How to become a freight forwarder in New Zealand

You do not need a degree or a licence to become a freight forwarder in New Zealand. Here is the realistic, step by step path from no experience to your first role.

Getting into freight forwarding in New Zealand is more straightforward than most people expect. There is no licence to sit and no degree you must hold. Companies hire for attitude and reliability, then train you on their systems. The people who get in fastest are the ones who can show they already understand the basics and are genuinely keen. Here is the realistic path.

Step 1: understand the industry before you apply

You do not need to know everything, but turning up to an interview already knowing what a bill of lading is, how a container moves, and why biosecurity matters puts you ahead of most applicants. It shows initiative and it means the employer can train you faster. A short introductory course is the quickest way to get that grounding, and it gives you something concrete to put on your CV.

Step 2: aim for the right entry roles

Most people start in one of these titles. They are the doorway roles that lead into everything else:

• Freight forwarding coordinator or operations coordinator
• Import or export clerk
• Customer service or logistics administrator at a forwarder or 3PL
• Warehouse or transport administrator, then a move into forwarding

Look at freight forwarders, customs brokers, third party logistics providers and the freight arms of larger transport companies. Auckland has the most roles because of the port and airport, but Tauranga, Christchurch and Wellington all have steady demand.

Step 3: write a CV that fits freight

Keep it simple and point it at the job. Lead with anything that shows you are organised, accurate and reliable, whether that is study, a part time job or volunteering. Mention any introductory freight training. You do not need experience in the industry to be taken seriously for a coordinator role, you need to show you will be dependable and quick to learn. If the CV itself is the part you are dreading, the Quick CV and Cover Letter Builder walks you through it step by step and gives you a clean, ready-to-send CV and cover letter.

Step 4: apply widely and follow up

Roles are listed on the usual job boards and often directly on company websites. Apply to a range of forwarders rather than waiting for the perfect listing, and do not be shy about following up. This is a relationship industry, and a polite, keen candidate is exactly what a busy operations team wants to find.

Common questions