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What is a transportation coordinator and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Warren Beeler
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If you receive eagerly awaited parcels on time, you should be thankful for the transportation coordinator. Transportation coordinators always make sure products are delivered on time. The goods to be delivered are either from a manufacturing company or from a shipping service. Other than local customers, they also provide goods to companies such as private production facilities.

You will have to adhere to rules and regulations of the government, goods transportation laws are crucial for coordinators. They supervise all activities related to goods transportation and shipping. They also coordinate between the company drivers and ensure the dispatch of every one of them. The establishment of efficient company routes for better customer service is also a part of their job.

Expert coordinators typically work at various logistics companies and manufacturing industries. As far as the requirements are concerned, the job demands two to four years of work experience in the relevant field and a bachelor's degree. Working 9-5 in a week, you can earn around $15.93 per hour.

What general advice would you give to a transportation coordinator?

Warren Beeler

Western Kentucky University

1. Work hard, 2. be a good listener and learn. 3. be a team player
ScoreTransportation CoordinatorUS Average
Salary
2.9

Avg. Salary $36,704

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 12%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
6.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.87%

Asian 6.78%

Black or African American 11.74%

Hispanic or Latino 21.33%

Unknown 4.54%

White 54.75%

Gender

female 50.82%

male 49.18%

Age - 44
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44
Stress level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
9.9

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
2.7

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Transportation coordinator career paths

Key steps to become a transportation coordinator

  1. Explore transportation coordinator education requirements

    Most common transportation coordinator degrees

    Bachelor's

    47.0 %

    Associate

    23.0 %

    High School Diploma

    16.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific transportation coordinator skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service28.62%
    Patients13.91%
    Data Entry5.51%
    CDL4.60%
    Safety Rules4.47%
  3. Complete relevant transportation coordinator training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New transportation coordinators learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a transportation coordinator based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real transportation coordinator resumes.
  4. Gain additional transportation coordinator certifications

    Transportation coordinator certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific transportation coordinator certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for transportation coordinators include Commercial Driver License (CDL) and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research transportation coordinator duties and responsibilities

    • Manage inventory and maintain proper FDA and AATB storage requirements establish for allograft tissue.
    • Enhance vendor and order management by leading training sessions on the standard procedures of managing freight within the TMS.
    • Utilize TMS to actively manage on-time performance and automation objectives
    • Manage accountability for operating costs, planning of rotation deployment and redeployment.
  6. Prepare your transportation coordinator resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your transportation coordinator resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a transportation coordinator resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable transportation coordinator resume templates

    Build a professional transportation coordinator resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your transportation coordinator resume.
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    Transportation Coordinator Resume
  7. Apply for transportation coordinator jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a transportation coordinator job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first transportation coordinator job

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Average transportation coordinator salary

The average transportation coordinator salary in the United States is $36,704 per year or $18 per hour. Transportation coordinator salaries range between $26,000 and $51,000 per year.

Average transportation coordinator salary
$36,704 Yearly
$17.65 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do transportation coordinators rate their job?

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Transportation coordinator reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020
Pros

Days when you have 100 % on time pick up and delivery and everyone is actually happy to talk to you. Days go fast.

Cons

You have to answer for everything. Everything falls back to the load planner. Managers want to know why this happened and truckers ask dispatch who then ask us why things are happening. You have to wear multiple hats. You are above dispatch. But still have to know how to dispatch in and out. AS400 and Excel are just as important to know inside and out. You also have to know your bosses job because when they are out you take their spot. It's high stress. Most planners get out within 3 years. Most go into management. You need to know everything about your trucking company. How each driver runs are they reliable can you trust them or are you going to burn at the stake for making a mistake. Do not start load planning on a dedicated accout say for Walmart or Target you will be in way over your head. It is much more fast paced and time sensitive than an OTR planner.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Pros

Dispatched and monitoring Scheduling ang planning Booking and costing.

Cons

Hard headed drivers Bad manners of client and drivers


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A zippia user wrote a review on Sep 2019
Pros

Everyday, even though it's the same thing over and over, brings different challenges. Drivers make this job either very easy or extremely stressfull.

Cons

High stress. High burnout rate. Long hours.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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