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 Taunton
Taunton has a long history and features particularly heavily in Britain’s religious past, with a monastery being located there in the tenth century. The town is still home to some of the most impressive churches in the UK, particularly the Church of St James, which dates back to the 14th century and has a 34 metre high tower which overlooks the Somerset county cricket ground. Taunton is the county town and administrative centre, and this accounts for a good proportion of its employment.
The town of Taunton is located towards the south west of Somerset, and is joined to Exeter and Bristol by the M5 Motorway. Thirteen miles (21 km) to the north is the Bristol Channel, and 23 miles (37 km) to the south is the English Channel. The railway that passes through the town loosely mirrors the motorway route, and the Western Union Canal linked Taunton in 1839.
Taunton is a relatively affluent town, and it is currently undergoing a major regeneration programme. There is some manufacturing and other light industry in the town, although it is mainly a service-based economy. Thee facts, along with good communications by road and rail make the town a reasonably good place to seek Head of Freight work.
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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