Mainfreight

Company Overview

Mainfreight Graduate Program

Where it all began

It all started March 6th of 1978, with Bruce Plested, NZ$7,200 and a J1 Bedford truck. As a start-up, Mainfreight challenged themselves and always took care of their own, and even now, many years later, that rebellion and people-first philosophy are still deeply ingrained in their DNA.

"Embedded deep in the company culture is a toughness to succeed every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year - no matter the difficulties"

-Bruce Plested

Where we are now

Today, Mainfreight has matured into a sophisticated international supply chain business, covering end-to-end logistics. With a fast-growing team of 11,000+, across 337 branches in 27 countries, they compete with some of the world's leading names in transport and logistics. In Australia alone, Mainfreight holds 72 of those branches with over 2,700 team members. Mainfreight got to be a $5.24 billion-plus international business by having a real hunger for success, sharing goals with everybody on the team and promoting from within.

Recruitment Process

Mainfreight Australia has quickly grown over the last four decades and plans on continuing to do so over the next 100 years. With that objective in mind, the Mainfreight Development Program is designed to attract the next generation of future leaders to take our international business to the world.

The Development Program is unstructured and doesn't involve set pathways or rotations. For the first 12 months, you can expect to learn the fundamentals of how Mainfreight's business works, acclimatise yourself to Mainfreight's unique culture and get your hands dirty. The onus is on graduates to openly discuss with their Branch Manager which area or areas of the business interests them and then strive to pursue it. Or, as the company puts it, "Whether that be with sales, operations, IT or a leadership role, it's up to you to build your brand and make yourself stand out at Mainfreight".

Mainfreight's three-year program has a rolling intake, with the company constantly recruiting future leaders. Applicants need to have either completed their Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) or be in their final semester to start the application process. Graduates from all university disciplines are eligible to apply for the Development Program.

To apply, you'll need to send a copy of your CV and cover letter. It is important that your cover letter highlights your qualities and achievements and explains why you're ready to roll up your sleeves and join the Mainfreight Family.

From there, the application process is straightforward. There's no psychometric testing, instead, the stages consist of a phone interview, followed by a face-to-face interview at the branch itself so you can get to see if it's the right fit for you as much as the right fit for Mainfreight. Reference checks and police checks will also be completed and taken into consideration.

Remuneration & Career Growth

Mainfreight is a rapidly expanding business, so there's no limit on where you can go. Unlike other Graduate programs, you don't need to re-apply for a position at the end of your program. At Mainfreight, you are a permanent, full-time team member, with all the opportunities ahead of you. With Mainfreight's promote from within culture and an internal Training and Development Team dedicated to supporting your growth, the world is your oyster.

Where you go, is completely up to you and your ambition.

Application Process