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 South Humberside
A postal county that was established in 1974, and then abolished in 1996, South Humberside was located in northern England. It became two unitary authorities: North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire.
Some of the towns that were once part of South Humberside included Brigg, Cleethorpes, Grimsby and Scunthorpe. While the county may be gone in name, these locations are still excellent places for those seeking Head of Freight roles.
Fishing and shipping have long been important parts of the region's economy. During the 19th century, Grimsby's port imported a variety of products including iron, wheat, hemp, flax and timber.
When the railway arrived here in the late 1840s, it provided a direct link from South Humberside to London, making it easy to get fresh fish and other produce to the capital quickly.
Currently, the Port of Grimsby is the UK's largest in terms of tonnage - its success is due to a combination of factors, including its deep-water location, ease of access to the rest of the country and a relatively equal distance (about 200 miles) from London, Edinburgh and Rotterdam.
Food processing is the region's major industry today, while renewable energy, chemicals and tech are also important.
Just some of the companies that can be found in the region include Centrica, Siemens, Young's Seafood, Findus, Tata Steel, Corus and Ericsson.
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.
Are you an experienced head of freight? Please click the link below to register with us- from your profile you can set job alerts to send notifications when a new role goes live.
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