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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
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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
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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
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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.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 88%
    Knowledge 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.
 Transportation
  • 87%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
 English Language
  • 82%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Clerical
  • 71%
    Knowledge 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.
 Geography
  • 71%
    Knowledge 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.
 Administration and Management
  • 71%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Mathematics
  • 71%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 70%
    Knowledge 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 Government
  • 65%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 62%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
 Production and Processing
  • 59%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 58%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Sales and Marketing
  • 58%
    Knowledge 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.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 55%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Education and Training
  • 53%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Telecommunications
  • 51%
    Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Duplicating machines
  • Laser facsimile machines
 Personal communication devices
  • Multi-line telephone systems
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Data management and query software
  • AESDirect
 Business function specific software
  • Arcline ArcFreight
  • CargoWise ediEnterprise
  • CEDAS Gateway
  • Kewill Global Trade and Logistics
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
  • RedBerry Logistics
  • Riege Software International Procars
  • Star Tec Software Hercules Export
  • Tailwind Management Systems Tailwind
  • TMW Enterprise Transportation Management Systems
 Information exchange software
  • Email software
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Industry specific software
  • IES Ecellerate
  • Package tracking software
  • QuestaWeb TradeMaster QW
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Manufacturing resource planning MRP softwareHOT
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOneHOT
  • SAPHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Word processing software
 Network applications software
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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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
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Bridgewater College
 Programs
Eastern Shore Community College
 Programs
Paul D. Camp Community College
 Programs
Randolph-Macon College
 Programs
Southside Virginia Community College
 Programs
Tidewater Community College
 Programs
Wytheville Community College
 Programs