What Do Freight and Cargo Inspectors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

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Job Description, Daily Responsibilities, and Work Life

Freight and Cargo Inspectors

Freight and Cargo Inspectors inspect the handling, storage, and stowing of freight and cargoes.

Salary
$81320
Becoming One
Hard
Education
Bachelor's degree
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality



Job Description

Job Description

Freight and Cargo Inspectors inspect the handling, storage, and stowing of freight and cargoes. They also prepare and submit reports after completion of freight shipments.

Other tasks include:

  • Inspect shipments to ensure that freight is securely braced and blocked.
  • Issue certificates of compliance for vessels without violations.
  • Record details about freight conditions, handling of freight, and any problems encountered.
  • Write certificates of admeasurement that list details such as designs, lengths, depths, and breadths of vessels, and methods of propulsion.
  • Calculate gross and net tonnage, hold capacities, volumes of stored fuel and water, cargo weights, and ship stability factors, using mathematical formulas.
  • Advise crews in techniques of stowing dangerous and heavy cargo.

We asked Freight and Cargo Inspectors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

Job satisfaction

61%

How meaningful is this job

47%


61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 47% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.



Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Freight and Cargo Inspectors write certificates of admeasurement that list details such as designs, lengths, depths, and breadths of vessels, and methods of propulsion. They prepare and submit reports after completion of freight shipments.

A typical day for a Freight and Cargo Inspector will also include:

  • Record details about freight conditions, handling of freight, and any problems encountered.
  • Calculate gross and net tonnage, hold capacities, volumes of stored fuel and water, cargo weights, and ship stability factors, using mathematical formulas.
  • Determine types of licenses and safety equipment required, and compute applicable fees such as tolls and wharfage fees.
  • Time rolls of ships, using stopwatches.
  • Issue certificates of compliance for vessels without violations.

We asked some Freight and Cargo Inspectors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job? 86% said yes
How important is it to work in a team in this job? 24% said very important
Do you have group discussions everyday in this job? 42% said yes
Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job? 44% said yes
Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job? 4% said yes
Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job? 55% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Freight and Cargo Inspectors also issue certificates of compliance for vessels without violations. They may also inspect shipments to ensure that freight is securely braced and blocked.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Freight and Cargo Inspectors Recommend remedial procedures to correct any violations found during inspections. They might also Prepare and submit reports after completion of freight shipments.

In addition, they Inspect loaded cargo, cargo lashed to decks or in storage facilities, and cargo handling devices to determine compliance with health and safety regulations and need for maintenance.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Observe loading of freight to ensure that crews comply with procedures.

To some Freight and Cargo Inspectors, it is also their responsibility to Record details about freight conditions, handling of freight, and any problems encountered.


Working life

Working hours

More than 40 hours per week

Working schedule

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Freight and Cargo Inspector, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Do Freight and Cargo Inspectors work in an office-style work environment?

Every day
36%


Once a month
29%


Do Freight and Cargo Inspectors work outdoors?

Once a week
56%


Every day
34%



Is this right for me

Best personality for this career

The Builders and The Organizers

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.



Learn more about Freight and Cargo Inspectors

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Related to Freight and Cargo Inspectors Job Description

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Additional resources

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes435011.htm


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