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Freight forwarder: Typical employers/vacancy sources

Typical employers

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has in excess of 1,250 member firms, who account for a majority share of all freight forwarding business in the UK. In addition, there are around another 1,000 companies who also work in freight transport.

Companies fall roughly into three types, although there are overlaps within these groups.

• Local companies: these are generally small, single-office firms dealing with clients in their immediate local area or operating at a seaport/airport and concentrating on particular types of traffic.
• National companies: many forwarders have offices in major ports and airports throughout the country as well as in the largest industrial towns. They may also have warehousing or handling depots. Such companies often have agents or correspondents overseas in the markets in which they trade.
• International companies: truly global companies have their own offices overseas and offer a wide range of worldwide services.

Many freight forwarders have taken the opportunity to extend their range of services, which now include warehousing, sorting, order picking, packaging and goods assembly. A few firms work just with other freight forwarders.

Sources of vacancies

Search graduate jobs on this site.

• Logistics Manager
• Freight Personnel
• Supply Chain Jobs
• Supply Chain Online
• International Freighting Weekly
• Air Cargo News
• Aviation Jobsearch .

There is ongoing graduate recruitment for larger companies, though they do not usually advertise in directories or attend fairs. You should write speculatively from January of your final year. Addresses should be available in freighters' directories such as the British International Freight Association (BIFA) .

Recruitment agencies commonly handle vacancies. A list of agencies (employment agencies specialising in the freight and logistics sectors) is available to download from the BIFA website.

See also job hunting tips and applications, CVs and interviews.

AGCAS

Written by Simon Thompson, University of Derby

Last updated:

December 2008

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