Freight Forwarders Occupation Details

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Freight Forwarders

The main tasks and work activities of Freight Forwarders are to coordinate operational activities, negotiate financial arrangements, recommend packing or shipping methods, analyze shipping information to make routing decisions. In general, for the Freight Forwarders, speaking, active Listening, monitoring, critical Thinking and other 15 skills are required.

Freight Forwarders Job Description
Education	These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related 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.
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.
Example	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.

The following chart shows the education/training levels for Freight Forwarders jobs. 44.70% of Freight Forwarders have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 1.30% of Freight Forwarders have Post-Secondary Certificate.

Less than a High School Diploma

0.00%

High School Diploma (or the equivalent)

44.70%

Post-Secondary Certificate

1.30%

Some College Courses

20.94%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

12.26%

Bachelor's Degree and Above

20.80%

Tasks and Work Activities of Freight Forwarders

Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies.
Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.
Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents.
Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights.
Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods.
Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary.
Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers.
Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshaling areas and help load and unload goods safely.
Inspect and count items received and check them against invoices or other documents, recording shortages and rejecting damaged goods.
Install straps, braces, and padding to loads to prevent shifting or damage during shipment.
Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored.
Coordinate and supervise activities of workers engaged in packing and shipping merchandise.
Arrange insurance coverage for goods.
Direct or participate in cargo loading to ensure completeness of load and even distribution of weight.
Open cargo containers and unwrap contents, using steel cutters, crowbars, or other hand tools.
Attach address labels, identification codes, and shipping instructions to containers.
Route received goods to first available flight or to appropriate storage areas or departments, using forklifts, hand trucks, or other equipment.
Maintain a supply of packing materials.
Assemble containers and crates used to transport items, such as machines or vehicles.
Track delivery progress of shipments.

Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Processing InformationCompiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
Interacting With ComputersUsing computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
Communicating with Persons Outside OrganizationCommunicating 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.
Analyzing Data or InformationIdentifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Coordinate operational activities.
Negotiate financial arrangements.
Recommend packing or shipping methods.
Analyze shipping information to make routing decisions.
Calculate shipping costs.
Enter information into databases or software programs.
Track goods or materials.
Package objects for shipping.
Unload materials or equipment.
Load materials or equipment.
Inspect shipments to ensure correct order fulfillment.
Inspect items for damage or defects.
Record shipping information.
Supervise clerical or administrative personnel.
Arrange insurance coverage.
Manage clerical or administrative activities.
Attach identification information to products, items or containers.
Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
Assist individuals with paperwork.
Prepare documentation for contracts, transactions, or regulatory compliance.

Skills and Abilities for Freight Forwarders

SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Active ListeningGiving 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.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Active LearningUnderstanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Complex Problem SolvingIdentifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Systems EvaluationIdentifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Systems AnalysisDetermining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
PersuasionPersuading others to change their minds or behavior.
WritingCommunicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
MathematicsUsing mathematics to solve problems.
NegotiationBringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Mathematical ReasoningThe ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Problem SensitivityThe 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.
Number FacilityThe ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Information OrderingThe 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).
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Written ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.

Pry barse.g. Crow bars
Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
Ground power units for aircrafte.g. Electrical power unit
Forkliftse.g. Forklifts
Hammerse.g. Hammers
Hand trucks or accessoriese.g. Hand trucks
Laser fax machinee.g. Laser facsimile machines
Laser printerse.g. Laser printers
Air conditionerse.g. Mobile air-conditioning units
Radio frequency scannerse.g. Radio frequency identification RFID scanners
Staple gunse.g. Staple guns
Metal cutterse.g. Steel cutters
Cargo truckse.g. Straight trucks
Wrapping machinerye.g. Strapping machines
Aircraft pushback or tow tractorse.g. Tow tractors
Two way radiose.g. Two way radios
Wheel chockse.g. Wheel chocks
Desktop computerse.g. Desktop computers
Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
Laser fax machinee.g. Laser facsimile machines

TransportationKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge 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.
English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
GeographyKnowledge 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.
Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge 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 GovernmentKnowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
ClericalKnowledge 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.
Sales and MarketingKnowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Economics and AccountingKnowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Freight Forwarders Occupation Detailed Description

Tasks and Work Activities of Freight Forwarders

Skills and Abilities for Freight Forwarders