How to Write a Resume for a Logistics Coordinator

Introduction

A Logistics Coordinator plays a critical role in ensuring that products move smoothly through the supply chain—from suppliers to warehouses to customers. Employers rely on Logistics Coordinators to manage shipments, optimize routes, maintain inventory accuracy, communicate with carriers, and resolve delays or discrepancies quickly. Because this role sits at the intersection of operations, customer service, and data management, your resume must clearly demonstrate both your organizational skills and your ability to keep goods moving efficiently.

A tailored Logistics Coordinator resume helps you stand out in a competitive job market by highlighting relevant experience in shipping, receiving, inventory control, and transportation management systems (TMS). Recruiters and hiring managers often skim resumes in seconds, so your document needs to be clean, concise, and loaded with achievements that show you can reduce costs, improve on-time delivery, and maintain accurate records.

Key Skills for a Logistics Coordinator Resume

Core Hard Skills

Highlight technical and operational abilities that prove you can handle the day-to-day logistics workload.

• Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS)
• Order processing and fulfillment
• Shipping and receiving (domestic and international)
• Carrier selection and rate negotiation
• Freight documentation (BOL, packing lists, customs paperwork)
• Inventory management and cycle counting
• Route planning and load optimization
• Knowledge of Incoterms and customs regulations (if applicable)
• Microsoft Excel (VLOOKUP, pivot tables, basic formulas)
• ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, or similar)
• Tracking and tracing shipments
• Data entry and database management

Key Soft Skills

Employers look for Logistics Coordinators who can communicate clearly and solve problems under pressure.

• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Time management and prioritization
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Communication with internal teams, vendors, and carriers
• Customer service orientation
• Multitasking in fast-paced environments
• Teamwork and cross-functional collaboration
• Adaptability and flexibility with changing schedules
• Analytical thinking and process improvement mindset
• Conflict resolution and negotiation

Formatting Tips for a Logistics Coordinator Resume

Choose a Clean, Professional Layout

Logistics is about clarity and precision—your resume should reflect the same. Use a simple, professional format that is easy to scan.

• Length: Aim for one page if you have under 10 years of experience; two pages are acceptable for more extensive backgrounds.
• Font: Use clean fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica in 10–12 pt for body text and 12–14 pt for headings.
• Margins: Keep margins around 0.5–1 inch to maintain readability.
• Sections: Use clear headings (in bold or slightly larger font) for each section.
• Bullets: Use bullet points to break up text and highlight achievements.

Essential Resume Sections

Header

Your header should make it easy for employers to contact you.

• Full Name
• City, State (optional to include full address)
• Phone Number
• Professional Email Address
• LinkedIn Profile (optional but recommended)

Professional Summary

Use 2–4 concise sentences at the top of your resume to summarize your experience, strengths, and value. Tailor this to the Logistics Coordinator role you are targeting.

Example: “Detail-oriented Logistics Coordinator with 4+ years of experience managing domestic and international shipments, coordinating with carriers, and maintaining 99% on-time delivery performance. Proficient in SAP and TMS software, with a strong track record of reducing freight costs and improving warehouse efficiency.”

Professional Experience

List your work history in reverse chronological order. For each position, include your job title, company name, location, and employment dates, followed by bullet points describing your responsibilities and achievements. Emphasize metrics and outcomes wherever possible.

Example bullets:

• Coordinated an average of 60+ outbound shipments per week, maintaining a 98% on-time delivery rate.
• Implemented a revised carrier selection process that reduced freight costs by 12% annually.
• Monitored inventory levels and resolved discrepancies, improving inventory accuracy from 94% to 99% in 6 months.

Education

List your highest level of education and any relevant coursework.

• Degree (e.g., “B.S. in Supply Chain Management”)
• Institution Name, City, State
• Graduation Date (or “In Progress” if applicable)
• Relevant courses: Logistics Management, Operations Management, Transportation, International Trade, etc.

Additional Sections

Depending on your background, consider adding:

• Certifications (e.g., CLTD, CSCP, forklift certification, OSHA training)
• Technical Skills (systems and software you use regularly)
• Languages (especially useful for international logistics roles)

Highlighting Logistics Systems & Process Optimization

Showcase Your Systems Experience

Logistics Coordinators often work with multiple systems daily. Employers want to know which tools you can use from day one.

• List specific TMS and WMS platforms you’ve used (e.g., Oracle Transportation Management, Manhattan, SAP EWM).
• Mention ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite) and how you used them (order entry, inventory tracking, reporting).
• Include productivity tools (Excel, Access, Google Sheets) and any advanced functions you know (pivot tables, VLOOKUP, data analysis).

Integrate systems skills into your experience bullets rather than just listing them in a skills section.

Example: “Used SAP and TMS software to schedule pickups, generate shipping documents, and track shipments, reducing manual data entry errors by 30%.”

Emphasize Process Improvements and Efficiency

Logistics employers value candidates who can make operations smoother and more cost-effective. Highlight any process improvements you’ve led or contributed to.

