UK

United Kingdom · Operations · Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Logistics Specialist

Here is the whole job, in plain words. What it is, what you decide, how you're judged, how people get here and where they go next. Then the part no course gives you: twelve AI tutors who learn your work.

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As a Logistics Specialist, a good place to start on Data Storytelling for Operations is Turning Workplace Data into a Recommendation, a free Future Fluency module at Level 3. You'd practise turning the figures you already see at work into a recommendation someone will act on.

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One email: what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for, where it leads, and where to start free. With a link back here. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

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  • Experience bandMid-Level (2-5 years)
  • Direct reportsNo direct reports
  • Reports toLogistics Manager
  • UK framework levelUsually a coordinator, or early in a professional job

Also advertised as Shipping Coordinator · Transport Planner · Operations Coordinator · Supply Chain Administrator

Built on 43,079 real UK job descriptions we analysed · grounded in what real qualifications cover

Two short quizzes about you

1From this job to a course

The qualifications matched to this job

City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Logistics Operations City & Guilds Limited · Level 3 · covers 2 of 10 standards
ETCAL Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Engineering Technical Support ETC Awards Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
EAL Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering - Technical Support Technician (Development Competence) Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering (Development Competence) Pearson Education Ltd · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards
EAL Level 3 NVQ Extended Diploma in Engineering Technical Support Excellence, Achievement & Learning Limited · Level 3 · covers 1 of 10 standards

Matched from the standards this job is measured against: a suggestion, not an official ruling.

The units you would start with

Make an effective contribution to a business in the logistics sector City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in Logistics Operations
Supporting logistics operations in an engineering manufacturing environment ETCAL Level 3 NVQ Diploma in Engineering Technical Support

The future skills this job leans on

Data Fluency turning numbers into a decision
Automation Fluency building AI into how work runs
Systems Fluency seeing the whole picture
Your Plan Illustration

Built for Logistics Specialist

2 units that map to this job, from the qualifications that cover it.

  1. Make an effective contribution to a business in the logistics sector City & Guilds Limited · covers 2 of 10 standards Level 3
  2. Supporting logistics operations in an engineering manufacturing environment ETC Awards Limited · covers 1 of 10 standards Level 3
These are the real units behind this job, in the order they rank for it. Nothing here is marked done, because this plan has not been started by anyone yet. Yours would fill in as you go.

2AI and this work

Will AI change your work as a Logistics Specialist?

Nobody can say exactly how. Here is what this job is being asked for next, and where to start.

The new skills this role is being asked for

  • Data Storytelling for Operations
  • Basic Process Automation Scripting (e.g., Power Automate, simple Python)
Why each one is rising

The future skills this job leans on

We'll only ever tell you what we can actually back up. No hype, no scare tactics.

What happens when you start

Next, a free account. We build your Logistics Specialist plan as you set up, starting with the free Data Fluency module. No card.

Your first Future Fluency module is free. After that, your AI tutor is £70 a month.

Ready to pay? Subscribe for £70 a month

Keep this read. One email with what AI is changing in this job, the new skills it asks for and where to start free. Nothing else follows unless you confirm your address.

3What this role really is

A logistics specialist makes sure goods get from one place to another, across the UK or further afield. The work involves choosing carriers, tracking shipments, and sorting out problems as they come up. It covers the full journey of a shipment, from despatch to delivery, making sure deliveries arrive on time and in good condition.

4What you'd actually use

The tools this job runs on, and how well you'd need to know each one.

SAP S/4HANA (EWM/TM modules) Intermediate

Executing transactions like goods receipt and order picking, tracking inventory levels, and running pre-built reports. You'll be able to troubleshoot common transaction errors and help junior users.

Blue Yonder TMS Intermediate

Tendering loads to carriers, tracking shipments via the portal, confirming delivery appointments, and starting to build and optimise multi-stop routes for domestic shipments.

Microsoft Excel (Power Query, Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP) Intermediate

Building basic cost models, using VLOOKUP to merge tracking data, and creating simple pivot tables to analyse carrier performance or shipment volumes. You'll use Power Query for basic data cleansing.

