Postgraduate courses in Transportation and Logistics Management

That title is a bit of a mouthful and seems a little long winded but stick with us. We will explain everything you need to know about transportation and logistics management. 

If you’re searching for a postgraduate course in this area, presumably, you will have a good idea of all that is involved but if you’re new to the world of transport and logistics, sit tight and don;t worry. We’ve got you covered. 

What is transportation and logistics management?

Transportation and logistics management are very closely related in the world of business. They share a common objective – transporting goods, stock and materials. In fact, transportation management is a subdivision of logistics. 

In short, transportation is the movement of goods while logistics is how those goods are managed from when they leave the manufacturer to when they arrive to the end user. 

What does a transportation and logistics manager do? 

There are a few different duties carried out in this role. The day-to-day roles and responsibilities can differ depending on the project, the goals and challenges faced. However, some duties include: 

• Fulfilling manufacturers promises
• Meeting customer demanded and expectations
• Manage execution, direction and coordination of transportation of goods
• Plan routes
• Booking in deliveries 
• Liaising with customers
• Directing transportation activities
• Monitoring transport costs
• Implement transport strategies
• Ensure those in the supply chain are working effectively 
• Record transport and movements of goods

Courses

Courses in this area tie in with supply chain management so many courses cover a multitude. There are a few courses to choose from with some offering opportunities to study both part time and full time. With current Covid-19 restrictions, there are a number of courses that will begin online and finish on campus when safe to do so. Courses on offer in this area include: 

International Business and Supply Chain Management 

Students who take this course will learn to identify, analyse and evaluate business related issues. There is a focus on supply chain management and how business decisions are made from a supply chain perspective in order to meet customer demands. While it is not directly a course in transport or logistics, much of the material covered is relevant and related. 

Logistics, Data Analytics and Supply Chain Management 

Topics such as issues in supply chain management and logistics, business data analytics, technology management and business sustainability are all key focuses in a course such as this. 

There are also many courses in related fields such as Supply Chain Management, International Business and Logistics, Energy Storage and International Logistics. 

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for different courses will differ from university to university. An honours degree is mostly required. In some cases a 2.2 degree is required while in other cases a 2.1 degree is necessary. Specific entry requirements can be found online on course overviews and university websites. 

Salary expectation 

The salary of a transportation and logistics manager can differ depending on the company and location you’re working at. Salaries can range anywhere from  £20,000 to £44,000 so it is hard to give an exact figure of what you should expect to earn. However, the average salary in this role in the UK is around £26,569. 

Potential employable areas

Areas you can work as a transportation and logistics manager include: 

• Specialist distribution companies 
• Consultancies
• Manufacturers
• The Armed Forces
• Retailers
• Commercial organisations

Skills and requirements

Helpful skills in becoming a transportation and logistics manager include:

• Strong communication skills

• Organized 

• Good coordination skills

• An analytical mind

• Excellent negotiation skills

• Knowledge of the transport industry

• Able to make important and crucial decisions

• Problem solver

• Able to use IT and packages

• Ability to use electronic communication methods

• Good numeracy skills

• Strong customer service
  
• Calm when dealing with unhappy drivers/customers