5 free logistics templates, coordinator, specialist, associate, officer, and small-business, with the FLSA exempt-versus-non-exempt question and size-tiered guidance generic templates skip. Download as DOCX.
"Logistics job description" is an umbrella, and for most small businesses it resolves to one role: the logistics coordinator, the person who books and tracks shipments, coordinates carriers, manages inventory, and keeps goods moving. It is also a role with a classification question generic templates ignore. A hands-on coordinator who mostly tracks shipments and books carriers is usually non-exempt and owed overtime, but the role can be exempt if it carries real discretion and clears the salary threshold. Getting the title, the classification, and the scope right starts with the job description.
At FirstHR, we build for small businesses without HR departments, which describes most logistics hiring: transportation and warehousing is one of the largest small-business sectors, and the realistic searcher is a small e-commerce brand or distributor hiring its first fulfillment coordinator. The five templates below, the coordinator plus specialist, associate, officer, and small-business versions, are ready to use, each with the FLSA and sizing guidance built in.
For most small businesses, "logistics" means a logistics coordinator: booking and tracking shipments, coordinating carriers, managing inventory, and handling documentation. The role is the genuine FLSA gray zone, a hands-on, execution-focused coordinator is usually non-exempt and owed overtime, while a role with real discretion can be exempt-administrative if salaried at $684/week or more. The operational floor occupation reports a median near $43,000, with coordinator base pay typically in the $40,000s to $50,000s. Five templates, downloadable as DOCX.
What a Logistics Coordinator Does
A logistics coordinator keeps goods moving accurately and on time: booking and tracking shipments, coordinating carriers, managing inventory, preparing shipping and customs documentation, and resolving delays and discrepancies. In a small business the role also supports the warehouse and order fulfillment directly.
The bare term logistics is an umbrella that spans a strategic logistician down to a warehouse associate, but for most small businesses it resolves to the coordinator, whose operational floor is the federal occupation of shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks (SOC 43-5071). Logistics coordinator, specialist, and officer are largely interchangeable titles for this role; manager and logistician are more senior and sit above it.
Logistics Coordinator Duties and Responsibilities
Logistics coordinator duties cluster into four areas: shipping and transportation, inventory and fulfillment, documentation and records, and communication and vendors. A strong job description picks the specific responsibilities from each area that match what you ship and how rather than listing every possible task.
Shipping and transportation
Book and track inbound and outbound shipments
Coordinate carriers, freight, and delivery windows
Resolve delays, damages, and discrepancies
Inventory and fulfillment
Monitor inventory levels and reconcile records
Stage orders and support fulfillment
Coordinate with the warehouse floor
Documentation and records
Prepare shipping, customs, and trade documents
Maintain accurate logistics records
Report on shipments, costs, and KPIs
Communication and vendors
Communicate with carriers, vendors, and customers
Manage carrier and vendor relationships
Keep stakeholders updated on shipment status
The weighting shifts by setting: an e-commerce coordinator leans into fulfillment and carriers, a distributor into inventory and freight, an international shipper into customs documentation. For a structured way to scope the role, the guide to defining job responsibilities walks through the process.
Which Template Should You Use?
Pick the template by the specific title and level. The core structure is the same across all five, but each emphasizes the scope, seniority, and classification that fit a specific kind of logistics role. Use this guide to choose the closest fit, then adjust.
Logistics Coordinator
The core role
The central version: book and track shipments, coordinate carriers, manage inventory and documentation, and resolve issues, with the FLSA classification note built in. The role most small businesses are hiring for.
Logistics Specialist
Coordinator synonym
Used interchangeably with coordinator, sometimes implying a bit more process ownership and analysis. Same core scope: shipment planning, carriers, inventory, and documentation.
Logistics Associate
Entry-level, training
For a junior or first logistics hire: processing shipments, verifying goods, and supporting fulfillment with training. Clearly hourly and non-exempt, with a path to coordinator.
Logistics Officer
Coordinator variant
Another coordinator-level title, common in some industries and outside the US, covering transportation, storage, distribution, and documentation. Same core role under a different name.
Small Business
First logistics hire, no HR
The ICP version for a small business making its first dedicated logistics hire to take shipping off the owner's plate. Hands-on, non-exempt, and owner-friendly.
