A new program is being offered for the spring semester at Paul D. Camp Community College that will allow participants to attain a Career Studies Certificate in logistics management.

“Several national magazines have noted that logistics is the second-largest employment sector in the United States,” said Bob Hayes, education program coordinator for the Regional Workforce Development Center. “This industry offers excellent salaries, immediate employment and provides advancement opportunities to employees at warehouse and distribution centers.”

According to the Virginia Workforce Connection, entry-level logistics positions in the Hampton Roads and Peninsula areas earn $35,000 annually, while supervisors and managers average $63,200 annually. The site listed 26 logistics manager job openings in Virginia on Sept. 22, 2013.

The curriculum is designed to prepare students for careers in transportation and warehousing through the study of the principles of organization and management in logistics.

Course work will include the domestic movement of goods from the Hampton Roads ports to the warehouse distribution centers and ultimately to the consumer. Transportation, warehousing, inventory control, material handling, computerization, federal transportation and OSHA regulations will be emphasized during the program.

“Warehouse and distribution centers need a regional workforce skilled in warehousing and logistics to work in the centers,” said Hayes. “Paul D. Camp has developed this program to meet this need. The city of Suffolk and Isle of Wight County, both within the PDCCC service region, have emerged as premier locations for the construction of new warehouse and distribution centers.”

Graduates should qualify for employment in logistics-related jobs such as material handling, transportation, traffic management warehouse management and inventory control management.

For more information, call 569-6050 or visit www.pdc.edu/workforce-development.