• Streamlining order processing or documentation workflows.
• Improving inventory accuracy or reducing stockouts.
• Reducing freight costs through better routing or carrier negotiations.
• Cutting lead times or improving on-time delivery metrics.

Use numbers to quantify your impact whenever possible:

• “Reduced average delivery lead time by 1.5 days by optimizing carrier selection and pickup schedules.”
• “Improved order accuracy from 96% to 99.5% by implementing a double-check process for outbound shipments.”

Demonstrating Coordination, Communication & Problem-Solving

Show Your Role as the Central Point of Contact

As a Logistics Coordinator, you often sit in the middle of multiple stakeholders—warehouse teams, carriers, suppliers, and customers. Your resume should reflect your ability to coordinate among them.

• Highlight experience communicating shipment status to customers or sales teams.
• Show how you collaborated with warehouse staff to prioritize urgent orders.
• Mention how you worked with carriers to resolve delays or damaged shipments.

Example: “Served as primary point of contact for 5 key customers, providing daily shipment updates and resolving logistics issues, resulting in a 15% increase in customer satisfaction scores.”

Illustrate Problem-Solving Under Pressure

Delays, shortages, and unexpected issues are common in logistics. Employers want to see that you can stay calm and find solutions quickly.

• Describe specific problems you solved (e.g., last-minute carrier cancellations, customs holds, inventory discrepancies).
• Explain the actions you took and the outcome.
• Focus on speed, cost control, and customer satisfaction.

Example bullets:

• “Resolved a critical shipment delay by securing an alternate carrier within 2 hours, preventing a production shutdown for a major client.”
• “Identified and corrected recurring invoice discrepancies with a carrier, recovering $18,000 in overcharges.”

Tailoring Strategies for Logistics Coordinator Roles

Align with the Job Description

Every logistics operation is slightly different. Carefully read the job posting and tailor your resume to match the employer’s needs.

• Highlight the same systems and tools mentioned in the posting (e.g., “Experience with SAP” or “knowledge of LTL carriers”).
• Mirror the language of the job description where it reflects your actual experience (e.g., “order fulfillment,” “route planning,” “inventory reconciliation”).
• Prioritize relevant experience at the top of your bullet lists.

Use Keywords for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Many logistics employers use ATS software to screen resumes. Including the right keywords increases your chances of being seen by a human recruiter.

• Include role-specific terms: “logistics coordination,” “freight,” “LTL/FTL,” “shipping and receiving,” “supply chain,” “inventory control.”
• Add industry-specific words if applicable: “cold chain,” “hazmat,” “e-commerce fulfillment,” “3PL.”
• Incorporate both acronyms and full phrases (e.g., “Transportation Management System (TMS)”).

Tailor Your Summary and Top Skills

Customize your professional summary and key skills section for each application.

• If the role emphasizes international logistics, highlight customs, Incoterms, and global shipping experience.
• If it focuses on warehouse coordination, emphasize WMS, picking/packing, and inventory control.
• If it’s customer-facing, stress communication, customer service, and account support.

Common Mistakes on Logistics Coordinator Resumes

Being Too Vague or Task-Focused

Simply listing duties like “handled shipments” or “managed inventory” does not differentiate you. Employers want to see outcomes.

• Avoid generic statements without results.
• Replace vague phrases with specific, measurable achievements.

Instead of: “Responsible for shipping and receiving.”

Use: “Coordinated daily shipping and receiving of 150–200 orders, maintaining less than 1% discrepancy rate.”

Ignoring Metrics and KPIs

Logistics is highly measurable. Failing to include metrics makes your contributions less tangible.

• Include numbers for shipment volume, on-time delivery rates, cost savings, error reductions, and inventory accuracy.
• Estimate metrics if you do not have exact figures, but keep them realistic.

Overloading with Jargon or Abbreviations

While some jargon is expected, avoid overloading your resume with abbreviations that may not be universally understood.

• Spell out less common acronyms at least once (e.g., “Less-Than-Truckload (LTL)”).
• Balance technical terms with clear, plain language.

Poor Organization and Formatting

A cluttered, hard-to-read resume sends the wrong message about your ability to organize complex logistics.

• Avoid dense paragraphs of text; use bullet points.
• Ensure consistent formatting for dates, job titles, and headings.
• Proofread carefully for spelling and grammar errors.

Leaving Out Relevant but Non-Logistics Experience

If you are new to logistics, you may have transferable skills from retail, customer service, or administrative roles.

• Highlight experience with inventory, scheduling, data entry, or customer communication.
• Emphasize organizational skills, reliability, and ability to handle high-volume tasks.

Not Updating for Each Application

Sending the same generic resume to every employer reduces your chances of landing interviews.

• Update your summary, top skills, and a few key bullets to reflect each job posting.
• Reorder bullets so the most relevant experience appears first.

Final Thoughts

A strong Logistics Coordinator resume clearly demonstrates that you can keep goods moving efficiently, maintain accurate records, and communicate effectively with all stakeholders. By focusing on relevant skills, quantifiable achievements, and tailored content that matches each job description, you present yourself as a reliable, detail-oriented professional who can add immediate value to any logistics or supply chain team.