Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers
Machines can already do 40% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 62%. The job changes before it disappears.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 40% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 10% of them.
- Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 62% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 221,180 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $107,230 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 75% for contact with people.
- Also called: Distribution Center Manager, Distribution Manager, Fleet Manager, Global Transportation Manager.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervise the activities of workers engaged in receiving, storing, testing, and shipping products or materials | 11% | 10% to 27% | |
| Resolve problems concerning transportation, logistics systems, imports or exports, or customer issues | 9% | 84% to 87% | |
| Direct inbound or outbound operations, such as transportation or warehouse activities, safety performance, and logistics quality management | 8% | 10% to 27% | |
| Plan, organize, or manage the work of subordinate staff to ensure that the work is accomplished in a manner consistent with organizational requirements | 7% | 10% to 27% | |
| Collaborate with other departments to integrate logistics with business systems or processes, such as customer sales, order management, accounting, or shipping | 5% | 30% to 54% | |
| Maintain metrics, reports, process documentation, customer service logs, or training or safety records | 5% | 70% to 95% | |
| Analyze all aspects of corporate logistics to determine the most cost-effective or efficient means of transporting products or supplies | 4% | 82% to 97% | |
| Monitor operations to ensure that staff members comply with administrative policies and procedures, safety rules, union contracts, environmental policies, or government regulations | 4% | 85% to 97% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills transportation, storage, and distribution managers use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Coaches and Scouts48% of tasks by 2035 · US median $47,320
- First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers56% of tasks by 2035 · US median $58,430
- First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers47% of tasks by 2035 · US median $49,100
- Chefs and Head Cooks43% of tasks by 2035 · US median $62,470
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers?
Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of transportation, storage, and distribution managers?
Machines can do 40% of the tasks of transportation, storage, and distribution managers today and 62% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 11-3071.00 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/transportation-storage-and-distribution-managers/