Match the Template to the Role
The central operational role: Logistics Coordinator. A near-synonym with a bit more process ownership: Logistics Specialist. A junior or first hire who needs training: Logistics Associate. A coordinator-level role under a different name: Logistics Officer. A small business making its first logistics hire: the Small Business version. For a more senior role that runs the function, use the logistics manager template instead.
5 Free Logistics Job Description Templates
Download all five as a single Word document or copy individual templates. Each follows the same structure: company and job summary, key responsibilities, qualifications, an FLSA note, compensation, and how to apply, with an equal opportunity statement, and the role scope, pay, and classification carried as fill-in fields. Fill in the brackets and post.
Download All 5 Job Description Templates
Coordinator, specialist, associate, officer, and small-business. All in one DOCX.
Template 1: Logistics Coordinator
The central version: book and track shipments, coordinate carriers, manage inventory and documentation, and resolve issues, with the FLSA classification note built in. The role most small businesses are hiring for.
Logistics Coordinator Job Description
LOGISTICS COORDINATOR JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Operations Manager / Owner]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Confirm exempt or non-exempt by salary and actual duties (see note)
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [year / hour]
ABOUT [COMPANY NAME]
[One or two sentences about your company and what you move, ship, or
distribute. Note volume, the systems you use, and whether the role
also touches the warehouse floor.]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Logistics Coordinator to keep our goods
moving accurately and on time. You will book and track shipments,
coordinate carriers and vendors, manage inventory and documentation,
and resolve issues so orders arrive when they should. Organization,
follow-through, and clear communication define this role.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Book, schedule, and track inbound and outbound shipments
•Coordinate carriers, freight, and delivery windows
•Prepare shipping, customs, and inventory documentation
•Monitor inventory levels and reconcile records
•Communicate with vendors, carriers, and customers
•Resolve delays, damages, and shipment discrepancies
•Maintain accurate logistics records and reports
•Support warehouse and order-fulfillment operations
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[2-3+] years logistics, shipping, or supply-chain experience
•Strong organization, accuracy, and follow-through
•Comfortable with shipping, inventory, and ERP software
•Clear communicator with carriers, vendors, and customers
•Able to handle a fast pace and shifting priorities
•[High school diploma; associate or coursework a plus]
FLSA NOTE (read before posting)
Classify this role by actual duties. If the work is mostly execution,
tracking shipments, data entry, booking carriers, the role is
non-exempt and owed overtime. It may qualify as exempt-administrative
only if it carries genuine discretion and independent judgment on
significant matters AND is salaried at least $684/week. When in doubt,
treat it as non-exempt. This is general information, not legal advice.
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [year / hour]
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 2: Logistics Specialist
Used interchangeably with coordinator, sometimes implying a bit more process ownership and analysis. Same core scope: shipment planning, carriers, inventory, and documentation.
Logistics Specialist Job Description
LOGISTICS SPECIALIST JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Operations / Supply Chain Manager]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Confirm exempt or non-exempt by salary and actual duties
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [year / hour]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Logistics Specialist to manage the
movement and distribution of our goods. Often used interchangeably
with logistics coordinator, this role owns shipment planning, carrier
and vendor coordination, inventory accuracy, and documentation, with
a focus on keeping the supply chain running smoothly.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Plan and coordinate shipments and distribution
•Manage carrier relationships and freight booking
•Oversee inventory accuracy and replenishment
•Prepare and verify shipping and customs documents
•Track shipments and resolve issues proactively
•Analyze and improve logistics processes
•Maintain logistics records, KPIs, and reports
•Support warehouse and fulfillment operations
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[2-4+] years logistics or supply-chain experience
•Strong organization, accuracy, and problem-solving
•Comfortable with shipping, inventory, and ERP systems
•Clear communicator across carriers, vendors, and teams
•Able to manage multiple shipments and deadlines
•[Associate or bachelor's a plus; not always required]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [year / hour]
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Still Using Spreadsheets for Onboarding?
Automate documents, training assignments, task management, and track onboarding progress in real time.
For a junior or first logistics hire: processing shipments, verifying goods, and supporting fulfillment with training. Clearly hourly and non-exempt, with a path to coordinator.