Carrier-Specific Portals & APIs (e.g., FedEx Ship Manager, UPS WorldShip) Intermediate

Printing shipping labels, scheduling pickups, looking up tracking information, and managing user permissions within these platforms. You'll be able to resolve basic API connection errors with guidance.

MS Teams & SharePoint Intermediate

Providing status updates in channels, sharing shipping documents with colleagues, participating in team meetings, and helping to organise shared documents on SharePoint.

Tableau / Power BI Basic

Viewing and interacting with existing dashboards to monitor KPIs like OTD or cost per shipment. You'll be able to filter data and understand the visualisations, but not necessarily build new ones from scratch.

5What you get to decide, and how that grows

Power in a job isn't your title. It's what you're allowed to decide. Here's how it grows as you move up.

The choiceComing in Where you are nowThe step above
Carrier Selection for Standard Shipments Proposes options to supervisor, supervisor makes final choice. Independently selects carrier based on established criteria (cost, service, transit time) for shipments up to £1,500. Escalates if no suitable option is found. Defines preferred carrier matrix and negotiates rates for specific lanes. Approves carrier selection for complex or high-value shipments (up to £5,000).
Resolving Shipment Delays/Issues Identifies issue, gathers information, and presents to supervisor for resolution. Independently troubleshoots and resolves common issues (e.g., rebooking a missed pickup, arranging redelivery) within a predefined budget (e.g., up to £250 for expedited services). Escalates complex or high-cost issues. Leads resolution for critical, high-impact issues (e.g., major customs hold, significant damage claim). Authorises spend up to £1,000 for resolution. Develops preventative measures.
Freight Invoice Approval Verifies invoice accuracy against quote and submits to supervisor for approval. Approves routine freight invoices up to £500, ensuring they match the agreed rates. Investigates and flags discrepancies over £500 to the Logistics Manager. Approves all freight invoices up to £2,500. Manages freight audit process and resolves complex billing disputes with carriers.
Process Improvement Suggestions Identifies inefficiencies and suggests minor improvements to supervisor. Proposes and, with manager approval, implements small-scale process improvements within your own scope of work (e.g., a new tracking spreadsheet, an updated checklist). Designs and leads implementation of significant process improvements affecting multiple team members or entire workstreams. Presents business case to leadership.

6How you'll be judged

The scoreboard, and what is not on it. The hard targets, how often each is actually looked at, and the quiet signals that never reach a dashboard.

On-Time Pickup & Delivery (OTD)
The percentage of shipments picked up and delivered within the agreed-upon timeframe.
Target · >97%

If we ship 100 orders in a week, you're aiming for at least 97 of them to be picked up and delivered exactly when we said they would. Missing this means unhappy customers and potentially penalties.

Data Entry Accuracy for Shipments
The precision of information (e.g., addresses, weights, dimensions, HS codes) entered into our systems for each shipment.
Target · >99.5%

Out of 200 data fields checked across various shipments, you'd only have one error at most. A typo in a postcode or an incorrect weight can cause massive delays and extra charges, so it's crucial to get it right.

Freight Quote Turnaround Time
How quickly you can provide an accurate shipping quote for a standard request from the Sales or Customer Service teams.
Target · < 2 hours for standard requests

When Sales asks for a quote for a standard pallet shipment to Germany, you'll get it back to them within two hours, allowing them to close the deal faster.

Cost per Shipment vs. Benchmark
The average cost of a shipment compared to our internal benchmarks or historical data for similar routes and modes.
Target · At or below target

If our benchmark for a standard UK pallet delivery is £60, you'll be looking to consistently book shipments at or below that price, showing you're making smart carrier choices.

