Automation is changing the skills required for careers in logistics. As artificial intelligence handles more planning and operational recommendations, new entrants may have fewer opportunities to gain experience through traditional day-to-day work.
Jan Steenberg, president of CILT International, says workers must understand more than how to operate an automated system. They need enough knowledge of transport, commercial priorities and supply-chain operations to assess whether an AI recommendation makes sense and to take responsibility for the resulting decision.
Training becomes more important
This places greater emphasis on structured education and recognised professional standards. CILT International operates through a network covering about 40 countries and supports learning from entry into logistics through to strategic leadership. Up to 10,000 students study across the wider CILT network each year. A membership application in development is intended to make it easier for students and professionals to connect, with wider rollout expected in 2027.
The sector also needs to attract people who may not previously have considered logistics as a career. An ageing driver workforce and long periods away from home can make professional driving less appealing to younger and more diverse applicants. A programme run by CILT’s Turkish branch, with support from Mercedes-Benz Trucks and government, aims to train and recruit 5,000 women into professional driving roles over five years.
A wider range of logistics roles
Technology is creating new work requirements across the sector. Employees may need to coordinate shared transport capacity, supervise automated road operations or choose the right delivery method for different customers. Parcel lockers can consolidate some last-mile work, while home delivery remains important for medicines and ageing populations. In Ghana, drones deliver urgent supplies such as blood and medication to health centres within roughly 100 kilometres.
These developments do not eliminate the need for logistics professionals. They raise the value of people who can combine digital skills with practical knowledge, communicate across teams and recognise when automated assumptions do not fit the situation.