All About Freight Forwarders
Occupation Description 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.
Daily Life Of a Freight Forwarder
- 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.
- Recommend shipping solutions to minimize cost or environmental impacts.
- Prepare shipping documentation, such as including bills of lading, packing lists, dock receipts, or certificates of origin.
- Consolidate loads with a common destination to reduce costs to individual shippers.
- Verify adherence of documentation to customs, insurance, or regulatory requirements.
- Refer exporters to experts in areas such as trade financing, international marketing, government export requirements, international banking, or marine insurance.
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What a Freight Forwarder Should Know
These are the skills Freight Forwarders say are the most useful in their careers:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Types of Freight Forwarder Jobs
- Export Coordinator
- Freight Product Head
- Freight Head
- International Freight Forwarder
- Air Cargo Agent
Are There Job Opportunities for Freight Forwarders?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 89,800 jobs in the United States for Freight Forwarder. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 10.4% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 9,300 new jobs for Freight Forwarder by 2026. There will be an estimated 8,600 positions for Freight Forwarder per year.
The states with the most job growth for Freight Forwarder are Utah, Georgia, and New Jersey. Watch out if you plan on working in Ohio, Tennessee, or Oklahoma. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Freight Forwarder
The average yearly salary of a Freight Forwarder ranges between $25,970 and $66,920.
Freight Forwarders who work in New Jersey, South Dakota, or New Hampshire, make the highest salaries.
How much do Freight Forwarders make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $51,330 |
| Alaska | $39,620 |
| Arizona | $43,420 |
| Arkansas | $53,310 |
| California | $45,830 |
| Colorado | $47,350 |
| Delaware | $42,790 |
| Florida | $40,810 |
| Georgia | $44,560 |
| Hawaii | $39,920 |
| Idaho | $49,710 |
| Illinois | $44,760 |
| Indiana | $43,210 |
| Iowa | $42,470 |
| Kansas | $45,880 |
| Kentucky | $42,390 |
| Louisiana | $42,950 |
| Maine | $49,190 |
| Maryland | $42,820 |
| Massachusetts | $44,840 |
| Michigan | $45,460 |
| Minnesota | $50,120 |
| Mississippi | $43,340 |
| Missouri | $47,000 |
| Montana | $46,230 |
| Nebraska | $52,610 |
| Nevada | $41,400 |
| New Hampshire | $50,220 |
| New Jersey | $56,470 |
| New Mexico | $49,740 |
| New York | $45,310 |
| North Carolina | $45,060 |
| North Dakota | $41,100 |
| Ohio | $43,890 |
| Oklahoma | $46,040 |
| Oregon | $53,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,150 |
| South Carolina | $44,170 |
| South Dakota | $52,230 |
| Tennessee | $43,530 |
| Texas | $45,890 |
| Utah | $42,470 |
| Vermont | $38,040 |
| Virginia | $48,660 |
| Washington | $54,600 |
| West Virginia | $37,750 |
| Wisconsin | $39,710 |
| Wyoming | $44,340 |
What Tools do Freight Forwarders Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Freight Forwarders may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Email software
- SAP
- Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne
- Manufacturing resource planning MRP software
How to Become a Freight Forwarder
Individuals working as a Freight Forwarder have obtained the following education levels:
What work experience do I need to become a Freight Forwarder?
Who Employs Freight Forwarders?
The table below shows the approximate number of Freight Forwarders employed by various industries.
References:
Image Credit: Jace Armstrong via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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