Proactive Communication on Delays
How well you keep internal teams and customers informed about potential or actual shipment delays before they have to ask.
  • Sales or Customer Service team members comment that they're always kept in the loop. You'll send out updates on potential weather delays or port congestion well in advance, giving people time to react. No one's calling you asking 'where's my order?' because you've already told them.
Problem-Solving Effectiveness
Your ability to calmly and systematically resolve unexpected issues (e.g., customs holds, damaged goods, missed pickups) with minimal impact.
  • When a container gets stuck, you'll have a clear action plan, contacting the right people (broker, carrier, customer) and providing options. The issue gets resolved without escalating to your manager, and you'll often get a 'thanks for sorting that' from the affected team.
Adherence to Process & Documentation
Following established procedures for booking, tracking, and documenting shipments, and ensuring all necessary paperwork is complete and filed correctly.
  • Audits of your shipment files show all BOLs, PODs, and customs documents are present and correctly filled out. New team members can pick up your work and understand exactly what's going on because your documentation is clear and up-to-date.
Carrier Relationship Management
Building and maintaining effective working relationships with our various shipping carriers and 3PLs.
  • Carriers will be responsive to your requests and willing to help out with urgent issues. You'll be able to quickly get hold of the right person when there's a problem, and they'll see you as a fair and organised partner, not just another customer.

7Would you like it

Both sides. What people enjoy, and what grinds them down.

What people enjoy
Problem Solving & Resolution

You get a real kick out of taking a chaotic situation – like a customs hold or a lost parcel – and systematically working through it until it's resolved. It's about the satisfaction of turning a potential disaster into a successful delivery.

Successfully rerouting a critical air freight shipment after a flight cancellation, getting it to the customer only a few hours late, and receiving a 'well done' from the sales team.

Tangible Impact & Contribution

You like seeing the direct results of your work. Knowing that the goods you've managed are now on a customer's shelf, or that your efficient booking saved the company money, gives you a sense of purpose. It's not abstract; it's real products moving.

Seeing a positive customer review specifically mentioning prompt delivery, knowing you were instrumental in making that happen.

Order & Efficiency

You enjoy bringing structure to complex processes. Optimising a route, streamlining paperwork, or finding a more efficient way to track shipments appeals to your desire for things to run smoothly and logically. You dislike chaos and strive to reduce it.

Implementing a small change to the carrier booking process that reduces the average booking time by 15 minutes, which then gets adopted by the whole team.

What frustrates people
  • The 4:45 PM 'Hot' Shipment: Getting an 'urgent, must-ship-today' request from a salesperson at the end of the day, forcing you to beg carriers for a last-minute pickup and pay premium rates.
  • Carrier Blame Game: Being held accountable for a late delivery caused by a truck breakdown, port congestion, or weather event that was completely outside your control.
  • 'Garbage In, Garbage Out': Spending hours cleaning up inaccurate weight, dimension, or address data in the ERP system so you can get an accurate freight quote.
  • Chasing Paperwork: Wasting a significant part of your week hunting down missing PODs, BOLs, and customs documents from unresponsive drivers and brokers.
  • The Squeeze: Facing constant pressure from finance to lower freight costs while simultaneously facing pressure from sales to use faster, more expensive services.
  • Unrealistic Expectations: Explaining to stakeholders for the tenth time that international air freight doesn't magically bypass customs and that lead times are non-negotiable.
What this role does not give you
  • A completely predictable 9-to-5 routine – urgent issues can pop up at any time.
  • A role where you only deal with perfect data – you'll spend time cleaning up messy inputs.
  • Complete control over external factors – you'll need to manage things like carrier delays and customs issues.
  • A quiet, isolated work environment – you'll be communicating constantly with various teams and external partners.

8Who you work with

This role directly impacts our customer satisfaction, delivery costs, and overall operational efficiency. Get it right, and we keep customers happy and costs down. Get it wrong, and we face delays, penalties, and potentially lost business. You're essentially the glue that holds our delivery promise together.

Inside the business
  • Warehouse Operations Team
  • Sales Team
  • Procurement Team
  • Finance Department
  • Customer Service Team
Outside the business
  • Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Providers
  • Freight Forwarders
  • Shipping Carriers (Road, Air, Ocean)
  • Customs Brokers
  • Suppliers

9What you need before you start

Not a wish list. The things you would be expected to already have.

  • At least 2 years of hands-on experience in a logistics, shipping, or operations role, where you've been responsible for managing shipments.
  • Demonstrable experience with an ERP system (like SAP or Oracle) for order processing and inventory lookup.
  • Solid intermediate skills in Microsoft Excel, including VLOOKUPs, Pivot Tables, and basic data manipulation.
  • Proven ability to communicate clearly and professionally, both in writing and verbally, with internal teams and external partners.
  • A track record of solving problems independently and taking ownership of tasks from start to finish.

