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What have this year's crop of transport and logistics graduates and postgraduates discovered about the industry - and what does it think of them? Capable and competent are two words best describing this year's crop of graduates entering the logistics sector. But while graduate calibre might be up to scratch the industry needs to attract a greater number of individuals to drive the sector forwards. So says Dr Mick Jackson, development director of Skills for Logistics. He says: "The industry needs  to promote itself as a career across the entire logistics sector and not just road freight. There simply aren't enough graduates coming in."

But it's not all doom and gloom. The industry can offer attractive prospects for graduates wanting to carve a logistics career. According to the Annual Population Survey 2005, the logistics sector directly employs 997,000 people. Of these, 85,000 individuals hold a level 4 and above qualification (degree and above equivalent) - which is 8.5% of the logistics workforce. The sector is also attracting an increasing number of female graduates. Out of the graduates which hold level 4 and above, 71% are male and 29% are female.

One graduate narrowing the gender gap is Claire Carter. Employed by Wincanton as a trainee manager, she is one of a small but growing band of female graduates who is working in the industry. Carter graduated with a BEng honours degree in chemical engineering at the University of Manchester this September.  She says the sector has exceeded her expectations: "The industry is much larger than I envisaged. I never realised how many different fields there are," explains the 23-year-old. Carter believes that her engineering degree has paid dividends in her new career. Relevant skills learnt from her course have enabled her to examine the logistics sector as a process. Wincanton, like many other large recruiters, draws on a pool of 600 of logistics graduates every year. This includes 250 who graduate with transport planning degrees.

Dr Nick Hubbard, head of transport and logistics at the University of Huddersfield, manages a range of degree courses in the sector. He believes the quality and quantity of graduates coming out of university is high. "Demand for UK graduates is still very high for those who have the knowledge and people skills required within the industry. About 95% of our graduates on last year's programme have found jobs," he claims. "A challenge facing employers is recruiting students with a good understanding of IT. International employers may also require graduates with bi-lingual or multi-lingual skills."

Less than half of logistics graduates coming from Huddersfield are recruited through the traditional A-level route the majority are enrolled on a points system based on qualifications from their respective countries. Last year, students from 23 different nationalities enrolled on Huddersfield courses 70 graduates go into the industry every year.

Across the UK, there are a number of universities offering specialist undergraduate transport and logistics degrees. The subject area is designed to equip students with a range of knowledge-based and transferable skills (e.g. report writing and making a presentation), so they can become transport and logistics managers. Subject areas comprise economics, law, accountancy, IT, statistics, transport policy, distribution management, purchasing and supply, logistics management and strategic management.

Aged 22, Christopher Fox graduated with an international business degree before starting as a trainee manager at Wincanton. "It was quite a transition for me coming out of university into the industry. Being unprepared doesn't cut any ice in the sector," he explains.

Under Wincanton's graduate programme, Fox has been working under a secondment with different contracts throughout the business. He adds: "The greatest strengths I have taken from my business degree have been planning and preparation. There wasn't any mileage going into general business after my degree course. My family are employed in the sector and it was something I always wanted to go into."

Students from a wide range of academic backgrounds can enter transport and logistics courses. Many students can enrol after completing their Advanced (A)/Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level or equivalent studies. While there are no specific subjects required, economics, business studies, maths, geography or computing are very relevant. Vocational A-level (formerly known as Advanced GNVQ) students can enrol on courses such as business and finance, information technology or retail and distributive services.

Shelley Garner, training and development co-ordinator at Christian Salvesen, also believes the standard of this year's graduates is high. "We've had a huge number of applications this year. Most graduates we've taken are of a good calibre," she says. "We recruit operational graduates, which includes people with hands on experience. We also seek graduates with leadership skills, which have been less apparent this year."

Graduates are recruited with generic or vocational degree courses and are then placed on six-month work placements on one of Christian Salvesen's sites. This provides people with management experience. They then spend another six months learning about logistics aspects such as trunking before progressing onto management roles.

Across the industry, graduate employment rates are understood to be 90 per cent within six months of leaving university. Starting salaries on graduate programmes are typically over £18,000. Within two years, graduates can progress to an operational role within the company and can expect to move to an operations management position paying £30,000 within five years. The University of Huddersfield reports that the average earnings of its logistics graduates can rise to £45,000 a decade after graduation.

Neil Williams decided on a career in logistics in the third year of his history and politics degree at Leicester University. Working in traffic operations with Christian Salvesen, he views his job as being very different to what he expected.

"My role is harder than I thought - but I work with a great team and have a lot of fun," he explains. "I am currently working on a management course within the company, which is part of a two-year post graduate programme."

Key skills acquired from his degree course include initiative and the ability to work independently. One of the main challenges of his role is managing time for both himself and his drivers and long demanding shifts.

Portsmouth University offers a BSc in Transport Logistics, in addition to an MSc course. "Enrolment for our degree courses is made up of 100% overseas students," explains Vince Hughes, course lecturer. "In countries such as China, there is a very high demand for students because logistics is 20% of their GNP. A booming economy coupled with complicated logistics channels is fuelling graduate demand."

Hughes believes a challenge facing universities and employers is encouraging graduates to remain in the UK to work. Another is tailoring degree courses to suit industry needs. The majority of logistics students graduating from Portsmouth go into management-level positions - for example shipment route planning or warehouse distribution.

In addition to those entering the industry with dedicated logistics degrees, graduates are recruited with non-specific qualifications. Justine Tyler graduated with a degree in sport and exercise science from the University College of Worcester followed by a masters degree in bio mechanics at Sheffield Hallam University.

"I found it difficult to get into sports science so I joined a graduate scheme within TNT Logistics. The sector wasn't my first choice - but when I left university the industry appealed to me," she says. "I find the industry very varied. My position of IT systems trainer changes every day. The role has met my expectations. I get to work with a wide range of customers and clients," she says.