Our World
Humble beginnings
Mainfreight has humble beginnings having started off very small with a second-hand J1 Bedford truck named Moody Blue, $2,700 in capital and a small office in Mount Wellington, Auckland. We still have the truck today which sits at our Main Auckland Branch to remind us of our beginning. From here, we have grown to be not only one of New Zealand’s most influential companies but also a hugely successful global organisation.
Mainfreight is not just a “trucking company”. We are one of Australasia’s largest Supply Chain and Logistics solution providers with over 186 offices throughout the world spanning:
- New Zealand
- Australia
- Asia
- United States
- Europe
- South America
We also enjoy co-operative arrangements with partners in just about every other country in the world. We may be growing in size but we pride ourselves on being a close knit family.
Grad Profiles
Akash Varma
The steepest learning curve I have faced was having real responsibility thrust at me within such a short period of time. I had been with Mainfreight for six months when my hard work and dedication was rewarded with moving into a Team Leader role managing 15 accounts and eight team members.
Like all graduates, you get to tough it out on the floor learning the true workings of the business and what differentiates our service to others in the industry. I started in our logistics division picking, packing and dispatching orders for various accounts. There was no fluffing about, this was a hard slog where my resolve was truly tested.
After many late nights to keep our customers happy, I am now on my next and most exciting opportunity. I have been selected for our first ever graduate programme where I will be spending a year with our European company Wim Bosman in Belgium, immersing myself in European culture and their way of doing things. I am thrilled to be doing my OE while continuing to work for the best company in the world, I can't wait to see what other challenges and opportunities Mainfreight has ahead!
Ian Graham
After University I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I applied for a job at Mainfreight. Four years on and the ride is still as crazy as it was in the first few weeks!
I began in the Airfreight Team at Mainfreight International, Auckland. It is a very fast paced area of the industry and I had to quickly learn to keep up. I could see that Mainfreight was a company where the harder you worked, the harder others worked for you.
After a couple of years I was approached to have a crack in the sales environment where self-motivation and drive were essential. After a year of this I was lucky enough to be asked to manage the Internal Customer Services Team. Managing a team can certainly be a challenge. That said, managing the calibre of individuals that I did made it easy and there is no greater reward than to see your team being successful.
I have since moved back into the sales realm and am managing the sales team for Mainfreight International, Auckland. It is very challenging and you can be sure as the day is long that the next day will be different from the previous!
Mainfreight asks you to bring an attitude to do well, be successful and to contribute every day to the team.
Danielle Te Tai
I have only been with Mainfreight a year and I’ve already experienced numerous parts of the business including loading and unloading trucks, reception and I am now in customer services. Working on the floor was important to learn and understand day to day operations. Having this variety has helped me be more successful in my current role.
Opportunities are everywhere; in my first six months here I was offered a position in Melbourne! Learning continues at Mainfreight, recently I was selected to attend a Team Management Services Course. Having the opportunity to attend this has shown me just how much Mainfreight invests in its people.
Or graduate programme allows you to pave your own way and work towards goals you set yourself. The sky is the limit at Mainfreight!
For more stories, head to our graduate website:
Grad Programme
How we differ
We like to start our graduates on the floor so they can get a real understanding of what Mainfreight is all about. We have found this is an excellent way for graduates to start their career, learning from the ground up, taking on real responsibility, understanding the grassroots of the business and making friends in the process. Hard work and dedication are part of our DNA!
A huge benefit working at Mainfreight is the fact that you can change your career without having to change company! Many of our graduates move through different parts of the business and become Mainfreight’s future leaders.
Welcome to the team
You will attend a one week long induction course at our Mainfreight Training Centre in Auckland where you will get a full overview of Mainfreight, our processes and the industry. It is a chance to learn, have fun, meet the team and ask lots of questions. Training starts but doesn’t end at the Mainfreight Training Centre, we also send our team on sales courses, Outward Bound, Team Management Services courses, Emerging Branch Managers to name a few.
Mentoring
You will be assigned a mentor who you will meet up with monthly to discuss your progress and help with your goals. Your mentor will be able to answer any questions and help with your career progression and development within Mainfreight.
Why Mainfreight?
People choose Mainfreight because we consistently invest in the development of our people. Opportunities are endless, and you only need to look at current leaders to see many of them started out as graduates. Another big draw factor is our ability to offer a global career path as we continue to expand globally!
Why Join the Team
Why join the Mainfreight team? Ask anyone who works here and they’ll agree that Mainfreight is a company like no other- Special People, Special Company!
It’s not all work and no play! There are many opportunities to get out and have a great time:
- Bimonthly Driving Force meetings where you can build up your networks with other graduates and have opportunities like present to the Executive team
- We have one of the biggest turnouts at Round the Bays with our infamous BBQ, band, frozen yogurt stall and marquee
- Mainfreight Idol is one of Mainfreight’s most important annual events. It is held in Rotorua and is a great chance to let your hair down and try your hand and singing
- We do a lot of work in the community; we work closely with Duffy Books in Homes and have a special relationship with Bairds Mainfreight Primary School in Otara
- We are always open to improving our team’s health so we do many events throughout the year including the Auckland Marathon, the Tough Guy and Gal Challenge, Cure Kids, blood donations and we’re always open to getting involved in more events
From day one you’ll be part of a team and will be given real responsibility, how far you go is up to you – we believe in creating your own direction, not in holding your hand the whole time! As a graduate at Mainfreight you’ll receive the following:
- Promotion from within
- Mentoring from the leaders at Mainfreight
- Driving Force meetings where you can network and develop your skills
- Training and development
- Subsidised lunch schemes
- Discounted health insurance with Southern Cross
If you think you’re ready to step up to the challenge, apply today!