10What to practise next

Where the job is going, and what to do about it starting this week.

Advanced TMS Optimisation (Blue Yonder)

Our TMS isn't just for booking; it's a powerful optimisation engine. As freight costs rise and customer expectations for speed increase, getting the absolute most out of our TMS for route planning, load consolidation, and carrier selection will be crucial. You'll move beyond basic booking to truly optimising our transport network.

Multi-Stop Route Optimisation · Load Building & Consolidation Logic · Scenario Planning & Simulation · Carrier Performance Modelling

  • This month: Dive into the advanced features of Blue Yonder TMS training modules, focusing on routing and optimisation.
  • Next quarter: Work with your manager to identify one specific lane or type of shipment where you can apply advanced optimisation techniques.
  • Month 3-6: Present your findings and proposed optimised routes, showing the potential cost savings or service improvements.
  • Month 6-12: Become the go-to person for complex routing challenges within the team.

Quick win: Experiment with the TMS's 'what if' scenarios for a few recent shipments to see how different routing choices would have impacted cost or transit time.

Enhanced Data Analysis & Visualisation (Tableau/Power BI)

Just looking at dashboards isn't enough anymore. You'll need to start pulling your own data, cleaning it, and building simple visualisations to answer specific questions. This helps you identify trends, spot problems early, and present your findings clearly to others, rather than waiting for someone else to build the report.

Data Extraction & Transformation · Relational Data Models (basic) · Dashboard Design Principles · SQL (Structured Query Language) basics

  • This month: Complete an online introductory course for Tableau or Power BI (whichever we primarily use).
  • Next quarter: Work with your manager to identify a recurring manual report you can try to automate or visualise.
  • Month 3-6: Build your first simple dashboard to track a specific metric (e.g., carrier on-time performance for a key lane).
  • Month 6-12: Present your findings from your dashboard to the team, highlighting any insights you've found.

Quick win: Take a raw Excel report you regularly use and try to recreate its key numbers using a Pivot Table or a simple chart in Tableau/Power BI. It's a great way to start getting hands-on.

11Staying current once you are in

What people here do to keep up
  • Attending industry webinars and conferences (online or in-person) to stay up-to-date on new regulations, technologies, and best practices.
  • Participating in internal training programmes on our ERP (SAP) and TMS (Blue Yonder) systems to deepen your technical knowledge.
  • Joining professional networks or online forums for logistics specialists to share knowledge and learn from peers.
  • Taking advantage of any opportunities to shadow colleagues in other parts of Operations (e.g., warehouse, procurement) to understand the full supply chain picture.

12The rising capability

The rising capability

Zavmo analysis

What's rising in its place

This is where the work is heading, and the higher pay with it. Get fluent here and the shift stops being a threat and starts being your edge.

Data Storytelling for Operations

We're drowning in data, but what's the point if we can't make sense of it? The ability to turn raw logistics numbers into a clear, compelling story helps us make better decisions and convince others to act. It's about showing why something matters, not just what the numbers are.

  • Audience-Centric Communication
  • Visualisation Best Practices
  • Narrative Structure
  • Actionable Insights

Basic Process Automation Scripting (e.g., Power Automate, simple Python)

Many of those repetitive, soul-crushing tasks in logistics – like copying data between systems, generating routine reports, or sending standard updates – can be automated. Learning how to build simple scripts means you can free yourself from the drudgery and focus on higher-value work. It's about being more efficient with your own time.

  • If/Then/Else Logic
  • API Fundamentals (for integrations)
  • Workflow Design
  • Error Handling (basic)

13What you’ll use

What you’ll use

Skills this role draws on

Technical

  • Freight & Carrier Management
  • Inventory Control Methodologies (Basic)
  • Incoterms & Global Trade Compliance (Basic)
  • Lean Principles (in Logistics) Awareness
  • Demand Planning & Forecasting (Support)
  • Reverse Logistics Management (Basic)

14The pathway

The pathway

How you actually get there, here

How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.

