What Do Freight Forwarders Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

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. They also calculate weight, volume, or cost of goods to be moved.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• Provide shipment status notification to exporters, consignees, or insurers.
• Complete customs paperwork.
• Verify proper packaging and labeling of exported goods.
• Prepare invoices or cost quotations for freight transportation.

We asked Freight Forwarders how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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66% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 48% 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 Forwarders keep records of goods dispatched or received. They prepare invoices or cost quotations for freight transportation.

A typical day for a Freight Forwarder will also include:

• 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.
• Provide shipment status notification to exporters, consignees, or insurers.
• Monitor or record locations of goods in transit.

We asked some Freight Forwarders 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?	100% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	68% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	62% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	36% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	30% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	76% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Freight Forwarders also complete customs paperwork. They may also obtain or arrange cargo insurance.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Freight Forwarders Maintain current knowledge of relevant legislation, political situations, or other factors that could affect freight shipping. They might also Arrange for special transport of sensitive cargoes, such as livestock, food, or medical supplies.

In addition, they Verify proper packaging and labeling of exported goods.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Make arrangements with customs brokers to facilitate the passage of goods through customs.

To some Freight Forwarders, it is also their responsibility to Provide detailed port information to importers or exporters.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

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

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas..

They also like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

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