Demand Grows for Certification Programs

Demand for supply chain talent is spurring growth in the number of industry-sponsored professional certification programs.

Industry leaders say professional certification is a way to acknowledge the skill levels of people involved in transportation and logistics while also providing an incentive to young people who may be considering a career in the field.

Certification training can consist of as little as a few online courses or it can involve intense training sessions over several months and years.

In Texas, more than 50 companies helped to develop a certification program for workers who handle freight in factories, warehouses and distribution centers.

Material handlers receive a Certified Logistics Associate designation for demonstrating basic competency in safe handling of freight, the use of computers and understanding the principles of quality control and logistics management.  A Certified Logistics Technician designation is granted for more complex skills, such as order processing, packaging safe handling of hazardous materials and evaluation of transportation modes.

“The demand for front-line workers with enhanced knowledge and skills is growing,” said Steve Boecking, vice president of Hillwood Investment Properties, which operates an industrial park at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and other locations across the country.

“Higher-skilled workers enable companies to accelerate the adoption of productivity-enhancing technologies and processes, such as automated storage and retrieval systems, radio-frequency identification systems and warehouse management software,” Boecking said.

Since 1993, more than 700 people have earned the Certified Transportation Professional (CTP) designation from the Private Fleet Management Institute operated by the National Private Truck Council.

NPTC President Gary Petty said the program not only raises the skill level of private fleet managers but exposes top-level executives to issues – such as equipment maintenance and safety – that broaden their knowledge of transportation and can help them to make more informed decisions about their supply chain.

See more information about logistics education here

-Transport Topics

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