Freight Trainee

Location: Manchester, M22

Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:30

Salary: £21,500k DOE

Team: Small, friendly team of 4

About the Role

We are looking for a motivated and organised Freight Trainee to join our team at our Manchester office. Would suit a college leaver and is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to start a career in freight forwarding and international logistics.

The successful candidate will support the day-to-day coordination of air and sea freight shipments, primarily imports, working closely with customers, shipping lines, overseas agents and other suppliers to ensure shipments are handled efficiently and accurately.

Full training and ongoing support will be provided, making this an ideal opportunity for someone who is keen to learn, develop new skills and build a long-term career in the freight industry.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with the coordination of air and sea freight shipments, mainly import consignments.
• Liaise with customers, shipping lines, airlines, overseas agents and other suppliers by telephone and email.
• Track shipments and monitor their progress, keeping customers updated on delivery schedules and any changes.
• Prepare, check and process shipping documentation, ensuring all information is accurate and complete.
• Carry out general administrative duties, including data entry, updating shipment records and maintaining files.
• Assist with booking shipments and coordinating collections and deliveries.
• Follow up with suppliers and service providers to obtain shipment updates and required documentation.
• Help resolve routine shipment queries and escalate any issues when necessary.
• Ensure shipment information is recorded accurately on internal systems.
• Provide general support to the team to help ensure the smooth running of daily operations.

Skills and Attributes

We are looking for someone who is:

• Organised and methodical, with good attention to detail.
• Comfortable communicating professionally by telephone and email.
• Confident using a computer, including Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.
• Able to manage administrative tasks accurately and keep records up to date.
• Reliable, punctual and able to work well as part of a small team.
• Proactive, with a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.
• Able to prioritise tasks and manage deadlines in a busy working environment.

Experience and Qualifications

• No previous freight forwarding experience is essential, as full training will be provided.
• Previous experience in administration, customer service or a logistics-related role would be beneficial.
• Good written and verbal communication skills are required.
• GCSEs or equivalent, including English and Maths, would be advantageous.

What We Offer

• An opportunity to start a career in the international freight forwarding industry.
• Full training in air and sea freight operations, import procedures and shipping documentation.
• Hands-on experience working with customers and international logistics partners.
• Support and guidance from an experienced, close-knit team.
• A Monday-to-Friday working schedule, with hours of 09:00 to 17:30.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, dependable and keen to learn. They will take pride in completing tasks accurately, communicating effectively with customers and suppliers, and helping the team deliver a reliable and professional service.

If you are looking to begin a career in logistics and enjoy a varied role combining administration, customer service and shipment coordination, we would love to hear from you