Logistics Associate Job Description (Entry-Level)
LOGISTICS ASSOCIATE JOB DESCRIPTION (ENTRY-LEVEL)
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: Logistics Coordinator / Operations Lead
Employment type: [ ] Full-time [ ] Part-time
FLSA status: Non-exempt (hourly)
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Logistics Associate to support our
shipping and receiving operations. This is an entry-level role with
training. You will help process shipments, track inventory, prepare
documentation, and keep the logistics operation running. A reliable,
detail-oriented person who wants to grow in logistics is ideal.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Process inbound and outbound shipments
•Verify, count, and record incoming and outgoing goods
•Help prepare shipping labels and documentation
•Track inventory and update records
•Stage orders and support order fulfillment
•Communicate shipment status to the team
•Follow safety and warehouse procedures
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•High school diploma or equivalent
•No experience required; training provided
•Detail-oriented, reliable, and organized
•Comfortable with basic computer and scanning systems
•Able to stand, walk, lift [up to 50] lbs as needed
•Available for [shift / schedule]
GROWTH AND HOW TO APPLY
Growth: clear path to Logistics Coordinator with experience
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per hour
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
Template 4: Logistics Officer
Another coordinator-level title, common in some industries and outside the US, covering transportation, storage, distribution, and documentation. Same core role under a different name.
Logistics Officer Job Description
LOGISTICS OFFICER JOB DESCRIPTION
Company: __ ([City, State])
Reports to: [Operations / Supply Chain Manager]
Employment type: Full-time
FLSA status: Confirm exempt or non-exempt by salary and actual duties
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [year / hour]
JOB SUMMARY
[Company Name] is hiring a Logistics Officer to coordinate and
oversee the movement, storage, and distribution of our goods. The
role plans logistics, manages carriers and inventory, ensures
accurate documentation and compliance, and keeps the supply chain
running efficiently. (Logistics officer is often used interchangeably
with logistics coordinator.)
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
•Coordinate transportation, storage, and distribution
•Manage carrier and vendor relationships
•Oversee inventory control and stock accuracy
•Ensure shipping, customs, and trade documentation is correct
•Track shipments and resolve issues
•Monitor logistics costs and efficiency
•Maintain records, compliance, and reporting
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
•[2-4+] years logistics or supply-chain experience
•Strong coordination, accuracy, and communication
•Comfortable with logistics and inventory systems
•Knowledge of shipping and documentation requirements
•Able to manage multiple priorities under deadline
•[Associate or bachelor's a plus]
COMPENSATION AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [year / hour]
To apply, send your resume to __.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
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The version for a small business making its first dedicated logistics hire to take shipping off the owner's plate. Hands-on, non-exempt, and owner-friendly.
Small Business Logistics Coordinator Job Description
FLSA status: Often non-exempt (hourly); confirm by actual duties
Pay range: $_____ to $_____ per [year / hour]
ABOUT US
We are a small, growing [e-commerce / distribution / manufacturing]
business hiring our first dedicated Logistics Coordinator to take
shipping and fulfillment off the owner's plate. This is a hands-on,
do-it-all role: book and track shipments, manage inventory, work with
carriers, and help the operation scale. Right for someone organized
who wants to own logistics for a growing company.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
•Book, track, and manage shipments end to end
•Coordinate carriers, freight, and delivery
•Manage inventory counts and reordering
•Prepare shipping and order documentation
•Resolve delays, damages, and customer shipment issues
•Help set up and improve logistics processes
•Pitch in across operations as the business grows
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
•Logistics, shipping, or operations experience
•Highly organized, accurate, and self-directed
•Comfortable with shipping and inventory software
•Good communicator with carriers and customers
•Comfortable wearing many hats in a small business
FLSA NOTE (read before posting)
In a small business, a hands-on logistics coordinator who mostly
executes, tracking, booking, data entry, is usually NON-EXEMPT and
owed overtime, even on a salary. Exempt-administrative status needs a
salary of at least $684/week AND genuine discretion and independent
judgment on significant matters. When in doubt, treat the role as
non-exempt. This is general information, not legal advice.
PAY AND HOW TO APPLY
Pay: $_____ per [year / hour], paid [biweekly]
Benefits: [what you offer, even if simple: __]
To apply, send your resume to _ or call ____.
