A great transport and logistics cover letter does for you what a well-marked road does for smooth travels, it guides the way to your next destination. Where do you want to go in your career? Wherever your drive takes you, Resume.io is here to help along the way.
The difficulties of smoothing out supply chain problems have pointed out why your job is so important for the global and national economy. These issues brought on by pandemic restrictions and worker shortages, Yahoo Finance says, means a great application should open the door to your pick of positions, especially if you are a trucker.
When hiring managers look for transport and logistics professionals, they seek out candidates who understand the rules of the road, but can also find an alternate route when necessary. How do you make that clear in a 400-word document?
In this cover letter guide, along with the corresponding transport and logistics cover letter example, we’ll cover the following topics to help you design the best cover letter possible:
How to choose the best cover letter format and what paragraphs the cover letter should include
How to maximize the effect of each cover letter paragraph (header, greeting, intro, body and conclusion)
What approach to take when writing your cover letter
What mistakes to avoid when writing your transport and logistics cover letter.
The guide below will analyze the details and suggest ways to make the most of this one-page addition to your application. (You can also check out our library of 125+ cover letter examples.)
Let’s start out with how to structure your transport and logistics application letter.
Best format for a transport and logistics cover letter
Before you set out on your journey or plot out someone else’s, you need to know what’s going where. Before you set out to compile your transport and logistics cover letter, you need to know what sections it needs. Make sure you include the following elements:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting / salutation
- The cover letter intro
- The middle paragraphs (body of the letter)
- The ending paragraph of your cover letter (conclusion and call-to-action)
Within this document, you have the opportunity to show what drives you and how you combine safety with efficiency.
Our comprehensive cover letter guide is a great read that will help you understand all the elements of your application and provide you with specific formatting advice to put your best foot forward.
The transport and logistics cover letter example below gives an overview of how to create your own application:
Dear Mr. Lewis,
It has come to my attention that Allentown Transportation is seeking a Director of Transport and Logistics to join their team. I come to you with a breadth of experience in the transportation industry, overseeing the logistics of transportation and delivery for products. I am well aware of what a large scale operation Allentown Transportation runs, and I can assure you that I have the necessary skills and experience to effectively support the company.
I am highly adept in coordinating with inbound and outbound transportation providers to ensure the timely movement of products. I know that various companies in the area depend on Allentown Transportation to ensure their adequate inventories. My ability to effectively communicate and streamline processes makes me a strong candidate for this position.
I would be thrilled to have the opportunity to discuss the value I can bring to Allentown Transportation in person. Is there a time we can arrange to have this discussion? Please contact me at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Edward Cote
For even more expert writing tips, check out our related transport and logistics cover letter samples:
Cover letter header
You have only seconds to grab the hiring manager’s attention so start with a well-designed header for your cover letter. As you develop this graphic element, take two things into consideration:
- Above all, it needs to be legible.
- Create a style that complements that of your resume.
Why are these things so important? First, your header contains your name, email and best phone contact number. If a recruiter can’t find it or read it, your carefully-worded application may end up in the circular file. Second, your transport and logistics cover letter and resume form one complete package so you want them to look that way.
Cruise past the ATS
You may already be familiar with adding keywords and phrases to your resume to increase your chances of getting past the Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, in use at many medium and large companies, but did you know these algorithms sometimes take cover letters into account as well?
Keep your writing natural, but if you do find ways to use those all-important words, go for it!
The aim of this section: Grab the attention of the hiring manager while displaying your contact information for easy access.
Cover letter greeting
No matter how casual an environment is, you are always better off sounding a bit more formal in your cover letter greeting. That’s why we recommend starting off with “Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms. Surname,” as our cover letter samples do. The combination of business formality and personalization sets the tone for your transport and logistics cover letter.
If you cannot find out the name of the hiring manager or your prospective boss, you may use “Dear (Company Name) Hiring Team” or “Dear (Company Name) Recruiter.”
The aim of the cover letter greeting: Address the hiring manager personally to hook them into your text and set a professional tone for the rest of your letter.
Dear Mr. Lewis,
Cover letter introduction
Why hire you? What will you bring to the transport and logistics position? This is what you have to answer first in your introduction. Pull back hard on the throttle here: If you don’t start out fast, the recruiter may not get past this first paragraph.
