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, CVapp.ie is here to help along the way.
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, we’ll cover the following topics to help you design the best cover letter possible:
- How to choose the best cover letter format and the essential sections of a cover letter
- How to maximise the effect of each cover letter section
- Our best tips for writing a convincing, compelling cover letter
- What mistakes to avoid when writing your cover letter
Plus, you can also check out our library of over 100 cover letter examples!
Let’s begin with how to structure your transport and logistics application letter:
Best format for a transport and logistics cover letter
Before you begin your cover letter, you need to know what sections to include. Make sure you include the following elements:
- The cover letter header
- The greeting
- The cover letter intro
- The body paragraphs
- The conclusion (and call-to-action statement!)
In your cover letter, you have the opportunity to show what drives you and how you combine safety with efficiency.
Our comprehensive cover letter guide will help you understand all the elements of your application and provide you with specific formatting advice to put your best foot forward.
Dear Mr. McLaughlin,
My name is Rory Cronin, and I am thrilled to apply for the Logistics Coordinator position with Up & Go Freight. With a strong background in transport and logistics, a passion for problem-solving, and a knack for seamless coordination, I am confident in my ability to streamline operations and deliver exceptional results. I'd love to join the Up & Go Freight team!
Throughout my career, I have accumulated over eight years of experience in the transport and logistics industry. During this time, I have honed my skills in coordinating shipments, managing logistics operations, and ensuring regulatory compliance. I am well-versed in overseeing inventory management, optimising transportation routes, and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and customers. My goal-oriented mindset and attention to detail enables me to identify and resolve potential issues efficiently, ensuring smooth and timely deliveries.
I received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College Dublin, where I had the opportunity to develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills. I have utilised these skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams, coordinate with drivers and warehouse personnel, and communicate effectively with clients to meet their specific requirements. My ability to adapt to changing demands and think critically has allowed me to successfully manage complex logistics projects in the past.
I am excited about the opportunity to join the Up & Go Freight team and contribute to the smooth operation of your logistics department. My experience, combined with my passion for the industry, makes me confident in my ability to excel in this role. Please do not hesitate to contact me at your earliest convenience.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity of discussing my application further.
Yours sincerely,
Rory Cronin
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 easy to read
- Create a style that complements your CV
Why are these things so important? Well, your header contains your name, email and best phone contact number. If a recruiter can’t find it or read it, your application may end up in the trash!
Cruise past the ATS
You may already be familiar with adding keywords and phrases to your CV to increase your chances of getting past the Applicant Tracking Systems, or ATS, but did you know these algorithms sometimes take cover letters into account as well? For this reason, it’s important to scan the job description for keywords and incorporate these keywords where possible.
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 employers with an attractive header that displays your contact information. Employers need to know how to get in touch!
Cover letter greeting
No matter how casual an environment is, a formal greeting is always best. That’s why we recommend starting off with “Dear Mr/Mrs/Ms. Surname.” The combination of business formality and personalisation sets an appropriate tone for your cover letter. If you need extra help, you can check out our example below!
If you can’t 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. McLaughlin,
Cover letter introduction
So, 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 and action words to convey your confidence in your abilities. Lastly, 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 achievements. This will encourage employers to learn more about you!
My name is Rory Cronin, and I am thrilled to apply for the Logistics Coordinator position with Up & Go Freight. With a strong background in transport and logistics, a passion for problem-solving, and a knack for seamless coordination, I am confident in my ability to streamline operations and deliver exceptional results. I'd love to join the Up & Go Freight team!
Cover letter body paragraphs
You’ve started the journey, now you have the open road to expand upon your career. The middle section, or body paragraphs, go into detail about who you are and how you approach your job.
Scan the skills section of your CV 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.
Use bullet points to list 3-4 successes within the body paragraphs of your letter. This serves two purposes:
- Adds emphasis to your career achievements
- Breaks 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 aim of the body of your cover letter: Highlight your skills through examples of your career successes.
Throughout my career, I have accumulated over eight years of experience in the transport and logistics industry. During this time, I have honed my skills in coordinating shipments, managing logistics operations, and ensuring regulatory compliance. I am well-versed in overseeing inventory management, optimising transportation routes, and maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and customers. My goal-oriented mindset and attention to detail enables me to identify and resolve potential issues efficiently, ensuring smooth and timely deliveries.
I received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Trinity College Dublin, where I had the opportunity to develop excellent communication and interpersonal skills. I have utilised these skills to collaborate with cross-functional teams, coordinate with drivers and warehouse personnel, and communicate effectively with clients to meet their specific requirements. My ability to adapt to changing demands and think critically has allowed me to successfully manage complex logistics projects in the past.
I am excited about the opportunity to join the Up & Go Freight team and contribute to the smooth operation of your logistics department. My experience, combined with my passion for the industry, makes me confident in my ability to excel in this role. Please do not hesitate to contact me at your earliest convenience.
Cover letter conclusion
You’re approaching your end destination, so don’t lift your foot off the gas! The conclusion of your cover letter will stick in the mind of employers, so leave the impression that you are an excellent candidate and that you’re the best applicant for the role!
So, 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. Check out our example and call-to-action statement below for some inspiration!
The aim of the close of your cover letter: Remind the hiring manager what makes you a great candidate and ask for an interview.
Thank you for considering my application. I look forward to the opportunity of discussing my application further.
Yours sincerely,
Rory Cronin
Top tips for avoiding mistakes:
- Write how you speak. Yes, this is a formal letter, but you don’t want to sound 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, more than one typo or error can signal to employers that you may not be the best applicant for the role. Fortunately, we have an in-built spell-check on our CVapp.ie cover letter builder, so you can type with ease!
- 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 organised 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
- Employers want to know why you’re the best candidate for the role – be sure to convey your professional strengths with facts, figures and numbers where possible!
- Make a great first impression with your header and layout with our cover letter builder. Simply login on the CVapp.ie website and select your favourite template.
- Use a confident and professional tone throughout.
- Show off your personality with an anecdote and your writing style.
