Senior Freight Operator

Role Title

Senior Freight Operator

Department

International Operations / Freight Forwarding

Location

Bullet Express, Bothwell, Glasgow

Reports To

Head of International

Working Hours

09:00 – 17:00, Monday to Friday

Role Overview

We are looking for a Senior Freight Operator to join our International Operations team at Bullet Express.

The ideal candidate will have experience working within a freight forwarding environment, with a strong preference for ocean freight experience. Experience in customs processes and road freight operations would also be highly beneficial.

This role would suit someone who is confident managing freight shipments from start to finish, dealing with customers, carriers, hauliers, agents, and internal departments, while ensuring jobs are handled accurately, commercially, and compliantly.

A minimum of 2 year’s experience within a freight forwarding environment is required.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage international freight shipments from booking through to delivery.
• Handle ocean freight imports and exports, including FCL and LCL movements.
• Liaise with shipping lines, overseas agents, hauliers, customers, and internal departments.
• Arrange collections, deliveries, port movements, and onward transport where required.
• Review and process shipping documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, arrival notices, delivery notes, and customs-related documents.
• Support road freight movements where required, including UK, EU, NI, and ROI traffic.
• Work with customs partners and internal customs teams to ensure documentation is accurate and shipments are compliant.
• Check shipment information including commodity details, HS codes, country of origin, EORI numbers, importer/exporter details, and incoterms where required.
• Monitor shipment progress and keep customers updated throughout the process.
• Resolve operational issues, delays, documentation queries, and carrier/haulier problems quickly and professionally.
• Ensure costs and charges are recorded accurately against each job.
• Raise, check, and approve supplier invoices where required.
• Support the commercial team with operational input on pricing, routing, and service options.
• Maintain accurate records on internal systems.
• Escalate any compliance, service, or cost issues to management where appropriate.
• Contribute to process improvements within the International Operations department.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Minimum 2 year’s experience working within a freight forwarding environment.
• Good understanding of freight operations and shipment handling.
• Experience dealing with customers, suppliers, carriers, hauliers, or overseas agents.
• Strong administration and organisational skills.
• Good attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple shipments and priorities at the same time.
• Confident communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Comfortable working with freight systems, email, spreadsheets, and operational trackers.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet time-sensitive deadlines.
• Commercial awareness around freight costs, supplier charges, and customer service.

Desirable

• Ocean freight experience, ideally covering imports and/or exports.
• Experience with FCL and LCL shipments.
• Knowledge of shipping line processes, bills of lading, port charges, demurrage, detention, and delivery planning.
• Customs knowledge or experience working with customs documentation.
• Road freight experience, including UK, EU, NI, or ROI movements.
• Understanding of incoterms, HS codes, EORI numbers, country of origin, MRNs, GMRs, ENS, EADs, T1s, or other customs-related references.
• Experience using freight forwarding or transport management systems.
• Experience supporting customers with shipment queries, operational updates, and problem resolution.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive and organised.
• Confident dealing with customers and suppliers.
• Able to take ownership of shipments from start to finish.
• Calm under pressure.
• Commercially aware and cost conscious.
• Accurate and methodical.
• Comfortable working in a busy operational environment.
• Willing to support colleagues and share knowledge.
• Able to identify problems early and help find practical solutions.

Training and Development

The successful candidate should already have freight forwarding experience and be comfortable managing operational tasks. Further training will be provided on Bullet Express procedures, internal systems, customer accounts, customs processes, and specific service requirements.

Ocean freight experience would be strongly preferred, but candidates with solid forwarding experience in road, customs, or general freight operations will also be considered if they show the right attitude, ability, and willingness to learn.

Why Join Us

This is an opportunity to join a growing International Operations team at Bullet Express in Bothwell, Glasgow.

The role offers exposure to ocean freight, customs, road freight, customer operations, and international logistics. It would suit someone who wants to build on their freight forwarding experience and take on a role with responsibility, variety, and room to develop.

Summary

This position would suit an experienced freight forwarding operator with at least 1 year of industry experience, ideally with ocean freight knowledge, who is looking to take the next step in their career.

The successful candidate will be confident handling shipments, communicating with customers and suppliers, and supporting the smooth running of international freight operations.