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Career Details
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Career Details
43-5011.01 - Freight Forwarders
43-5011.01 - Freight Forwarders
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.
Key Facts

Bright Outlook
1
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
78,800
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
84,300
Estimate
Change in Employment
+5,500
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+7%
Estimate
Tasks

Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
- Select shipment routes, based on nature of goods shipped, transit times, or security needs.
- Determine efficient and cost-effective methods of moving goods from one location to another.
- Reserve necessary space on ships, aircraft, trains, or trucks.
- Arrange delivery or storage of goods at destinations.
- Arrange for special transport of sensitive cargoes, such as livestock, food, or medical supplies.
- Calculate weight, volume, or cost of goods to be moved.
- Prepare shipping documentation, such as bills of lading, packing lists, dock receipts, or certificates of origin.
- Consolidate loads with a common destination to reduce costs to individual shippers.
- Inform clients of factors such as shipping options, timelines, transfers, or regulations affecting shipments.
- Keep records of goods dispatched or received.
- Maintain current knowledge of relevant legislation, political situations, or other factors that could affect freight shipping.
- Monitor or record locations of goods in transit.
- Negotiate shipping rates with freight carriers.
- Obtain or arrange cargo insurance.
- Pay or arrange for payment of freight or insurance fees or other charges.
- Prepare invoices or cost quotations for freight transportation.
- Recommend or arrange appropriate merchandise packing methods, according to climate, terrain, weight, nature of goods, or costs.
- Verify proper packaging and labeling of exported goods.
- Verify adherence of documentation to customs, insurance, or regulatory requirements.
- Make arrangements with customs brokers to facilitate the passage of goods through customs.
- Provide detailed port information to importers or exporters.
- Provide shipment status notification to exporters, consignees, or insurers.
Generic
- Analyze shipping routes to determine how to minimize environmental impact.
- Arrange for transport, using a variety of modes, such as rail, short sea shipping, air, or roadways, to minimize carbon emissions or other environmental impacts.
- Consider environmental sustainability factors when determining merchandise packing methods.
- Recommend shipping solutions to minimize cost or environmental impacts.
- Review the environmental records of freight carriers to inform shipping decisions.
Supplemental
- Assist clients in obtaining insurance reimbursements.
- Arrange for applicable duties, taxes, or paperwork for customs clearance.
- Complete customs paperwork.
- Refer exporters to experts in areas such as trade financing, international marketing, government export requirements, international banking, or marine insurance.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge

Knowledge
The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools

Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology

Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications

Licensing

Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs

Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.
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