Freight keeps moving across Canada every day, and someone has to keep the paperwork, the trucks, and the deadlines lined up. That someone is often a logistics coordinator, and it is one of the more accessible entry points into a long-term transportation and supply chain career. If you are weighing whether this role fits you, here is what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how to position your application.
Quick takeaways
- Logistics coordinators handle booking, tracking, and documentation for shipments moving by truck, rail, ocean, or air.
- Typical pay in Canada runs roughly $50,000 to $70,000 depending on experience, employer type, and city.
- The role is common at third-party logistics (3PL) providers, freight forwarders, and companies that import goods directly.
- A CIFFA Certificate is not always required, but it is a recognized credential that can strengthen your application, especially for freight forwarding roles.
- Related titles worth watching in your job search include dispatcher, supply chain coordinator, and logistics analyst.
What does a logistics coordinator do?
A logistics coordinator sits in the middle of a shipment's life cycle. You are not usually driving the truck or negotiating the big contracts. Instead, you are making sure the freight that has already been sold or purchased actually gets from point A to point B without a breakdown in communication.
Booking and scheduling shipments
A large part of the day involves booking space with carriers, whether that is a trucking company, an ocean carrier, or an airline. You confirm pickup windows, match loads to available capacity, and adjust when a supplier ships late or a customer needs an earlier delivery date. This part of the job rewards people who are comfortable juggling several moving pieces at once and who do not panic when a schedule changes at the last minute.
Tracking and communication
Once a shipment is booked, someone has to watch it. Logistics coordinators track shipments in transit, flag delays, and keep customers, warehouse staff, and sales teams updated. A lot of this happens through phone calls, email, and transportation management software. Clear, concise communication matters more here than almost any other skill, because a missed update can turn a minor delay into a customer complaint.
Customs and documentation
If freight is crossing the Canada-US border or arriving from overseas, documentation becomes a core part of the job. Coordinators prepare and check bills of lading, commercial invoices, and customs paperwork, and they work with customs brokers to make sure shipments clear without unnecessary holds. Accuracy matters a great deal here, since an error on a customs document can delay a shipment by days.
Logistics coordinator salary in Canada
Pay for this role varies by city, company size, and how much customs and international freight experience the position requires. A general range for logistics coordinator jobs across Canada is about $50,000 to $70,000 per year.
Entry-level vs experienced pay
Entry-level coordinators, particularly those coming from a college logistics or supply chain program with limited work experience, tend to land closer to the lower end of that range. Coordinators with two to five years of experience, especially those who have handled international freight or customs documentation, often move toward the upper end. Coordinators who take on team lead responsibilities or specialize in a complex mode, such as ocean freight forwarding, can sometimes exceed that range.
Factors that affect pay
Company type matters. A 3PL or freight forwarder handling multiple clients and modes may pay differently than an importer with an in-house logistics team. City also plays a role, since coordinators in major freight hubs like Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal often see different pay bands than smaller markets. Finally, bilingual candidates, particularly those fluent in French for roles touching Quebec or eastern Canada, can find additional opportunities.
Who hires logistics coordinators
Understanding who is doing the hiring helps you target your search more effectively.
Third-party logistics (3PL) providers
3PLs manage transportation and warehousing on behalf of other companies. They hire coordinators to manage bookings and shipments across many client accounts at once, which means fast-paced days and exposure to a wide range of freight types. This is a common starting point because 3PLs often hire in volume and provide structured training.
Freight forwarders
Freight forwarders specialize in moving goods internationally, often by ocean or air. Coordinator roles here lean heavily on documentation, customs compliance, and coordination with overseas partners and customs brokers. This is where a CIFFA background becomes especially relevant, since freight forwarding has its own set of regulations and terminology.
Importers and retailers
Companies that import goods directly, such as retailers, manufacturers, or distributors, also hire logistics coordinators to manage inbound freight, track purchase orders through the supply chain, and coordinate with warehouse and inventory teams. These roles can offer a bit more stability in scheduling compared to a 3PL, since you are usually managing one company's freight rather than many clients at once.
If you want a sense of which of these employer types are currently hiring, the TransportationCareers.ca job seekers page lists open logistics coordinator postings across 3PLs, forwarders, and importers so you can compare what each is asking for before you apply.
