature of the job," one manager reported.

Many survey participants specifically mentioned that they liked the daily interaction with customers, management, and staff; their work environment; and company pay and benefits. About 6 percent said they particularly enjoyed the analytical nature of their jobs.

Eighty-nine percent said they would recommend logistics as a career to someone entering the workforce. Of those who offered career advice to newcomers, 41 percent said that education-either through a formal, college setting or through a more informal, on-the-job approach-was vital to career advancement. "Learn as much as possible," urged one respondent.

Most noted that computer skills were particularly important to career advancement, along with staying current with changes in the logistics field. "Get a computer background," wrote one participant. "Take time to learn the international side of logistics," another advised. "Learn a foreign language," offered yet another. "Be willing to deal with change," another respondent advised future logistics professionals. "Be prepared to do a lot of jobs," added another. "Stay on top of everything," one respondent urged.

But how do you do that? Campion says he keeps up with logistics issues by reading trade publications and attending seminars and trade shows. "It's always good to get out and see what your peers are doing," he says.

Others note that some of the best education in logistics won't come in the classroom; it will come from on-the-job experience. "It is all hands-on experience," wrote one respondent. "Listen and learn from the wisdom of older people who have experience in the logistics field," advised another.

The unmistakable conclusion of our survey is that participants overwhelmingly endorse logistics as a career choice, based on their own experiences. "The work is very satisfying," wrote one respondent. Added another: "This is a good, challenging career."