What are the jobs and salaries in the transport and logistics sector?

The field of logistics is closely linked to the transport sector. Indeed, this sector includes a large number of professions and employs nearly one and a half million professionals in France. It is a sector in evolution, due in particular to new consumer habits.

What jobs are available in the transport and logistics sector? How much can you earn by joining this activity? An overview ofthe jobs and salaries in the transport department of the supply chain.

The transport manager

What does the transport manager do?

As head of logistics services, the transport manager occupies a strategic position within the company. His/her mission is todesign the transport strategy by optimising its various aspects, at the technical, budgetary and human levels.

With their organisational skills and sense of priorities, they are responsible fordrawing up invitations to tender and negotiating with service providers. He or she also measures the performance of the strategy using specialised tools, manages the budget, puts together the teams and draws up the employee schedule.

In the event of a malfunction in the transport strategy, he is responsible for resolving the problems. Finally, he regularly reports on the company’stransport activities to themanagement.

What is the salary of a transport manager?

The average annual salary for a transport manager is €50,000 gross, which varies according to experience and the size of the company. It is relatively rare to see progression in this type of position, as it generally marks the end of the career. However, a transport manager may choose to move into apurchasing or procurement position, or an operations manager.

What diploma do you need to be a transport manager?

To become a transport manager, you need to have a Bac+2 (BTS, DUT, etc.) in transport, logistics, commerce and management. It is often appreciated if you have had some initial professional experience in transport.

The transport manager

What does the transport manager do?

A company may not have enough business to require a transport manager. In this case, it can set up a transport manager position. The tasks of the transport manager are similar, as he or she is the guarantor of the the success of the transport strategy.

He/she therefore participates in the development of the strategy and supervises the logistical operations and the work of the employees. They also play a role in managing the budget and ensuring that transport deadlines are met.

If there is a transport manager, they work together to optimise the overall strategy.

What is the salary of a transport manager?

On average, a transport manager earns €38,000 gross per year. As the company grows, or by moving to another company, he or she can progress to the position oftransport manager. His or her experience as a manager is also a good springboard to a position aspurchasing or supply manager, but also as operations manager.

What diploma do you need to be a transport manager?

There are various qualifications for becoming a transport manager:

• A Bac+2/Bac+3 in transport, logistics, purchasing and production management
• A university master’s degree with a specialisation in logistics and transport
• 5 years of higher education from a business or engineering school

An MBA in transport can be an advantage for quicker access to the position of transport manager.

The charterer

What does the charterer do?

An essential position in the logistics chain, the charterer acts as a link between the company he works for, which has goods to ship, and the transport companies. Among his tasks, the shipper must determine the various transport networks and choose the carrier, ensuring the best ratio between quality of service and price. He plays a role in negotiating costs, and takes care ofthe administrative side of transport.

What is the salary of a charterer?

A charterer’s average salary is30,000 euros gross per year. He or she can progress up the career ladder to transport manager, operations manager or transport agency manager.

What diploma do you need to be a charterer?

To become a charterer, you don’t need a Bac+5: a Bac+2/Bac+3 is enough. A BTS in transport and logistics services or a DUT in logistics and transport management is preferable.

Drivers

What does the driver do?

In the transport sector, drivers obviously have a central role, since without them the goods could not arrive at their destination.

A driver’s job is totransport goods from point A to point B on behalf of a transport company or business. They are responsible for ensuring that delivery times are metThe driver is responsible for meeting delivery deadlines, customs regulations and tolls during the journey. The driver is also responsibleforloading and unloading the vehicle.

Finally, the driver is responsible for certain administrative operations. He keeps the various administrative documents up to date, from delivery notes to the issue of the invoice.

What does a driver earn?

A driver earns an average of€20,000 gross per year at the start of his or her career. His salary can rise to more than 30,000 euros during his career, in addition to numerous bonuses. They can move up the career ladderby specialising or by setting up their own transport company.

What diploma do you need to be a driver?

To work as a truck driver, you must hold a category C driving licence and have at least a CAP (vocational training certificate) or a professional title, or have completed a FIMO (Minimum Initial Training Obligation).

Specialist drivers drivers

What does a specialist driver do?

The driver may choose to specialise by under goingspecific training for the transport and handling of certain goods. He may, for example, choose to specialise in thetransport of petroleum products, live animals, explosive materials, or in the transport of tankers. His tasks remain similar to those of the classic driver, namely to ensure the smooth running of the delivery.

What is the salary of a specialised driver?

Having a specialisation allows the driver to be paid more. The average salary for a specialist driver starting out is around €28,000 gross per year.

His salary is progressive according to his experience, the goods transported and the company he works for. It can go up to more than 40,000 euros per year. Similarly, one of the possible career paths is toset up a transport company.

What diploma do you need to be a specialised driver?

Just like a truck driver, a specialised driver must hold a category C driving licence and have at least a CAP (vocational training certificate) or a professional title, or have completed a FIMO (Minimum Initial Training Obligation).

As far as specialisations are concerned, specific training courses for each type of goods transported are compulsory.

The logistics and transport sector offers a wide variety of jobs, accessible to a wide range of profiles. The skills required are also numerous. These professions require an optimal sense of organisation, good analytical skills, adaptability and responsiveness.

Are you interested in jobs in the logistics sector? Read our articles on supply chain jobs andwarehouse jobs. Don’t hesitate to take a look at our recruitment pageThere are many vacancies available.