Before you begin writing, decide on the tone you will use to deliver your main message. This should remain consistent throughout. It’s best to stay professional unless your research has shown that the company culture is very casual. Use strong descriptions of your professional style and action words to convey your confidence in your abilities.
Review the job listing one more time and choose a career highlight that tells the hiring manager that you can ease their pain point because you already excel at the job. Offer an overview of your career (using positive descriptions of yourself and your work style) and then lead into what you will detail in the body of your cover letter.
The aim of the cover letter intro: Establish a professional tone and hook the hiring manager with your greatest achievement so they will want to read on.
It has come to my attention that Allentown Transportation is seeking a Director of Transport and Logistics to join their team. I come to you with a breadth of experience in the transportation industry, overseeing the logistics of transportation and delivery for products. I am well aware of what a large scale operation Allentown Transportation runs, and I can assure you that I have the necessary skills and experience to effectively support the company.
Transport and logistics cover letter middle part (body)
You’ve started the journey, now you have the open road to expand upon your career. The middle part, or body section, of your transport and logistics cover letter goes into detail about who you are and how you approach your job.
Scan the skills section of your resume and decide on anecdotes that illustrate the attributes you bring to the job. How can you show that you have an excellent safety record if you are a driver, pilot, ship worker or cargo handler? If you work in logistics, how have you improved efficiency or worked under pressure to get the goods delivered? The answers to these questions form the bulk of your body paragraphs.
Elevate your candidacy with examples of the more extreme situations you’ve conquered. It’s fine that you can handle the day-to-day, but your problem-solving and quick-thinking abilities show hiring managers you can handle anything.
Use bullets to list 3-4 successes within the body paragraphs of your letter. This serves two purposes:
Add emphasis to your career achievements
Break up big blocks of type that may turn off the hiring manager
All of your examples should relate directly to the job you are applying for. The transport and logistics cover letter sample text below offers one method for achieving this.
The aim of the body of your cover letter: Highlight your skills through examples of your career successes.
I am highly adept in coordinating with inbound and outbound transportation providers to ensure the timely movement of products. I know that various companies in the area depend on Allentown Transportation to ensure their adequate inventories. My ability to effectively communicate and streamline processes makes me a strong candidate for this position.
How to close a cover letter (conclusion and sign-off)
You’re approaching your destination, so don’t lift your foot off the gas. The conclusion of your transport and logistics cover letter will stick in the mind of the recruiter, so leave the impression that you are an excellent candidate and truly want the job.
How do you do that? Restate your main message and then reveal a bit about yourself. Why do you like your work? What methods do you use to stay calm under pressure? How do you go about learning new skills? Answering one of these questions gives hiring managers a glimpse of your personality and how you will fit into the company culture.
Finally, politely end with a call to action or request for an interview, as our cover letter sample below does.
The aim of the close of your cover letter: Remind the hiring manager what makes you a great candidate and ask for an interview.
I would be thrilled to have the opportunity to discuss the value I can bring to Allentown Transportation in person. Is there a time we can arrange to have this discussion? Please contact me at your earliest convenience.
Sincerely,
Edward Cote
Tips for avoiding mistakes in a transport and logistics application letter
- Write almost the way you speak. Yes, this is a formal letter, but you don’t want to sound overblown or robotic. A letter that sounds natural gives the hiring manager a clue to your personality.
- Spell check and grammar check. While one small error may be overlooked, why take a chance that it will nix your candidacy? The tools to help you are readily available, so use them.
- Keep it short. A cover letter should never be more than one page. That means using brief examples -- no more than a sentence or two.
A clean and organized page layout can put you miles ahead of other candidates who didn’t think to make a professional first impression with their design. Luckily, you don’t have to be a graphic design wizard to accomplish this – a simple cover letter template will do the trick!
Key takeaways for a transport and logistics cover letter
- Answer the key question, “Why should I hire you” in your introduction.
- Make a great first impression with your header and layout as seen in our transport and logistics cover letter sample.
- Use a confident and professional tone throughout.
- Show off your personality with an anecdote and your writing style.
