What Do Logistics Planners Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for logistics planners?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what logistics planners do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Logistics Planners Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about logistics planners by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Logistics Planners analyze and coordinate the ongoing logistical functions of a firm or organization. Responsible for the entire life cycle of a product, including acquisition, distribution, internal allocation, delivery, and final disposal of resources.
Popular Job Titles For Logistics Planners
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Logistics Coordinators
- Supply Chain Analysts
- Production Planners
- Supply Chain Associates
- Logistics Specialists
- Logistics Analysts
- Material Coordinators
- Supply Chain Specialists
- Demand Planners
- Inventory Analysts
- Planners/Schedulers
- Transportation Coordinators
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for logistics planners can be found.
Best Industries for Logistics Planners
Logistics Planners Jobs By Industry
- Federal Government, Civilian: 14.9%
- Federal Government, Military: 10.2%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 8.5%
- Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services: 5.7%
- Freight Transportation Arrangement: 3.5%
- Computer Systems Design and Related Services: 3.1%
- Other: 54.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of logistics planners can be found working in the Federal Government, Civilian sector. In 2023, about 14.9% of all jobs for logistics planners were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Federal Government, Military (10.2%), Management of Companies and Enterprises (8.5%), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5.7%), Freight Transportation Arrangement (3.5%) and Computer Systems Design and Related Services (3.1%).
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Degree Options for Logistics Planners
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- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Do Logistics Planners Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what logistics planners do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work logistics planners do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that logistics planners tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for logistics planners, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Logistics Planners
Based on 152,047 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Logistics Planners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 54,488 | 36% |
| Logistics | 29,138 | 19% |
| Purchasing | 28,755 | 19% |
| Inventory Management | 28,246 | 19% |
| Warehousing | 26,313 | 17% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Logistics Planners
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 65,646 | 43% |
| Management | 52,239 | 34% |
| Operations | 51,963 | 34% |
| Planning | 49,617 | 33% |
| Customer Service | 46,613 | 31% |
Based on 152,047 job postings related to logistics planners, supply chain was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 36% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for logistics, purchasing, inventory management, warehousing and procurement were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for logistics planners, followed by management, operations, planning, customer service and microsoft excel.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Supply Chain | 54,488 | 36% |
| Logistics | 29,138 | 19% |
| Purchasing | 28,755 | 19% |
| Inventory Management | 28,246 | 19% |
| Warehousing | 26,313 | 17% |
| Procurement | 24,473 | 16% |
| SAP Applications | 22,087 | 15% |
| Supply Chain Management | 20,430 | 13% |
| Continuous Improvement Process | 20,213 | 13% |
| Project Management | 17,221 | 11% |
| Marketing | 14,332 | 9% |
| Finance | 13,879 | 9% |
| Process Improvement | 13,663 | 9% |
| Auditing | 13,573 | 9% |
| Material Requirements Planning | 13,494 | 9% |
| Supply Chain Planning | 13,161 | 9% |
| Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) | 13,106 | 9% |
| Data Analysis | 12,891 | 8% |
| Invoicing | 12,662 | 8% |
| Inventory Control | 12,499 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 65,646 | 43% |
| Management | 52,239 | 34% |
| Operations | 51,963 | 34% |
| Planning | 49,617 | 33% |
| Customer Service | 46,613 | 31% |
| Microsoft Excel | 41,948 | 28% |
| Problem Solving | 37,065 | 24% |
| Detail Oriented | 36,254 | 24% |
| Sales | 35,156 | 23% |
| Microsoft Office | 32,092 | 21% |
| Scheduling | 25,928 | 17% |
| Leadership | 25,286 | 17% |
| Coordinating | 24,445 | 16% |
| Forecasting | 19,981 | 13% |
| Writing | 19,976 | 13% |
| Computer Literacy | 19,669 | 13% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 18,859 | 12% |
| Self-Motivation | 18,168 | 12% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 17,668 | 12% |
| Multitasking | 16,625 | 11% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Logistics Planners
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Logistics Coordinators | 21,007 | 13.5% |
| Supply Chain Analysts | 13,747 | 8.8% |
| Production Planners | 13,083 | 8.4% |
| Supply Chain Associates | 19,585 | 12.6% |
| Logistics Specialists | 9,977 | 6.4% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was logistics coordinators, with 8,817 unique job postings. Supply chain analysts were second, with 5,145 postings, followed by production planners, supply chain associates and logistics specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to logistics planners.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Logistics Coordinators | 21,007 | 13.5% |
| Supply Chain Analysts | 13,747 | 8.8% |
| Production Planners | 13,083 | 8.4% |
| Supply Chain Associates | 19,585 | 12.6% |
| Logistics Specialists | 9,977 | 6.4% |
| Logistics Analysts | 10,443 | 6.7% |
| Material Coordinators | 8,313 | 5.3% |
| Supply Chain Specialists | 7,041 | 4.5% |
| Demand Planners | 6,679 | 4.3% |
| Inventory Analysts | 4,944 | 3.2% |
| Planners/Schedulers | 4,747 | 3.1% |
| Transportation Coordinators | 4,930 | 3.2% |
| Material Planners | 4,642 | 3% |
| Delivery Coordinators | 5,841 | 3.8% |
| Supply Chain Planners | 3,860 | 2.5% |
| Supply Chain Coordinators | 4,294 | 2.8% |
| Supply Planners | 3,190 | 2.1% |
| Logistics Associates | 3,441 | 2.2% |
| Distribution Specialists | 3,258 | 2.1% |
| Materials Planners | 2,471 | 1.6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for logistics planners? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for logistics planners.
How much do logistics planners make?
Logistics Planners: How do you become one?
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