Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz
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Freight Forwarders
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.
Table of contents
What they do
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.
- Calculate weight, volume, or cost of goods to be moved.
- 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.
Typical day
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.
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.
Freedom to make decisions
How much decision making freedom does this job offer?
Structured vs unstructured work
To what extent is this job structured for you versus allowing you to determine your own tasks, priorities, and goals?
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What is the job like
Job satisfaction
Is this job meaningful
66% said they were satisfied with their job and 48% said they found their job meaningful.
I have been in the International/Domestic Freight Forwarding industry for 20 years.
- Monitoring shipments to ensure they arrive at their destination.
- Reply to customer requests, quote requests. Advise Customers of issues/delays/potential problems.
- Check in with Sales Team.
- Process and move shipments.
- Much of what we do is problem solving. Many shipments run into issues that we must spend time and resources to address and resolve. Many times the customer does not know anything had happened, and this would be the preference.
Cons
- Long hours, and what can seem like endless work.
- Very competitive industry.
Pros
- Working with all different countries and cultures from around the world. Making and having friends/colleagues in other countries. Traveling to other countries for work.
- There are many different departments you can work in. It can be an exciting and rewarding career.
Pros
Suitable for people who like to follow routines.
Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.
Cons
Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.
Salary is below average.
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).
How much do they make
Average salary
Average hourly wage
Entry-level Freight Forwarders with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $27,780 to $34,400 per year or $13 to $17 per hour.
| Salary by experience | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Highest (Top 10%) | $69,890 | $34 |
| Senior (Top 25%) | $56,060 | $27 |
| Median | $43,770 | $21 |
| Junior (Bottom 25%) | $34,400 | $17 |
| No experience (Bottom 10%) | $27,780 | $13 |
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What is the work day like
Working hours
Working schedule
Work with group or team
How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
Deal with external customers
How important is it to work with customers in this job?
Manage or lead others
How important is it to coordinate or lead others in completing work activities in this job?
How often do you use email in this job?
Telephone
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Group discussions
How often do you have group discussions in this job?
Public speaking
How often does this job require you to do public speaking?
Frequency of conflict situations
How often are there conflict situations in this job?
Dealing with angry people
How often do you have to deal with angry, unpleasant, or discourteous individuals in this job?
Dealing with physically aggressive people
How often do you have to deal with physically aggressive people in this job?
Level of competition
How much competitive pressure is in this job?
Repetition in this job
How important is repeating the same type of task over and over in this job?
Impact of decisions on co-workers or company results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the reputation or financial resources of your employer?
Frequency of decision making
How frequently do you have to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the reputation of the company?
Responsibility for others’ health and safety
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
Responsibility for outcomes and results
How much responsibility is there for the work outcomes and results of other workers?
What is the work environment like
Office-style environment
Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition
Warehouse-style environment
Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse
Outdoors
Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions
Outdoors – Under Cover
Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)
How to become one
Difficulty to become one
Required level of education
What level of education do you need to perform the job?
Relevant work experience
How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?
On The Job Training
How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?
Should you become one
Best personality type for this career
People with this personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.
People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.
People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.
People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.
People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tend 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.
Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.
Work Values
Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?
You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.
You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.
You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.
You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.
You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.
You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.
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