At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage European road freight shipments from quote to delivery, ensuring top-notch customer service.
- Company: Dynamic logistics company based in Felixstowe with a focus on growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development opportunities, and a supportive team environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to build relationships and grow within a thriving company.
- Why this job: Join a fast-paced industry and make a real impact on customer satisfaction and business success.
- Qualifications: Experience in freight forwarding or logistics, strong communication, and negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 35000 - 38000 £ per year.
To manage European road freight movements from quotation through to delivery, ensuring excellent customer service, strong supplier negotiation, accurate administration and profitable account management. This role involves operating trailers, quoting customers, arranging transport, negotiating with hauliers and partners, and helping retain and grow a portfolio of customers.
Key Responsibilities
- Arrange and manage European import and export road freight shipments, including part loads and full loads.
- Operate trailers efficiently, ensuring collections and deliveries are planned, monitored and completed correctly.
- Prepare accurate and competitive customer quotations while protecting company margin.
- Negotiate rates and service options with hauliers, agents and European partners.
- Keep customers updated throughout the shipment process and deal professionally with queries or issues.
- Build strong working relationships with customers, hauliers and internal teams.
- Manage and support a portfolio of customers.
- Ensure shipment details, costs, charges and customer records are updated accurately on internal systems.
- Work closely with customs, sales and operations colleagues to deliver an integrated service.
- Resolve delays, service issues and supplier problems quickly and communicate clearly.
- Maintain commercial awareness on all jobs, including margin, additional charges and cost control.
Skills and Experience
Essential:
- Experience in freight forwarding, transport or logistics.
- Good understanding of European road freight operations.
- Strong customer service and communication skills.
- Confident negotiator with customers and suppliers.
- Good attention to detail and administration.
- Ability to manage multiple shipments and deadlines.
- Commercial awareness and understanding of margin.
Desirable:
- Experience with European trailer operations.
- Knowledge of import/export procedures and customs requirements.
- Knowledge of Sea Freight.
- Experience managing customer accounts or portfolios.
- Existing haulier or European partner relationships.
Personal Qualities
The ideal candidate will be organised, proactive, commercially minded and confident on the phone. They will be able to work under pressure, solve problems quickly, build strong relationships and take ownership of both shipments and customer accounts.
Key Measures of Success
- Accurate and timely shipment handling.
- Strong customer communication and satisfaction.
- Profitable job margins.
- Effective supplier negotiation.
- Customer retention and account growth.
- Reliable system updates and administration.
Freight Forwarder (Permanent, Contract) in Felixstowe employer: MANIFEST RECRUITMENT LTD
Contact Detail:
MANIFEST RECRUITMENT LTD Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Freight Forwarder (Permanent, Contract) in Felixstowe
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the freight forwarding industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your pitch! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers or recruiters, make sure you can confidently explain your experience in freight forwarding and how you can add value. Keep it concise but impactful!
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to reiterate why you’re the perfect fit for the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it’s super easy to keep track of your applications that way!
We think you need these skills to ace Freight Forwarder (Permanent, Contract) in Felixstowe
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Freight Forwarder role. Highlight your experience in freight forwarding, transport, or logistics, and don’t forget to showcase your strong customer service skills. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for the role. Mention specific experiences that relate to managing European road freight movements and your negotiation skills. Let us know what makes you tick!
Show Off Your Attention to Detail: In this role, attention to detail is key. Make sure your application is free from typos and errors. We appreciate candidates who take the time to ensure their documents are polished and professional, as it reflects your approach to work.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application directly, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to the table. Don’t hesitate – hit that apply button!
How to prepare for a job interview at MANIFEST RECRUITMENT LTD
✨Know Your Freight Forwarding Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of European road freight operations. Be ready to discuss your experience with managing shipments, negotiating with hauliers, and any specific challenges you've faced in the past. This shows you're not just familiar with the role but also passionate about it.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Since this role heavily relies on excellent customer service, prepare examples of how you've handled customer queries or issues in previous jobs. Highlight your communication skills and how you keep customers updated throughout the shipment process. This will demonstrate your ability to build strong relationships.
✨Be a Negotiation Ninja
Brush up on your negotiation tactics! Think of scenarios where you've successfully negotiated rates or service options with suppliers. Be ready to discuss your approach and how you ensure both the company’s margins and customer satisfaction are met.
✨Stay Organised and Proactive
The ability to manage multiple shipments and deadlines is crucial. Prepare to talk about how you stay organised under pressure and provide examples of how you've taken ownership of shipments or customer accounts in the past. This will show that you can handle the demands of the role effectively.