How to become a director in logistics, warehousing and transport
Official title: Directors in logistics, warehousing and transport
Also called: Director, Airport director, Traffic director, Managing director, Head of logistics, Logistics director, Technical director, Transport director, Operations director, Supply chain director, Distribution director, Chief controller
Directors in logistics, warehousing and transport plan, organise, direct and co-ordinate the activities and resources necessary for the safe, efficient and economic movement of passengers and freight by road, rail, sea and air transport, and the receipt, storage and warehousing of goods and the maintenance of stocks at an optimal level.
Main tasks
- Plans the optimum utilisation of staff and operating equipment, and co-ordinates maintenance activities to ensure least possible disruption to services examines traffic reports, load patterns, traffic receipts and other data and revises transport services or freight rates accordingly
- Oversees and directs the movement, handling and storage of freight in transit and the operations of transport hubs such as airports, railways stations and harbours
- Arranges for maintenance of airport runways and buildings, liaises with fuel and catering crews to ensure adequate supplies and resolves any complaints and problems raised by airport users.
- Ensures that regulations regarding hours of work, the licensing of crews and transport equipment, the operational safety and efficiency of equipment, the insurance of vehicles and other statutory regulations are complied with
- Liaises with production, maintenance, sales and other departments to determine the materials and other items required for current and future production schedules and sales commitments
- Reviews, develops and implements stock control, handling and distribution policies to maximise use of space, money, labour and other resources
- Advises purchasing department on type, quality and quantity of goods required and dates by which they must be available
- Prepares reports on expenditure and advises on materials and parts standardisation, future stores and stock control policies
How to become one
Candidates are recruited with a variety of academic qualifications and/or with relevant experience. Entrants to management trainee schemes in logistics offered by larger companies will require GCSEs/S grades, A levels/H grades, a degree or other equivalent qualifications. Off and on-the-job training is provided. Professional qualifications are available and may be required for some roles. NVQs/SVQs in a number of relevant areas including supply chain and operations management are available at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £83,447 a year The middle half earn £59,976 to null.
- About 26,600 people work in this job now, and about 29,100 are projected by 2035. (+9.6%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a director in logistics, warehousing and transport?
Candidates are recruited with a variety of academic qualifications and/or with relevant experience. Entrants to management trainee schemes in logistics offered by larger companies will require GCSEs/S grades, A levels/H grades, a degree or other equivalent qualifications. Off and on-the-job training is provided. Professional qualifications are available and may be required for some roles. NVQs/SVQs in a number of relevant areas including supply chain and operations management are available at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5.
How much does a director in logistics, warehousing and transport earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £83,447 a year (Office for National Statistics).
Is a director in logistics, warehousing and transport a growing career in the UK?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 10% by 2035, from about 26,600 to about 29,100 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a director in logistics, warehousing and transport?
Not always. 47% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03