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Warehousing and Distribution
Amazon, GXO Logistics, Ryder
Home / All Jobs / Business / First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
This supervisor keeps warehouses, yards, and shipping operations moving by assigning crews, checking progress, and stepping in when loads are late, equipment is backed up, or safety rules are being ignored. The work is part people management and part fast problem-solving, and the main tradeoff is that you are judged on both speed and safety at the same time.
Also known as Transportation SupervisorWarehouse SupervisorDistribution SupervisorLogistics SupervisorShipping and Receiving Supervisor
Median Salary
$61,890
Mean $65,670
U.S. Workforce
~606K
61.3K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+3.7%
609.6K to 632.2K
Entry Education
High school diploma or equivalent
+ Less than 5 years experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors sits in the Business category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~606K workers, with a median annual pay of $61,890 and roughly 61.3K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 609.6 K in 2024 to 632.2K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with High school diploma or GED, and employers typically expect less than 5 years of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Warehouse Associate / Material Handler and can progress toward Director of Logistics / Distribution. High-value skills usually include Crew Scheduling, Labor Planning & Shift Assignment, Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS) & Dispatch Software, and OSHA Safety Compliance, Incident Reporting & Loss Prevention Systems, paired with soft skills such as Coordination, Management of Personnel Resources, and Speaking.
Core Responsibilities
- Show new hires how to do the job and give experienced workers the right assignments for the shift.
- Talk with managers, customers, and contractors to clear up delays, damage, or other problems.
- Make sure safety rules are being followed on the floor, dock, or yard.
- Check that shipments are loaded correctly and report missing, damaged, or misplaced items.
Keep exploring: more Business careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Show new hires how to do the job and give experienced workers the right assignments for the shift.
02 Talk with managers, customers, and contractors to clear up delays, damage, or other problems.
03 Make sure safety rules are being followed on the floor, dock, or yard.
04 Check that shipments are loaded correctly and report missing, damaged, or misplaced items.
05 Estimate how many people, materials, and hours a job or shift will need.
06 Review workers' performance and write evaluations or feedback.
Industries That Hire
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Parcel Delivery and E-commerce Logistics
UPS, FedEx, DHL
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Retail Supply Chain
Walmart, Target, The Home Depot
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Manufacturing and Plant Logistics
Toyota, 3M, Caterpillar
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Recycling and Waste Management
Waste Management, Republic Services, Veolia
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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The pay is solid for an operations job, with a median of $61,890 and a mean of $65,670.
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You can often move up with a high school diploma and less than 5 years of experience instead of a long degree path.
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There are about 61.3 thousand annual openings, so hiring stays active even when growth is modest.
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The role builds useful experience in scheduling, safety, performance management, and real-time problem solving.
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You can use it as a stepping stone into operations manager, logistics manager, or distribution leadership roles.
Challenges
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Growth is only 3.7% through 2034, so this is not a fast-expanding field.
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The work is usually on-site and tied to shifts, docks, warehouses, or yards, so remote work is rare.
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You are accountable for both productivity and safety, which can mean constant pressure when staffing is short or shipments are delayed.
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Automation, routing software, and warehouse systems can reduce the need for some lower-level supervisory work over time.
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The pay ceiling is real unless you move into larger operations or regional management, where the number of openings is much smaller.
Career Progression
Warehouse Associate / Material Handler
0-2 years
$32K-$42K
You learn the equipment, shipment flow, and safety rules while working under close supervision.
Lead Operator / Crew Lead
2-4 years
$43K-$55K
You help organize a small team, solve routine problems, and keep daily work on schedule.
First-Line Supervisor THIS ROLE
4-8 years
$58K-$74K
You run a shift or work area, manage people issues, enforce safety, and keep freight or materials moving.
Operations Manager
8-12 years
$76K-$98K
You oversee multiple supervisors or larger workflows, balance labor costs, and handle higher-level planning.
Director of Logistics / Distribution
12+ years
$100K-$135K
You set site or network strategy, manage budgets, and make staffing and process decisions across several teams.
Education Paths
High school diploma or GED
The most common entry point, held by 37.37% of workers in this role, and it can be enough when you already know the work from the floor or dock.
Some college or associate degree in logistics, business, or supply chain
This path is also common, with 19.85% reporting some college coursework and 13.52% holding an associate's degree, and it can help you move from crew work into supervision faster.
Bachelor's degree in business, operations, or supply chain management
A sizable share of workers, 21.28%, have a bachelor's degree, which can help you compete for larger sites or faster promotion even though it is not required.
OSHA, forklift, or logistics certificate
A practical alternative for workers who want a resume boost without a full degree, especially in warehouses and distribution centers where safety and equipment knowledge matter.
Key Skills
Technical
Crew Scheduling, Labor Planning & Shift Assignment 100%
Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Transportation Management Systems (TMS) & Dispatch Software 97%
OSHA Safety Compliance, Incident Reporting & Loss Prevention Systems 92%
Microsoft Excel, Spreadsheets & KPI Dashboards 87%
Barcode Scanners, RF Handhelds & Inventory Tracking 81%
ERP Systems (SAP, Oracle) & Work Order Tracking 75%
Soft Skills
CoordinationManagement of Personnel ResourcesSpeakingActive ListeningTime ManagementCritical Thinking Job Outlook and Trends
+3.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
61.3K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 609.6K to 632.2 K over the next decade, representing 3.7% growth. Around 61.3 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Rare. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.