[Company Name] is an equal opportunity employer.
FLSA, Company Size, and Systems
This is the part the generic templates skip, and for a logistics hire it is where the real decisions live: the coordinator is the genuine exempt-or-non-exempt gray zone, the role looks different by company size, the in-house-versus-3PL choice shapes it, and the systems matter. Here is what to get right.
The logistics coordinator is the genuine exempt-or-non-exempt gray zone
This is the question no competing template answers, and the one a small employer actually struggles with: should the logistics coordinator be hourly or salaried, overtime-eligible or not? Most logistics roles answer themselves. Shipping clerks, associates, and material movers do manual and clerical work and are non-exempt no matter the pay. Logistics managers who run a department and direct staff are almost always exempt executives. The coordinator is the one role that can fall on either side. When the job is mostly execution, tracking shipments, entering data, booking carriers, it does not meet an exemption and is non-exempt, owed overtime for hours over 40 a week. It can be exempt under the administrative exemption only if it carries genuine discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance and is paid a salary of at least $684 a week. Classify by the actual duties, and when the work is mostly execution, treat the role as non-exempt. This is general information, not legal advice.
The role looks different at 10, 25, and 50 employees
What a logistics coordinator does scales with the company, and the posting should reflect where you are. At 5 to 10 employees, logistics is often bolted onto the owner or an office manager, and the first dedicated hire is a hands-on coordinator who books shipments and manages inventory directly, almost always hourly and non-exempt. At 10 to 25, the coordinator owns the function end to end and may start supervising an associate. At 25 to 50, you may split the work into a coordinator plus associates, or add process and analysis responsibilities that push toward the exempt-administrative line. Match the duties, seniority, and classification in the posting to your actual size, rather than copying a template written for a large distribution operation. A right-sized job description attracts candidates who fit your stage. This is general information, not legal advice.
Decide whether to hire a coordinator or outsource to a 3PL
Before writing the job description, a small business should decide whether it needs an in-house coordinator at all or whether a third-party logistics provider, a 3PL, fits better. A 3PL handles warehousing, shipping, and fulfillment as a service, which can make sense at low or highly variable volume. An in-house coordinator makes sense when volume is steady and growing, when control and speed matter, or when logistics is core to the customer experience. Many small businesses run a hybrid: a coordinator who manages the relationship with a 3PL and owns the parts kept in-house. Deciding this first shapes the role: a pure in-house operation needs hands-on shipping skills, while a 3PL-managed model needs vendor-management and coordination skills. Write the posting for the model you are actually running. This is general information, not legal advice.
Name the systems and the documentation the role runs on
Logistics runs on software and paperwork, and naming both in the posting filters for candidates who can be productive quickly. Most coordinator roles expect comfort with shipping and carrier platforms, an inventory or warehouse system, and often an ERP, plus spreadsheets, so list the systems you use and whether you will train. The documentation side matters too: shipments generate bills of lading, packing lists, and, for anything crossing a border, customs and trade paperwork that must be accurate. If your business ships internationally, say so, since customs and trade documentation is a real skill. Listing the specific systems and the documentation scope signals the role is operational and technical, not generic admin, and helps the right candidates self-select. Put the systems and documentation expectations in the requirements. This is general information, not legal advice.
The Coordinator Is the FLSA Gray Zone
Shipping clerks and associates are non-exempt; logistics managers are almost always exempt. The coordinator can be either: a mostly-execution role is non-exempt and owed overtime, while one with genuine discretion and independent judgment can be exempt under the administrative exemption only if salaried at $684/week or more. Default a hands-on coordinator to non-exempt.
For the underlying rules, the exempt versus non-exempt guide and the Fair Labor Standards Act overview explain the administrative exemption and overtime. The practical rule: classify by actual duties, default a hands-on coordinator to non-exempt, size the role to your headcount, and name the systems it runs on.
Coordinator vs Specialist vs Manager
The logistics titles overlap and confuse first-time hirers, so choosing the right one is about signaling the level and scope you actually need. Coordinator, specialist, and officer are largely the same role; manager and logistician are more senior.
