Meaning & use
logistics problem
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A difficulty in planning or moving goods, people, or supplies from one place to another.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a logistics problem' or 'several logistics problems'.
Patterns
- a logistics problem with something
- cause a logistics problem
- solve a logistics problem
The heavy snow caused a serious logistics problem for the delivery company.
We had a logistics problem getting the equipment to the concert venue on time.
If the port closes, it will create logistics problems for the whole region.
nouncountableinformal
Any difficulty in organizing a complicated activity that involves many people or steps.
Grammar: Also countable and often used about events such as conferences or weddings.
Patterns
- a logistics problem for something
- have a logistics problem
- sort out a logistics problem
Getting three hundred guests to the island wedding was a real logistics problem.
The festival organizers had a logistics problem with parking and shuttle buses.
There was a logistics problem about who would pick up the speakers from the airport.
Word forms
| plural | logistics problems |
|---|
Common combinations
- cause a logistics problem
- The strike caused a logistics problem for supermarkets.
- solve a logistics problem
- The new software helped us solve a logistics problem quickly.
- a major logistics problem
- The bridge closure was a major logistics problem for commuters.
- a logistics problem with delivery
- We had a logistics problem with delivery to remote areas.
Synonyms and how they differ
- supply problem
- Narrower; it focuses on the supply of goods rather than the whole planning process.
- transport problem
- Focuses on moving things, not on planning or storage.
Word family
- logistics noun
- The activity of planning and organizing the movement of goods or people.
- logistical adjective
- Relating to logistics, as in 'logistical support'.
- logistician noun
- A person whose job is logistics.
Commonly confused: logistics problem or logistic problem?
logistics problem vs logistic problem
In careful use, 'logistic' relates to logic or statistics, but many speakers use 'logistic problem' to mean the same as 'logistics problem'.
Practice
The ferry strike created a serious ______ for the island's shops.
Choose one answer.
'A serious logistics problem' is correct because the phrase is countable and singular after 'a'. 'Logistics problems' is plural and would need 'serious' without 'a'. 'Logistic problem' is less usual for this meaning, and 'logistics issue' is possible but less specific.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “logistics problem”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.