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 High Wycombe
The Buckinghamshire town of High Wycombe might sound like a sleepy village with a cricket pitch and a pub, but it’s actually a large town that’s quite industrialised, especially for a southern town. In the past it has been known as a mill town and a paper making centre, but it is probably its furniture workshops for which it became best known. Thousands of terraced homes were built for the workers, and by the middle of the nineteenth century High Wycombe rivalled the towns around Manchester for its industriousness, but also for its squalor. A major redevelopment was carried out in the 1920s to bring habitation up to modern standards. During the Second World War, RAF Bomber Command was based in the town, and was joined in 1942 by the United States’ equivalent.
Although the actual town of High Wycombe has a population of around 75,000, it is part of an amalgamation of smaller towns whose population totals around 120,000. The town is on the M40, about halfway between the centre of London and Oxford.
High Wycombe might have had its ups and downs economically, but it appears to be on the up at the moment, and Head of Freight jobs have been found in the area. With excellent road and rail links to London and Oxford, it’s a natural place for a distribution centre. Its status as something of a commuter town also means there’s a lot of movement of goods into High Wycombe.
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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