Freight Forwarders
Overview
Salary
Demand
Core Tasks
Technology Skills
Tools Used
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Top 10 Skills
Top 10 Abilities
Top 10 Work Activities
Detailed Work Activities
Work Context
Education
Majors
Interests
Top 10 Work Styles
Work Values
Overview
Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Experience
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Education
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Job Training
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Examples
These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
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.
Salary Salary
Salary at 10th Percentile: $27K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $34K
Median Salary: $43K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $56K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $69K
Demand
Core Tasks
Calculate weight, volume, or cost of goods to be moved.
Inform clients of factors such as shipping options, timelines, transfers, or regulations affecting shipments.
Complete customs paperwork.
Prepare shipping documentation, such as bills of lading, packing lists, dock receipts, or certificates of origin.
Provide shipment status notification to exporters, consignees, or insurers.
Verify proper packaging and labeling of exported goods.
Prepare invoices or cost quotations for freight transportation.
Select shipment routes, based on nature of goods shipped, transit times, or security needs.
Arrange for applicable duties, taxes, or paperwork for customs clearance.
Consolidate loads with a common destination to reduce costs to individual shippers.
Keep records of goods dispatched or received.
Monitor or record locations of goods in transit.
Reserve necessary space on ships, aircraft, trains, or trucks.
Arrange delivery or storage of goods at destinations.
Negotiate shipping rates with freight carriers.
Verify adherence of documentation to customs, insurance, or regulatory requirements.
Determine efficient and cost-effective methods of moving goods from one location to another.
Pay or arrange for payment of freight or insurance fees or other charges.
Make arrangements with customs brokers to facilitate the passage of goods through customs.
Recommend or arrange appropriate merchandise packing methods, according to climate, terrain, weight, nature of goods, or costs.
Maintain current knowledge of relevant legislation, political situations, or other factors that could affect freight shipping.
Provide detailed port information to importers or exporters.
Arrange for special transport of sensitive cargoes, such as livestock, food, or medical supplies.
Obtain or arrange cargo insurance.
Refer exporters to experts in areas such as trade financing, international marketing, government export requirements, international banking, or marine insurance.
Assist clients in obtaining insurance reimbursements.
Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Customer and Personal Service
89%
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Transportation
87%
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
English Language
83%
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Clerical
72%
Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
Geography
72%
Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Administration and Management
71%
Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Mathematics
71%
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Public Safety and Security
70%
Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Law and Government
66%
Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
Economics and Accounting
63%
Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
Top 10 Skills
Coordination
70%
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring
70%
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension
70%
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation
68%
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking
68%
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management
68%
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing
68%
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Listening
65%
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
65%
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Learning
63%
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Top 10 Abilities
Oral Comprehension
75%
The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension
73%
The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Information Ordering
70%
The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Oral Expression
70%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Problem Sensitivity
70%
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Category Flexibility
68%
The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Mathematical Reasoning
68%
The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Near Vision
68%
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Speech Clarity
68%
The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Written Expression
68%
The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Top 10 Work Activities
Getting Information
86%
Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Interacting With Computers
85%
Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
83%
Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Making Decisions and Solving Problems
81%
Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization
80%
Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
Processing Information
79%
Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
78%
Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
77%
Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
Documenting/Recording Information
76%
Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
75%
Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Detailed Work Activities
Analyze shipping information to make routing decisions.
Coordinate shipping activities with external parties.
Assist individuals with paperwork.
Calculate shipping costs.
Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.
Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency.
Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
Record shipping information.
Maintain current knowledge related to work activities.
Track goods or materials.
Negotiate financial arrangements.
Arrange insurance coverage.
Execute sales or other financial transactions.
Recommend packing or shipping methods.
Verify shipping documentation.
Examine documents to verify adherence to requirements.
Complete documentation required by programs or regulations.
Confer with others to conduct or arrange operational activities.
Refer customers to appropriate personnel.
Work Context
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Electronic Mail
How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
Frequency of Decision Making
How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
Work With Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Face-to-Face Discussions
How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Education
Majors based on the broader career Cargo and Freight Agents
Major
Interests
Conventional
96%
Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Enterprising
67%
Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Investigative
43%
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Realistic
39%
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Social
34%
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Artistic
19%
Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
Top 10 Work Styles
Attention to Detail
85%
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability
82%
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Stress Tolerance
82%
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Cooperation
80%
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Integrity
80%
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Achievement/Effort
76%
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
75%
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Analytical Thinking
75%
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Concern for Others
75%
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Initiative
75%
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Work Values
Support
67%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.
Relationships
58%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.
Working Conditions
55%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Independence
53%
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Achievement
48%
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition
43%
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
