Forwarding manager to intermodal logistics manager
A forwarding manager already meets 24% of what the intermodal logistics manager role asks for. The move turns on 16 required skills not yet in the profile.
74.9/ 100
1 How much of what an intermodal logistics manager is expected to do is already part of a forwarding manager’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the intermodal logistics manager role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
An intermodal logistics manager role treats 6 of its required skills as things a forwarding manager already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- analyse shipping rates
- freight transport methods
- manage contracts
- negotiate logistics services
- plan transport operations
- supply chain management
What stands in the way is 16 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 6 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An intermodal logistics manager role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a forwarding manager background worth leading with.
- already held analyse shipping rates information skills
- already held negotiate logistics services communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held freight transport methods services
- already held supply chain management business, administration and law
- already held plan transport operations management skills
- already held manage contracts communication, collaboration and creativity
All 6 carried skills, including the 6 the intermodal logistics manager role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 24 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn develop communication networks with shipping sites required
- still to learn maintain relationship with customers required
- still to learn negotiate prices for transport of cargo required
- still to learn promote the use of sustainable transport required
- still to learn communicate with customers required
- still to learn implement transport strategy required
- still to learn provide customer follow-up required
- optional, not held perform services in a flexible manner optional
- still to learn track shipping sites required
- still to learn exercise stewardship required
- still to learn manage company transport strategy required
- still to learn manage staff required
- still to learn recruit employees required
- optional, not held tolerate stress optional
- optional, not held develop strategy to solve problems optional
- optional, not held manage budgets optional
- still to learn intermodal options required
- still to learn intermodalism required
- still to learn guarantee customer satisfaction required
- still to learn track shipments required
- optional, not held have computer literacy optional
- optional, not held perform ICT troubleshooting optional
- optional, not held use microsoft office optional
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries an intermodal logistics manager role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 develop communication networks with shipping sites practise this
- 02 guarantee customer satisfaction practise this
- 03 intermodal options study this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 6 skills that carry over
- already held analyse shipping rates skill
- already held freight transport methods knowledge
- already held manage contracts skill
- already held negotiate logistics services skill
- already held plan transport operations skill
- already held supply chain management knowledge
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held international business optional
8 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held tolerate stress optional
- optional, not held develop strategy to solve problems optional
- optional, not held have computer literacy optional
- optional, not held international business optional
- optional, not held manage budgets optional
- optional, not held perform ICT troubleshooting optional
- optional, not held perform services in a flexible manner optional
- optional, not held use microsoft office optional
42 held skills the intermodal logistics manager role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role adapt to changing situations skill
- not needed by the target role administer multi-modal logistics skill
- not needed by the target role analyse supply chain trends skill
- not needed by the target role analyse work-related written reports skill
- not needed by the target role apply procedures to ensure cargo complies with customs regulations skill
- not needed by the target role assess carriers skill
- not needed by the target role book cargo skill
- not needed by the target role communicate commercial and technical issues in foreign languages skill
- not needed by the target role communicate with shipment forwarders skill
- not needed by the target role control trade commercial documentation skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate export transportation activities skill
- not needed by the target role coordinate import transportation activities skill
- not needed by the target role create a work atmosphere of continuous improvement skill
- not needed by the target role create import-export commercial documentation skill
- not needed by the target role develop efficiency plans for logistics operations skill
- not needed by the target role develop transportation cost metrics skill
- not needed by the target role ensure legal accreditation for forwarding agent operations skill
- not needed by the target role foster relationships with various types of carrier skill
- not needed by the target role handle shipment paperwork skill
- not needed by the target role implement cost-effective cargo handling strategies on ships skill
- not needed by the target role implement short term objectives skill
- not needed by the target role inspect carrier documents skill
- not needed by the target role keep up-to-date to current customs regulations skill
- not needed by the target role liaise with transportation services skill
- not needed by the target role make bids in forward auctions skill
- not needed by the target role manage carriers skill
- not needed by the target role manage freight payment methods skill
- not needed by the target role manage medium term objectives skill
- not needed by the target role negotiate price skill
- not needed by the target role negotiate service with providers skill
- not needed by the target role non vessel operating common carrier regulations skill
- not needed by the target role oversee cargo storage requirements skill
- not needed by the target role oversee shipment routing skill
- not needed by the target role plan medium to long term objectives skill
- not needed by the target role prepare bills of lading skill
- not needed by the target role prepare documentation for international shipping skill
- not needed by the target role principles of cargo stowage knowledge
- not needed by the target role provide advice to clients in terms of export restrictions skill
- not needed by the target role provide advice to clients in terms of import restrictions skill
- not needed by the target role set import export strategies skill
2 further entries not listed here
3 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn intermodal options required
- still to learn intermodalism required
- optional, not held international business optional
Common questions about this move
Can a forwarding manager become an intermodal logistics manager?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A forwarding manager already covers 24% of what an intermodal logistics manager is expected to do: 6 skills carry over, 6 of which the intermodal logistics manager role treats as required.
What skills does a forwarding manager need to become an intermodal logistics manager?
16 required skills are missing, plus 8 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is develop communication networks with shipping sites.
How hard is the move from forwarding manager to intermodal logistics manager?
Its learning distance is 74.9 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.