Career Overview
Research rates, routings, or modes of transport for shipment of products. Maintain awareness of regulations affecting the international movement of cargo. Make arrangements for additional services, such as storage or inland transportation.
Also Known As
- Air Export Agent
- Air Export Coordinator
- Freight Forwarder
- GSA Coordinator (General Services Administration Coordinator)
Alternate Job Titles
- Air Cargo Agent
- Air Export Agent
- Air Export Clerk
- Air Export Coordinator
- Air Freight Forwarder
- Cargo Agent
- Domestic Freight Forwarder
- Export Clerk
- Export Coordinator
- Export Freight Clerk
- Export Freight Forwarder
- Export Freight Manager
- Export Freight Planner
- Export Freight Specialist
- Freight Analyst
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Negotiate shipping rates with freight carriers.
- Arrange for special transport of sensitive cargoes, such as livestock, food, or medical supplies.
- Arrange for applicable duties, taxes, or paperwork for customs clearance.
- Inform clients of factors such as shipping options, timelines, transfers, or regulations affecting shipments.
- Prepare shipping documentation, such as bills of lading, packing lists, dock receipts, or certificates of origin.
- Complete customs paperwork.
- Prepare invoices or cost quotations for freight transportation.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Transportation
- Administrative
- Customer and Personal Service
- Administration and Management
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Public Safety and Security
- Geography
- Personnel and Human Resources
- Mathematics
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Coordination
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Information Ordering
- Near Vision
- Problem Sensitivity
- Written Expression
- Deductive Reasoning
- Flexibility of Closure
- Inductive Reasoning
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Cautiousness
- Integrity
- Perseverance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Support
- Relationships
- Working Conditions
- Independence
- Achievement
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years
On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months
Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- SAP software
Tools & Equipment
- Desktop computers
- Laptop computers
- Laser facsimile machines
- Multi-line telephone systems
- Personal computers
Work Environment
- Telephone Conversations
- Time Pressure
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Contact With Others
Salary & Job Market
Wages reported for the broader Cargo and Freight Agents occupational group (BLS 2024), which includes Freight Forwarders.
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $37,240 |
| Median | $49,900 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $76,350 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 97,800
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Cargo and Freight Agents
Education: Bachelor's Degree
Median Salary: $49,900
Customs Brokers
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $78,420
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $43,190
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $63,940
Postal Service Clerks
Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
Median Salary: $61,630
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.