Some, like Mick Jagger, can't get no satisfaction. But our readers say they can: A whopping 94 percent of the respondents to a recent Logistics Management & Distribution Report survey consider themselves satisfied—or very satisfied—when it comes to their jobs.

Conducted this past summer, our survey on job satisfaction was completed by 572 readers. These readers came from a variety of companies and held a variety of positions: 22 percent described themselves as logistics managers, 14 percent as traffic managers, 13 percent as warehouse managers, and 11 percent as operations managers. Slightly over half—56 percent of those surveyed—said they worked in a large organization. (Indeed, 39 percent of the survey participants said they worked for a corporation employing more than 1,000 people.) About 30 percent of the survey takers reported that they worked for large publicly held organizations, while the remaining 44 percent were employed by small companies.

The readers who responded to our survey tended to be industry veterans. Most of the participants—38 percent—fell into the 41- to 50-year-old age range, with another 30 percent in the 51- to 60-year-old age bracket. The average age of the survey participants was 45.

But regardless of age and occupation, the survey respondents were united on the merits of a career in logistics. When we asked them how happy they were with their jobs, 49 percent said they were "very satisfied" and another 45 percent said they were "satisfied" with their current employment situation. Only 6 percent said that they were not satisfied. (See Figure 1.)

When asked what specific actions their employers had taken to keep them satisfied, readers overwhelming cited their autonomy. "The company has a 'hands off' policy in relation to managing the department; this allows managers to be creative and make decisions with their people," wrote one reader. "As a manager, I have been given the freedom to operate," wrote another. "Major changes and expenditures must be cleared but the independence to function and produce the required results is a major factor." Added a third respondent: "The company allows you the opportunity to make decisions. There is no second guessing; you are trusted."

Others listed dignified treatment and employer respect as the basis for their high level of satisfaction. "With all employees at our plant, including myself, they treat us like people, not workhorses," reported one respondent. "We have dignity and respect, and they are extremely fair. Rewards are based on merit, not on how long you have been with the company." Chipped in another survey taker: "I am satisfied with my job because management seems to value the contribution my department makes toward the company's success. My superiors are willing to listen to my views and seem to respect me, my department, and my opinions."

A congenial work environment and agreeable colleagues also appeared to play a role in job satisfaction. Wrote one reader: "[My] co-workers are pleasant to work with. The company makes an effort to have appreciation sessions. It also processes quarterly surveys to keep each department up with the pay scales of our competitors."

A number of respondents cited diversified duties coupled with challenging assignments. "I enjoy my job because the industry changes with world politics," said one reader. "You are always learning every day. Every day is different and you must be able to change directions quickly and do more than one thing at a time." Said another: "My boss is always able to give me challenging projects to undertake. He lets me use my experience and expertise to run the warehouse and does not micromanage me." Added a third respondent: "I kind of consider this company my MBA as I am exposed to so many facets of running a growing business."

Finally, survey takers listed competitive compensation as a major factor contributing to their job satisfaction. "They reward performance with stock options, salary increases, and recognition," offered one survey taker. "There's good compensation including salary, bonus, and stock options and purchase opportunities," said another, echoing a common theme among survey respondents.

But not all of the survey respondents gave their jobs such glowing reviews. A minority of survey takers expressed frustration with their jobs. When asked why, 36 percent mentioned inadequate compensation, 20 percent cited the lack of opportunity for advancement, while another 16 percent complained about a stressful workload. Another 8 percent said that their job lacked challenges, while 8 percent blamed their woes on the spate of mergers and acquisitions. (See Figure 2.)

All of the respondents were asked whether adequate opportunities for advancement existed in their companies. Some 53 percent thought that they could advance their careers at their current place of employment, but the other 47 percent felt that opportunities to move ahead were limited. (See Figure 3.) When the naysayers were asked about the obstacles to advancement, 34 percent of them said that career impediments stemmed from the fact that the company was run by family members. "There's only one position that I could move into and it is currently filled by my boss and he is one of the founders of the company," wrote one respondent. It should be noted that one-third of the survey respondents said they worked for family-held companies.

The second most cited obstacle (mentioned by 8 percent) was lack of training and education on the job. The third obstacle listed was the requirement for a college degree, a problem cited by 4 percent. (See Figure 4.) But more than half of those who felt they faced diminished career prospects offered a range of individual reasons too numerous to mention.

A solid majority of survey respondents indicated that their companies afforded opportunities for learning. Some 81 percent of those surveyed said that their employer provided training and educational opportunities. Only 19 percent indicated otherwise. (See Figure 5.) By the way, 77 percent of the survey participants believed that they needed specific training for their current jobs.

Logistics jobs are getting more demanding, if our survey is any indication. Some 93 percent of the survey respondents said their job responsibilities had increased over the past three years. When asked whether their company had compensated them for their increased responsibilities, only 58 percent said yes.

Despite the heavier workload, the majority of those surveyed said that they enjoyed working in the distribution field. When asked whether they'd make the same choices if they had it to do all over again, 81 percent of the survey participants said they would choose logistics or distribution as their career.

On top of that, 91 percent of the survey respondents said they would recommend logistics and distribution as a career choice to young people. When asked what advice they would offer to young professionals entering the field, many said they would urge them to get a college education and computer training. "I would advise them to get a B.S. in logistics and a minor in computers," noted one reader.

Others focused on the changing nature of the logistics workplace. "There are no gurus in this business due to daily changes in technology, the regulatory environment, and industry information intelligence," wrote one reader whose comments were typical. "So always be willing to learn."

Finally, one reader warned that novices should brace themselves for hard work if they wanted a career in logistics. "Be sure you can handle pressure," that reader said. "Can you accept change well? If not, this is not the field for you. Are you willing to work outside the normal hours of 9 to 5? If not, this is not the job for you. If you want challenge and enjoy learning, this is a great job."

Editor's Note: The editors of Logistics Management & Distribution Report magazine would like to thank all the respondents who took time to add comments to their survey responses.