Our annual salary survey is always one of the most revealing articles of the year—and not surprisingly, one of the best read. The big news this year is that during a period of almost non-stop bad economic news, logistics managers were able to hold their own on the salary front. In fact, they actually posted a modest increase of 2 percent.

The results speak directly to the central role that logistics professionals play, not only in their own organizations, but also in the nation's economy overall. In good times and bad times, the freight still has to move. And how effectively you manage that inventory flow takes on added significance when revenues are down and margins are being squeezed. Yet despite the fact that logistics managers are hanging tough on the salary front, our survey results raise a couple of cautionary flags that demand our attention:

Scope of responsibilities. Respondents reported a significant increase in their job responsibilities, but with no commensurate increase in staff resources. The danger is that logistics people could get so caught up in the day-to-day pressures of getting freight in and out the door that they'll have no time to think strategically. Yet it's strategic thinking that typically results in the biggest productivity gains.

Education. Two-thirds of the survey respondents reported holding an undergraduate degree or higher. That number has not risen appreciably in several years. As the logistics job becomes more complex and the responsibilities increase, education becomes more important. Those individuals without a college degree should think seriously about getting one—preferably in a business-related subject. This makes sense not just from an earnings standpoint, but also in terms of building the skill set necessary to get the job done today.

Gender equality. As has been true in past years, our survey reveals a sizeable ($21,500) gap between the average salaries of men and women. In some cases the gap is understandable: male respondents overall held higher levels of responsibility and had more years of experience. Where key factors are comparable, however, the compensation levels should be comparable as well. The logistics profession needs to attract and retain talented people—regardless of any particular demographic.

If our survey results are any indication, logistics professionals appear to be in good shape. And if they pay attention to the caution signs, things should only get better.