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• Freight forwarder: Salary and conditions

Freight forwarder: Salary and conditions

• Range of typical starting salaries: £16,000 - £18,400 (salary data collected Jun 08).
• Range of salaries with three to five years' experience: £21,200 - £23,500 (salary data collected Jun 08).
• Range of typical salaries at senior level/with experience (e.g. after ten to fifteen years in the role): £30,000 - £38,600 (salary data collected Jun 08).
• Employers may also offer additional benefits such as a bonus scheme, company car and pension scheme.
• Working hours and conditions typically include regular out-of-hours attendance to meet clients' needs. With more emphasis now being placed on managing the customer's supply chain, it is often necessary for larger freight forwarders to provide 24-hour/365-days cover. Some companies may require you to work shifts.
• The work is mainly office-based. Opportunities tend to be concentrated in transport centres such as ports, airports, rail terminals and along major road networks, with offices usually situated close to industrial areas.
• Self-employment/freelance work (including consultancy) is possible. There are many small single-office firms dealing with clients in local areas with a particular type of commodity or form of transport.
• About 50% of entrants are women. Senior positions tend to be held predominantly by men, but this pattern is changing as the industry competes for entrants with proven academic ability in a competitive marketplace.
• The dress code is normally smart, as you may be meeting clients, but business-casual is acceptable in the office.
• Much of the work is aimed at meeting tight deadlines for delivery, which can make for a stressful environment.
• Travel within the working day and absence from home at night is common.
• In larger firms of freight forwarders, opportunities to travel and/or work overseas are becoming more frequent for experienced staff. The ability to speak a foreign language is beneficial and can be a key factor in selecting a candidate to work in an overseas location.

AGCAS

Written by Simon Thompson, University of Derby

Last updated:

December 2008

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