  1. 1

    Logistics Coordinator (L1) to Logistics Specialist (L2)

    1.5 - 3 years

    Skills to master

    • Mastering data entry accuracy, understanding basic freight terms, consistently hitting on-time delivery targets for routine shipments, and proactively communicating minor issues. Basically, doing the core tasks perfectly.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Consistently high accuracy rates in shipment data entry and documentation.
    • Ability to resolve routine shipment issues (e.g., rebooking a missed pickup) without supervision.
    • Proactive communication of potential delays before they become major problems.
    • Demonstrated ownership of assigned tasks and a willingness to learn new processes.
  2. 2

    Warehouse Operative / Administrator to Logistics Specialist (L2)

    2 - 4 years

    Skills to master

    • Understanding the full outbound shipping process, including carrier relations, documentation, and basic international shipping. You'd need to learn the 'office' side of logistics after gaining hands-on warehouse experience.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Strong understanding of warehouse outbound processes and inventory flow.
    • Proactive in identifying and suggesting improvements to the shipping process from a warehouse perspective.
    • Demonstrated ability to learn new software systems quickly and apply them to administrative tasks.
    • Excellent communication skills developed from interacting with drivers and internal teams.
  3. 3

    Customer Service Representative to Logistics Specialist (L2)

    2 - 3.5 years

    Skills to master

    • A deep understanding of customer expectations around delivery, excellent problem-solving skills, and a good grasp of our products. You'd need to build up your knowledge of carrier operations, freight terms, and compliance.

    You're ready to move on when

    • Exceptional customer communication and problem-resolution skills.
    • A clear understanding of how logistics issues impact customer satisfaction.
    • Demonstrated ability to quickly learn technical logistics concepts and apply them.
    • Proactive in identifying patterns in customer complaints related to shipping and suggesting solutions.

15Where this role leads

The long view: This work can lead to supervising a team or a transport lane as a lead logistics specialist, or managing a wider transport or warehousing function as a logistics manager.

The ten Future Fluencies

Zavmo analysis

The credential is what you can do today. These are what keep you valuable.

A qualification proves you can do the job as it's defined today. These ten are what decide whether you're still the obvious person for it in five years. They're the capabilities employers are now writing into senior roles faster than people are learning them. Zavmo weaves them through whatever you study, so you come out with both: the credential and the fluency.

The highlighted ones are the Fluencies your role leans on hardest, from how Logistics Specialist is actually changing.

Where it leads

Roles this leads to

How you would learn this

One to one, on the work you already do

A tutor sets the task against your own job and marks the reasoning, at your pace. There is no cohort to fall behind.

A lesson from Make an effective contribution to a business in the logistics sector, worked against Logistics Specialist.

Make an effective contribution to a business in the logistics sector Level 3

Applied to your work in Logistics Specialist

The objective of this unit is to enable learners to understand how they contribute to a logistics business and to develop the skills to make an effective contribution. Learners will understand different roles, the importance of teamwork, and how to communicate effectively and follow procedures to support the overall success of the business.

How the thinking builds
  1. 1 Remember
  2. 2 Understand
  3. 3 Apply
  4. 4 Analyse
  5. 5 Evaluate
  6. 6 Create
An illustration of a Zavmo lesson, built from this role’s own route. The unit, its objective and every criterion above are the awarding body’s own words, not an example.

It is £70 a month, billed monthly. Your free first module is Future Fluency, and you can cancel any time.

See Your Progress Grow Illustration
Logistics Specialist
  • Freight & Carrier Management
  • Inventory Control Methodologies (Basic)
  • Incoterms & Global Trade Compliance (Basic)
  • Lean Principles (in Logistics) Awareness
  • Demand Planning & Forecasting (Support)
  • Reverse Logistics Management (Basic)
This is your Mind Palace on learn.zavmo.ai. Every skill above comes from this role's own record, not an example borrowed from another job. A node lights up when you evidence it, and what you build stays yours between jobs. That is the part a course cannot do.

16The detail, folded away

Everything else the record holds

The career branches in full, how AI is already showing up in the day-to-day, and the questions people ask about this job. Here when you want them, out of the way while you decide.

