Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between transportation managers and distribution center managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a transportation manager, becoming a distribution center manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a distribution center manager has an average salary of $99,459, which is higher than the $77,378 average annual salary of a transportation manager.
The top three skills for a transportation manager include customer service, DOT and supply chain. The most important skills for a distribution center manager are logistics, customer service, and OSHA.
| Transportation Manager | Distribution Center Manager | |
| Yearly salary | $77,378 | $99,459 |
| Hourly rate | $37.20 | $47.82 |
| Growth rate | 28% | - |
| Number of jobs | 25,248 | 75,501 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 6 |
A transportation manager is an individual who is responsible for directing and managing tasks that involves all the transportation activities within the organization. Transportation managers must ensure that goods and passengers have reached their destination safely by inspecting and providing maintenance to the organization's vehicles. During the hiring process, transportation managers must make sure that drivers and operators have the correct and up to date qualifications. They must also avoid passenger overload and should keep accurate records of passengers and goods that are being transported.
A distribution center manager is an individual who is responsible for managing all the daily activities of a centralized distribution center, warehouse, or another shipping facility. Distribution center managers are required to supervise the loading and unloading of all packages as well as ensure that all goods and products have the proper storage conditions. They must evaluate freight services and manage relationships with the chose vendors. Distribution center managers are also required to monitor the safety of the facility and make sure that workers properly store everything to prevent injuries.
Transportation managers and distribution center managers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Transportation Manager | Distribution Center Manager | |
| Average salary | $77,378 | $99,459 |
| Salary range | Between $53,000 And $111,000 | Between $70,000 And $141,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Woodland, CA |
| Highest paying state | Virginia | California |
| Best paying company | Accenture | Bed Bath & Beyond |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Automotive |
There are a few differences between a transportation manager and a distribution center manager in terms of educational background:
| Transportation Manager | Distribution Center Manager | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 57% | Bachelor's Degree, 67% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | Stanford University | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between transportation managers' and distribution center managers' demographics:
| Transportation Manager | Distribution Center Manager | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% | Male, 88.4% Female, 11.6% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.5% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 6.1% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 5% | 5% |