Haulage and Logistics

Are you looking for a career in a rapidly expanding industry? You might be surprised to learn that nearly every industry depends on logistics services to operate efficiently. This high demand creates a vast array of career opportunities in logistical operations. 

The logistics sector offers a dynamic and fast-paced working environment. If you enjoy problem-solving, working with processes, and understanding patterns and trends, you could be a great fit for the logistics industry.

There are around 6 million jobs in haulage and logistics, ranging from level 1 to level 5+. Roles range from mechanics and technicians for HGVs, supply chain/warehouse management, to data analytics and logisticians.

Haulage primarily refers to the transportation of goods or cargo from one place to another. This is usually done by railway or by road, on a large vehicle like a truck or a lorry. A haulage company specialises and is responsible for the loading, transporting, unloading and successful delivery of goods to the intended location. In simple terms, haulage is a part of the wider logistics process.

There are several different types of haulage including:

• General haulage: used by a range of sectors, including food and drink, electrical and healthcare, transported by road around the country.
• Hazardous freight haulage: used to transport dangerous materials including chemicals, flammable liquids, radioactive substances, explosives and toxic gas.
• Plant haulage: involves the transportation of plant machinery including cranes, dumper trucks and excavators.
• Vehicle haulage: commonly used by commercial customers, used to transport vehicles such as cars and motorcycles.

Logistics is a much more complex process than haulage. Logistics companies are responsible for managing the entire supply chain. Everything around you, including the device you're using to read this, is accessible thanks to logistics. Industries such as retail, manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and consumer goods all rely on the logistics sector. The goal of a logistics company is to help customers optimise their supply chain, saving them time and money.

When you think of logistics, you might picture trucks, but the sector also includes trains, buses, aeroplanes, ships, warehouses, and people. Logistics involves:

• Transportation 
• Warehousing and storage 
• Packaging 
• Inventory management 
• Distribution 

Logistics is crucial to our regional, national, and global economy. Almost every sector requires goods or resources to be sourced, stored, and distributed. Consequently, logistics is one of the fastest-growing industries in the country. Since 2012, the industry has doubled and, as of 2021, employs over 1.25 million people across the UK – and that number continues to grow!

Logistics will play a vital role in the Government's Levelling Up agenda. Roles in the logistics sector are more likely to be in high-priority areas of the Levelling Up agenda compared to jobs in other sectors. Since 2012, about four in ten new logistics jobs have been created in high-priority areas, compared to only one in four jobs in other industries. The future looks very promising for logistics!

Join us on this exciting journey to develop essential skills and knowledge in the dynamic world of warehousing and logistics. Prepare to embark on a rewarding career in the supply chain management sector with the NCFE Level 1 Certificate in Warehousing and Storage.