Source:  Skills for Logistics – Stage 1 2005, table 3.1. Data from the Labour Force Survey (2003-2004).

For further statistics on the logistics sector by SOC2000 major occupational group see:

Many freight transport companies are experiencing difficulties recruiting LGV drivers and transport management staff.  The largest skills gap for both newly qualified drivers and new recruits is in health and safety. Over the next 3 years, an estimated 15,000-20,000 drivers will be needed, but over the longer term double the number of drives may be required.

For warehousing operatives, industry changes mean that the warehousing and distribution centre environment is one of joint teams involving the logistics provider and the retail client. Warehouse operatives must also interact with drivers from other businesses, so team working and communication skills are now required.

Operational staff are expected to be computer literate while managers are expected to cope with complex IT systems and sophisticated customer demands. The increased complexity of logistics and supply chain management and the need for compliance with environmental and safety legislation in a highly-priced competitive market will place huge demands on the supervisory and management staff in the sector. Skill levels need to rise and career development routes need to be much better developed to attract high calibre recruits.

There appears to be a particular skill problem within professional and associate professional occupations and craft and related occupations, as nearly all the hard-to-fill vacancies were considered skill related.

Deficiencies in the abilities of existing management is resulting in difficulties meeting customer service objectives and hindering the introduction of new technology. Management vacancies as a proportion of total employment are low at 1.4%. An inadequacy of provision in developing the managers of the futures is evident.

Source: Skills for Logistics – Stage 3 2006, Skills for Logistics 2004 and FTA/Skills for Logistics 2003

For drivers, future skill needs reported by employers include:

• clean driving record
• customer handling skills
• geographical knowledge
• knowledge of products being transported or distributed
• vehicle knowledge
• evidence of relevant education and skill qualifications

For transport and distribution managers:

• technical skills, such as computer literacy, cost control and performance management
• personal skills, such as commercial acumen, communication, networking and team-building
• expert knowledge, covering legislation, health and safety, languages and customer priorities
• general management skills

For storage and warehouse managers:

• IT skills, including inventory control, operations management and profitability
• better understanding of the supply chain and broader knowledge of the sector
• ‘people skills’ including the ability to motivate staff, mange change and deal with customers

For other occupations in the sector:

• stock control clerks – computer skills and system or supply chain knowledge
• transport and distribution clerks – computer skills and system or supply chain knowledge, plus customer relations and legal knowledge
• other goods handling and storage operatives, post workers, mails sorters, messengers and couriers – IT, health and safety procedures, numeracy skills and customer awareness

Source: Skills for Logistics – Stage 1 2005

For more statistics on occupational requirements and vacancies in the sector see:

There will be substantial replacement demands across all occupational groups in the sector over the next decade. The greatest replacement demands will be for operatives, and administration, secretarial and clerical groups.

The occupational structure of the sector is projected to remain relatively stable over the next ten years.

Machine and transport operatives (26%), together with admin, clerical and secretarial (17%), occupations comprise significant proportions of the workforce in the Skills for Logistics workforce. Employment shares across all occupations groups, with the exception of skilled trade occupations, are expected to remain relatively stable over the next ten years.

Sources: Working Futures 2006 and Skills for Logistics – Stage 3 2006

The Careers in Logistics website has a range of career profiles for:

• managerial roles – road transport manager; operations manager; freight forwarder; inventory specialist
• non-managerial roles – LGV driver; LGV instructor; forklift truck operator; courier; removals porter

Case studies of real people in the sector are also available on the website together with examples of different career paths in the sector, including:

• logistics graduate to transport manager
• graduate to business director
• fork lift to tanker driver
• apprentice fitter to LGV driver

The Learndirect website has occupational profiles for those in storage, dispatch and delivery, including:

• distribution manager
• van driver
• furniture remover
• load planner (road haulage)
• packer
• port operative
• warehouse manager
• warehouse worker

More information on specific occupations in the sector are available on the Prospects website aimed at graduates. Information on the occupations include: job description and activities; salary and conditions; entry requirements; training; career development; typical employers and sources of vacancies; illustrative case studies; plus useful contacts and resources.

• Distribution/Logistics manager
• Transportation planner
• Freight forwarder
• Port manager