Title
Level, scope, and typical classification
Logistics Associate
Entry-level execution and support; hourly, non-exempt
Logistics Coordinator
Owns shipment coordination and inventory; often non-exempt
Logistics Specialist
Coordinator synonym, sometimes more process ownership
Logistics Officer
Coordinator-level role under a different name
Logistics Manager
Runs the function and directs staff; salaried, exempt
Logistician
Strategic and analytical; bachelor's typical; higher pay
For a posting, pick the title that matches the actual scope and authority, and describe the real responsibilities. If you need the senior role that runs the function and directs staff, the logistics manager template covers it.
Skills and Requirements
Logistics coordinator requirements center on organization, accuracy, systems comfort, and communication, most of which can be assessed and trained, so the posting should state the real must-haves rather than over-specify a largely trainable role.
Requirement
What to look for
Experience
2-3+ years logistics, shipping, or supply-chain work
Comfort with shipping, inventory, and ERP software
Communication
Clear with carriers, vendors, and customers
Education
High school diploma; associate or coursework a plus
Classification
Confirm by duties; hands-on coordinator roles are non-exempt
Treat a degree as preferred rather than required, since the role rewards experience and systems comfort over formal education. Keep every requirement job-related and neutral, since the EEOC prohibits job advertisements that show a preference based on a protected characteristic, and the SHRM guide covers the standard sections of a job description.
Logistics Coordinator Pay
Logistics coordinator pay sits in the mid-$40,000s to mid-$50,000s for base, above the warehouse-clerk floor and well below the manager and logistician bands. Anchor to data, then adjust for experience, region, and industry.
Operational Floor Near $43,000 (BLS)
The closest federal occupation, shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks, had a median annual wage of about $43,190 as of May 2024, with about 862,200 employed (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Coordinator base pay typically runs somewhat higher, in the $40,000s to $50,000s, while the strategic logistician occupation reports a median of $80,880 and managers run past $100,000.
Within that band, e-commerce and small-distributor coordinator roles cluster in the mid-$40,000s to mid-$50,000s, with higher pay for more experience, larger volume, or international scope. National compensation surveys that include bonuses and senior or international roles report higher totals, but the operational base is the reliable anchor. Set your range for your market and the seniority of the role, and tie it to the classification: hourly with overtime for a non-exempt coordinator, a salary for a genuine exempt one.
Hiring a Logistics Coordinator for a Small Business
Logistics hiring is overwhelmingly small-business, so the typical buyer of a logistics template is an owner making a first operations hire. The roles around the coordinator, the shipping and receiving clerks below and the warehouse workers on the floor, are hired the same owner-driven way. Here is what that means for the posting.
Logistics hiring is heavily small business, so the owner is the recruiter and the HR department
Transportation and warehousing is one of the largest small-business sectors in the country, with millions of small firms, and a large share of logistics work happens at companies with fewer than 50 employees. That is exactly the profile FirstHR is built for. The realistic searcher writing a logistics job description is a 5-to-25-person e-commerce brand hiring its first fulfillment coordinator, a small wholesale distributor, or a small freight brokerage, not a corporate supply-chain department. At that scale the owner writes the posting, interviews, hires, and onboards the coordinator personally. The generic templates are written for large distribution operations and 3PLs, with scope and reporting lines that do not fit a small operation. The versions here, especially the small-business and associate versions, are written for the owner-operated reality.
Classification is the real trap, and the coordinator is exactly where it bites
The biggest risk in this hire is getting the exempt-or-non-exempt call wrong, and the logistics coordinator is the one logistics role where it is genuinely unclear. A hands-on coordinator who spends the day tracking shipments, entering data, and booking carriers is doing execution work and is non-exempt, owed overtime, even on a salary. Putting that person on a flat salary to avoid overtime is a common and costly misclassification. The role is exempt only if it carries real discretion and independent judgment on significant matters and clears the salary threshold. Most competing templates ignore this entirely and leave a small employer guessing whether to post the role hourly or salaried. The templates here build the FLSA note in and default the hands-on versions to non-exempt, so an owner starts from a posting that names the question instead of one that hides it.
