Frequently Asked Questions

It all started in 1978 with a couple of free-thinking entrepreneurs who didn’t care much for rules. As a start-up they challenged the establishment and always took care of their own. Years later, that rebellion and people-first philosophy is still deeply ingrained in our DNA.

We have a 100-year vision, that means every person and every decision we make today will leave an imprint on this company now and for 100 years to come. This long-term vision guides us as a business and determines both our decisions and actions every day.

As we extend our operations across the major trading nations of the world, we continue to stand out for the right reasons. It is our uncompromising quality, agility and unique culture which sets us apart.

As a part of Mainfreight, you can expect to be helping some of the world’s largest brands become more competitive and efficient. Being a strategic supply chain partner means Mainfreight helps customers get their products from the manufacturer to the end-user in the smartest, most cost-effective way.

Our business can be broken down into three core areas:

At Mainfreight we are a very flat structured organisation. We have open plan offices and management sit in amongst the team. We do not use the “s” word (staff) and refer to everyone as Team – everyone has a part to play in moving Mainfreight forward and meeting our targets and goals.

We believe in working hard but we also have fun and a laugh while we do it. Our team is empowered to make decisions and have a say in how we do things.

We understand that our biggest asset is our people and that our growth as a business is only limited by our ability to grow our own people. Our training and development strategy reflects this with structured induction, training and development. The Mainfreight difference is that we focus on helping you develop the professional and personal strategies, tools and life skills to step into any role in the business, anywhere in the world.

Our ongoing team development programs around the world currently includes:

Our philosophy is to recruit and ‘grow our own’ people, rather than hire people from other businesses. That’s why we invest in and manage the long-term growth and development of our people, right from the start.

Once you’ve learnt the fundamentals of Mainfreight on the operations floor, you’ll move into other areas of the business where you’ll get the right mix of autonomy and support. We believe that smart people can learn the specifics of any role so our focus is on helping you develop personal and professional skills that will allow you take on any role in the business. 

Ours is an ever-changing business and we’re constantly reviewing new ways to help our team develop the world-class skills that will lead our business into the future.

As a fast-growing international business we expect that the people we hire today will be critical to our long-term success around the world. While you may not be boarding a plane in the first few years, there are definite opportunities to see the world with Mainfreight in the longer term.

Through our global exchange program, you may have the opportunity to experience the Mainfreight way of life in different parts of the world. Or, if after two to three years you’ve proved you have the Mainfreight passion and know-how it you’ll find opportunities to work in our businesses around the world.