Head of Freight
As logistics and supply operations grow bigger and travel further, it’s inevitable that they will also get more complex. And that’s when inefficiencies can start to creep in and the task can become overwhelmed with firefighting. That is, of course, unless there’s a good head of freight at the helm. Their job is to oversee the whole transport and logistics operation of a company, a region, a depot or a sector for a freight business.
Head of freight jobs come up regularly all over the world, and it’s no wonder why – a methodical, active philosophy to organising logistics, from the individual vehicle to the big strategic picture, keeps a logistics operation efficient and profitable. Look out for jobs called “Freight Forwarding Manager” or just “Freight Manager”, too, as they are usually similar roles, some of which are executive. In complex organisations the head of freight might well be overseeing a specific region, which can mean a county, a city, a country or a continent, depending on the nature of the business.
The skills required
The head of freight will have an excellent understanding of how supply chain interoperates, over sea, air, rail and road, and will understand how warehousing and fulfillment interact with last mile delivery and bulk logistics. Experience is key to filling this role at managerial level, so a proven track record in freight logistics is essential.
As head of freight, you’ll be occupying a position above the depot, driver and maintenance level, and possibly (but not necessarily) below board level, so you’ll need to be adept at communicating and understanding strategic instructions in both directions. You might be overseeing a small team of sub-managers, too, so high level managerial skills will come in handy.
Head of Freight Jobs in Bedfordshire
Bordering Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county in the East of England. Its southernmost point is around 25 miles from central London and it offers a number of opportunities for those seeking Head of Freight roles.
The region comprises prominent towns and cities like Bedford, Dunstable and Leighton Buzzard. Until the late 19th century, Bedfordshire's economy was mainly based in agriculture - particularly sheep farming, while the textile industry and lace manufacture were also important.
In the mid-1800s, as the Industrial Revolution took hold and the railways improved across the county, some heavy industry came to the area, but this was mainly brewing and the manufacture of farm instruments. On the whole, the region remained mainly agricultural.
During the 20th century, the population of towns like Bedford grew rapidly. Today, an array of well-known companies have headquarters or large facilities in Bedfordshire. These are based in a number of sectors and include Autoglass, Kingspan Off-site, Jordans Cereals and Vauxhall Motors.
London Luton Airport is located in Bedfordshire and airlines operating from this transport hub include EasyJet, Monarch Airlines and Thomson Airways.
As well as having millions of passengers pass through its gates every year, Luton Airport also processes a significant amount of cargo for companies like DHL Express, Varig Logistica and Atlantic Airlines.
Popular locations
Head of freight jobs at Cast UK
Head of freight is one of the commonest positions we fill at Cast UK, mainly because of our supply chain background and the relationships we have built up over the years in the industry.
If you’re at a business that’s looking for a head of freight right now, or you regularly need regional or sectoral heads of freight to oversee your supply chain operations, call 0333 121 3345 today so we can start filling your vacancies.
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