Where it leads next, rung by rung

Where it leads

The career path, and where it branches

Logistics Specialist is a start, not a ceiling. Each step below asks for new skills and hands back more autonomy.

  1. Senior Logistics Specialist (L3)

    3 - 5 years in this role

    You'll move from independently managing standard shipments to leading complex, high-value, or hazardous cargo projects. You'll also start mentoring junior team members and driving process improvements.

    • Expertise in specific freight modes (e.g., project cargo, cold chain logistics).
    • Deep knowledge of global trade compliance for complex regions or product types.
    • Ability to conduct basic freight cost analysis and identify savings opportunities.
    • Leading small-scale logistics projects (e.g., new carrier onboarding, system updates).
Working with AI on the job

Working with AI

Where AI is starting to help

Let's be real, logistics can be a bit of a grind sometimes. The good news is, AI isn't here to replace you; it's here to make your job a lot less tedious and a lot more strategic. Think of it as having a super-efficient assistant who handles the boring, repetitive stuff, freeing you up for the interesting challenges.

In Operations, AI is already transforming how we manage shipments, track goods, and communicate with partners. For a Logistics Specialist, this means less time wrestling with spreadsheets and more time actually solving problems and making smart decisions. We're investing in these tools because we want you focused on what truly matters, not manual data entry.

Automated Rate Shopping & Booking

Imagine instantly finding the best carrier for every shipment without opening 10 different tabs. AI connects to multiple carrier systems, gets real-time quotes, and even books the load for you based on our rules. You'll just review and confirm, saving you bags of time.

Predictive Delay & ETA Analysis

No more guessing when a truck will actually arrive. AI crunches real-time traffic, weather, and historical data to give you super accurate ETAs. It'll even flag at-risk shipments early, so you can proactively tell customers before they even know there's a problem. No more frantic phone calls!

Automated Trade Compliance Check

International shipments can be a nightmare of paperwork. This AI tool scans product descriptions and destinations, instantly identifying required customs documents, HS codes, and potential restrictions. It's like having a customs expert on tap, preventing those costly border delays.

AI-Generated Stakeholder Updates

Tired of writing the same 'Shipment X is on track' emails? AI can draft concise, professional status updates based on tracking data, ready for you to send via email or Teams. It keeps everyone informed without you typing out every single message. More time for a cuppa, perhaps?

Common questions

Common questions

How do you become a Logistics Specialist?

Common routes in include Logistics Coordinator to Logistics Specialist (1.5 - 3 years), Warehouse Operative / Administrator to Logistics Specialist (2 - 4 years) and Customer Service Representative to Logistics Specialist (2 - 3.5 years). Times vary with prior experience.

Where can a Logistics Specialist progress to?

This role can lead on to Senior Logistics Specialist (3 - 5 years in this role), depending on the skills you build.

What new skills matter most for a Logistics Specialist?

Increasingly, Data Storytelling for Operations and Basic Process Automation Scripting (e.g., Power Automate, simple Python). These are the skills our record of this role lists as growing.

Free tools

Want a read on where you stand?

Three free tools, no account needed. Each one ends with a role, a level and a way in.

Read the Zavmo manifesto to understand how you will be taught Meet your tutors

Or try another one

17Where to go from here

Other roles at Level 3

Same depth of qualification, different job. Useful if the work appeals but this particular role does not.

 More jobs in operations

Stay in the field you know and move sideways rather than up.
If you leave this industry

The skills built in this role transfer easily. They can lead into supply chain planning, procurement, warehouse management, or consulting in other industries. Every business needs to move goods, so this expertise carries across sectors.

This role profile is © 2026 Growth Engineering Technologies Ltd. Built from UK occupational standards and regulated qualification data, and written for Zavmo.

You're not behind. You're right on time. The shift is only just beginning. Your role won't look the same in two years. Be the one who leads the change, not the one it happens to. Start my free Data Fluency module What happens next: a free account, then we build your plan as you set up. No card. Build your plan, see your roadmap and meet the twelve tutors matched to you. All free. When you're ready to start learning, it's £70 a month, billed monthly. Cancel any time and billing stops.