Hiring the coordinator is the first operations hire, so set up onboarding to scale
A logistics coordinator is often a small business's first real operations hire, the point where the owner hands over shipping, carriers, and inventory. That makes a clean, documented onboarding worth the effort, because the coordinator immediately touches money, customer orders, and vendor relationships. After the offer, the work is consistent: a signed offer letter with the correct exempt or non-exempt classification, Form I-9 and tax forms, and a first-week plan covering your shipping and inventory systems, carrier accounts, and processes. FirstHR fits this people side for a small logistics operation: e-signature for the offer letter and policy acknowledgments, an AI onboarding wizard that turns the role into a workflow, task workflows for the hiring checklist, and document management for signed forms and the record of the role's duties. To be clear about scope, FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a shipping, inventory, or transportation-management system, so pair it with those; it also does not run payroll or administer benefits. Applicant tracking is coming soon.
From Hiring to Onboarding
The job description is step one. Once a candidate accepts, the same document becomes the basis for the offer and onboarding, and a logistics coordinator is a compliance-sensitive hire: documenting what the role actually does protects you on classification, and a clean first week gets them processing shipments faster.
Send the offer with the classification
Confirm the role, pay, schedule, and the exempt or non-exempt classification in writing, based on actual duties. An offer letter template makes this fast.
Document what the role really does
Record the coordinator's actual duties and time split, the evidence that matters if the exempt-versus-non-exempt classification is ever questioned.
Run the onboarding workflow
Form I-9, tax forms, and a first-week plan covering shipping and inventory systems, carrier accounts, and processes, with documented sign-offs.
Store the records
Keep the signed offer, the classification basis, and system-access records organized for compliance and for the next operations hire.
Once your offer is ready, the offer letter template handles the next step with the classification stated clearly, and an onboarding template gives the new coordinator a structured start.
FirstHR connects the offer, paperwork, e-signatures, policy acknowledgments, document storage, and the onboarding workflow in one place so a small logistics operation can run the full process from one system, with the coordinator's classification and duties recorded from day one. FirstHR is an onboarding and HR platform, not a shipping, inventory, or transportation-management system, so pair it with those; it does not run payroll or administer benefits, so connect those separately. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
Key Takeaways
For most small businesses, a logistics job description resolves to the logistics coordinator: shipments, carriers, inventory, and documentation.
Use the template that matches the title: coordinator, specialist, associate, officer, or small business; the manager and logistician roles are separate.
The coordinator is the genuine FLSA gray zone: a hands-on, execution-focused role is non-exempt and owed overtime, while a discretionary one can be exempt-administrative if salaried at $684/week.
The role looks different at 10, 25, and 50 employees; size the scope and classification to your headcount.
Decide whether to hire in-house or outsource to a 3PL before writing the posting, since it changes the skills you need.
The operational floor occupation reports a median near $43,000, with coordinator base pay typically in the $40,000s to $50,000s.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a logistics coordinator do?
A logistics coordinator keeps goods moving accurately and on time. The core work is consistent: booking, scheduling, and tracking inbound and outbound shipments, coordinating carriers and freight, preparing shipping, customs, and inventory documentation, monitoring inventory levels and reconciling records, communicating with vendors, carriers, and customers, resolving delays, damages, and discrepancies, and maintaining logistics records and reports. In a small business the role also supports warehouse and order-fulfillment operations directly. The title is often used interchangeably with logistics specialist and, in some industries and outside the US, logistics officer. The role sits above the shipping clerk and warehouse associate level and below the logistics manager, who runs the function and directs staff. Organization, accuracy, and clear communication define a good coordinator. This is general information, not legal advice.
Is a logistics coordinator exempt or non-exempt under the FLSA?
It genuinely depends on the duties, and the logistics coordinator is the one logistics role that can fall on either side. When the job is mostly execution, tracking shipments, entering data, booking carriers, processing documentation, it does not meet a white-collar exemption and is non-exempt, meaning the employee is paid hourly and owed overtime for hours over 40 in a workweek. The role can qualify as exempt under the administrative exemption only if it carries genuine discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance and the employee is paid a salary of at least $684 a week. For comparison, shipping clerks and warehouse associates are clearly non-exempt regardless of pay, and logistics managers who run a department are almost always exempt. The safe default for a hands-on coordinator is non-exempt; confirm by analyzing the actual duties. This is general information, not legal advice.
What is the difference between a logistics coordinator, specialist, and manager?
