What You'll Do

  • 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.
  • Assist clients in obtaining insurance reimbursements.
  • 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.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 3.75/5
Coordination 3.75/5
Monitoring 3.5/5
Active Listening 3.38/5
Critical Thinking 3.38/5
Writing 3.25/5
Speaking 3.25/5
Social Perceptiveness 3.25/5
Negotiation 3.25/5
Service Orientation 3.25/5
Time Management 3.25/5
Active Learning 3.12/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Leader: Taking charge and moving ideas forward motivates you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.

Common styles

Dependability, Attention to Detail, Cautiousness, Integrity, Perseverance

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 3.88/5
Written Comprehension 3.88/5
Oral Expression 3.88/5
Information Ordering 3.62/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.5/5
Near Vision 3.5/5
Written Expression 3.38/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.38/5

Technologies & Tools

AESDirect Arcline ArcFreight CargoWise ediEnterprise CEDAS Gateway Email software IES Ecellerate Kewill Global Trade and Logistics Manufacturing resource planning MRP software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Word Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Order management software Package tracking software QuestaWeb TradeMaster QW RedBerry Logistics Riege Software International Procars SAP software

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.77/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.67/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.43/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.4/5)
  • Perseverance (High importance: 4.18/5)

Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?

Take Free 15-Min Assessment →

How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

Similar Careers to Explore

Government Property Inspectors and Investigators

99.5% similar profile

Cost Estimators

99.4% similar profile

Appraisers of Personal and Business Property

99.3% similar profile

Customs and Border Protection Officers

99.3% similar profile

Gambling Surveillance Officers and Gambling Investigators

99.2% similar profile

Retail Loss Prevention Specialists

99.2% similar profile

Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products

99.1% similar profile

Cargo and Freight Agents

98.9% similar profile

Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Air Cargo Agent Air Export Agent Air Export Clerk Air Export Coordinator Air Freight Forwarder Cargo Agent Domestic Freight Forwarder Export Clerk Export Coordinator Export Freight Clerk Export Freight Forwarder Export Freight Manager Export Freight Planner Export Freight Specialist Freight Analyst Freight Flow Manager Freight Forwarder Freight Operations Supervisor Freight Router Freight Specialist GSA Coordinator (General Services Administration Coordinator) Import Agent Import Export Clerk Import Freight Forwarder International Freight Forwarder Ocean Export Clerk Ocean Export Specialist Ocean Freight Customer Relations Specialist Ocean Freight Forwarder Ocean Freight Manager Ocean Transportation Intermediary Relocation Coordinator Route Specialist Transportation Clerk Transportation Technician (Transportation Tech) Truck Driver

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.