Skills and qualifications employers look for
Core skills
Employers consistently look for organization, attention to detail, and the ability to problem-solve under time pressure. Written communication matters because a lot of coordination happens over email and messaging with carriers and customers. Basic math and comfort reading a spreadsheet also come up often, since rate confirmations, weight breaks, and cost comparisons are a regular part of the job.
Software and systems experience
Familiarity with transportation management systems (TMS), warehouse management systems (WMS), or enterprise resource planning (ERP) platforms is a plus, though many employers will train on their specific software if you show general comfort with business systems. Experience with Excel, especially formulas and basic data tracking, is commonly listed as a requirement or a strong asset.
The CIFFA Certificate: is it worth it?
The Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA) offers a recognized certificate program that covers international trade, customs regulations, and freight forwarding operations. It is aimed specifically at people working in or entering freight forwarding.
What CIFFA covers
The program typically covers topics like Incoterms, documentation for ocean and air freight, customs and regulatory requirements, and the operational side of forwarding. It gives you a working vocabulary for the industry that can otherwise take months to pick up on the job.
How it helps your application
For freight forwarding roles specifically, a CIFFA Certificate on your resume signals that you already understand the terminology and processes before your first day. It will not replace hands-on experience, but for entry-level candidates without a logistics work history, it can be the difference that gets your resume a second look. If you are targeting 3PL or importer roles rather than pure freight forwarding, it is less commonly required, though it still reflects well on your application.
Related roles: dispatcher and supply chain jobs
If logistics coordinator postings in your area are limited, it is worth widening your search to adjacent titles. Dispatcher jobs in Canada overlap heavily with coordination work, particularly around scheduling and communicating with drivers, and they can be a practical entry point if you have trucking or fleet experience. Broader supply chain jobs in Canada, including roles like supply chain coordinator or inventory analyst, also draw on similar organizational and communication skills and can be a stepping stone toward a coordinator title. Casting a slightly wider net across these related postings often turns up openings that a narrow search for "logistics coordinator" alone would miss.
How to apply for logistics coordinator jobs in Canada
Tailoring your resume
Lead with concrete, specific experience rather than general descriptions. If you have handled customs documentation, name the documents. If you have used a specific TMS or WMS platform, name it. If you managed a certain volume of shipments per week, include that. Hiring managers for this role are looking for evidence that you can handle detail-heavy, deadline-driven work, so specifics carry more weight than broad statements about being a hard worker.
Preparing for your interview
Expect scenario-based questions: how you would handle a delayed shipment, how you would respond to a customer asking for an update you do not have yet, or how you would prioritize when two urgent bookings land at the same time. Practicing clear, calm answers to these situations will help, since the interviewer is really testing how you handle pressure and communicate under it. It also helps to research the company's freight focus in advance, whether that is domestic trucking, ocean freight, or a mix, so your answers connect to the kind of work you would actually be doing.
Once you have your resume ready, TransportationCareers.ca is a good place to start building a candidate profile and applying directly to Canadian transportation and logistics employers.
FAQ
What does a logistics coordinator do day to day?
A logistics coordinator books shipments with carriers, tracks freight in transit, communicates updates to customers and internal teams, and prepares or checks shipping and customs documentation.
How much do logistics coordinators make in Canada?
Pay generally falls between $50,000 and $70,000 per year, depending on experience, employer type, and location, with entry-level roles closer to the lower end and experienced coordinators, particularly those handling international freight, closer to the upper end.
Do I need a degree to become a logistics coordinator?
A degree is not always required. Many coordinators come from college diploma programs in supply chain or logistics, and some enter the field through related experience such as customer service, dispatch, or warehouse administration.
Is the CIFFA Certificate required for this role?
It is not a strict requirement for most logistics coordinator postings, but it is a recognized credential, especially for freight forwarding roles, and it can strengthen your application if you do not have direct industry experience.
What is the difference between a logistics coordinator and a dispatcher?
A dispatcher focuses mainly on scheduling drivers and routing loads, often within a trucking fleet. A logistics coordinator typically has a broader scope that includes booking with carriers, tracking shipments across modes, and handling documentation, though the two roles overlap in many companies.
What software should I learn for logistics coordinator jobs?
Familiarity with transportation management systems (TMS), warehouse management systems (WMS), and Excel is commonly requested. The specific platforms vary by employer, and many will train you on their in-house systems if you show general comfort with business software.
Ready to take the next step? Visit TransportationCareers.ca at https://transportationcareers.ca/job-seekers to browse current openings and create a candidate profile.