Coordinator and specialist are largely interchangeable: both manage the movement and distribution of goods, owning shipment planning, carrier coordination, inventory accuracy, and documentation, with specialist sometimes implying a bit more process ownership or analysis. A logistics officer is another name for the same coordinator-level role, common in some industries and outside the US. A logistics manager is a distinctly more senior role that runs the logistics or distribution function, directs staff, owns budgets, and is almost always a salaried, exempt position paying well above the coordinator range. A logistician is a related strategic and analytical role, typically requiring a bachelor's degree and paying higher. For a posting, match the title to the actual scope and seniority, and describe the real responsibilities rather than relying on the title alone. This is general information, not legal advice.
How much does a logistics coordinator make?
A logistics coordinator typically earns in the mid-$40,000s to mid-$50,000s a year for base pay, depending on experience, region, and industry. The closest federal occupation, shipping, receiving, and inventory clerks, had a median annual wage of about $43,190 as of May 2024, which anchors the operational floor of the role, while national compensation surveys put coordinator base pay somewhat higher, often in the low-to-mid $50,000s, with totals higher where bonuses or senior and international roles are included. By contrast, the strategic logistician occupation had a median of $80,880 and logistics managers run past $100,000, which is why those titles sit above this role. Set your range using current data for your market and the seniority of the role, and tie it to the classification: hourly with overtime for a non-exempt coordinator. This is general information, not legal advice.
Does a logistics coordinator need a degree?
Usually not. Most logistics coordinator roles are open to candidates with a high school diploma plus relevant shipping, warehouse, or supply-chain experience, and many of the skills are learned on the job. An associate degree or coursework in logistics or supply chain is a plus and can help, but a bachelor's degree is generally not required for the coordinator level. That contrasts with the logistician role, which typically expects a bachelor's degree and leans analytical and strategic. For a posting, the practical approach is to require relevant experience and the right skills, treat a degree as preferred rather than required, and focus on organization, accuracy, systems comfort, and communication, since those predict success in the role better than formal education does. This keeps your applicant pool open for a largely trainable operational role. This is general information, not legal advice.
Should a small business hire a logistics coordinator or use a 3PL?
It depends on volume, control, and how core logistics is to your business. A third-party logistics provider, or 3PL, handles warehousing, shipping, and fulfillment as a service, which often makes sense at low or highly variable volume or before you can justify a full-time hire. An in-house logistics coordinator makes sense when shipping volume is steady and growing, when speed and control matter, or when logistics is central to the customer experience. Many small businesses run a hybrid, hiring a coordinator who manages the 3PL relationship and owns the parts kept in-house. The decision shapes the job description: a pure in-house role needs hands-on shipping and inventory skills, while a 3PL-managed model needs vendor-management and coordination skills. Decide the model first, then write the posting for it. This is general information, not legal advice.
What should a logistics job description include?
A strong logistics job description names the specific role up front, coordinator, specialist, associate, officer, or manager, since the title sets the scope, seniority, and usually the pay and classification. Include a company overview, a job summary, and responsibilities grouped into shipping and transportation, inventory and fulfillment, documentation and records, and communication and vendors. State the required experience, the shipping, inventory, and ERP systems you use, and whether the role ships internationally. The most valuable additions that generic templates skip are the FLSA classification with the exempt-versus-non-exempt guidance for the coordinator gray zone, size-appropriate scope, and whether you run in-house or through a 3PL. Close with the pay range tied to the classification, an equal opportunity statement, and clear apply instructions. This is general information, not legal advice.
What happens after I hire a logistics coordinator?
Move from the offer into a documented onboarding, because a logistics coordinator immediately touches shipments, money, and customer orders. Send the offer letter stating the pay and the exempt or non-exempt classification clearly, collect the signed offer, complete Form I-9 within the first days, and gather tax forms. Document what the role actually does, the duties and time split, since that record is the evidence that matters if the classification is ever questioned. Then run the role onboarding: access to your shipping, inventory, and carrier systems, a walkthrough of your processes and vendor relationships, and a first-week plan that has them process real shipments under guidance. Because logistics is fast-paced and a coordinator is often the first operations hire, a clean, repeatable process helps them take over quickly. FirstHR handles the offer, e-signature paperwork, document storage, and the onboarding workflow in one place. Applicant tracking is coming soon to FirstHR.
