Freight Broker Duties & Responsibilities
The role and function of a Freight Broker includes the following duties and responsibilities:
- Maintaining communication and control through all phases of the journey, including the production of management reports and statistical and unit cost analysis;
- Arranging courier and specialist hand-carry services;
- Working closely with customers, colleagues and third parties to ensure smooth operations to deadlines;
- Utilising e-commerce, internet technology and satellite systems to enable real-time tracking of goods;
- Arranging charters for large volume, out-of-gauge or project movements by air and sea;
- Acting as broker in customs negotiations worldwide to guide the freight efficiently through complex procedures;
- Dealing with special arrangements for transporting delicate cargoes, such as livestock, food and medical supplies;
- Obtaining, checking and preparing documentation to meet customs and insurance requirements, packing specifications, and compliance with overseas countries’ regulations and fiscal regimes;
- Offering consolidation services by sea, ensuring cost-effective and secure solutions to small shippers who have insufficient cargo to require their own dedicated units;
- Liaising with third parties to move goods (by road, rail, air or sea) in accordance with customer requirements;
- Investigating and planning the most appropriate route for a shipment, taking account of the perishable or hazardous nature of the goods, cost, transit time and security;
- Arranging appropriate packing, taking account of climate, terrain, weight, nature of goods and cost, and the Delivery and warehousing of goods at their final destination;
- Negotiating contracts, transportation and handling costs;
- Arranging insurance and assisting the client in the event of a claim;
- Offering tailored IT solutions and electronic data interchange (EDI) connections;
- Arranging payment of freight and other charges or collection of payment on behalf of the client;
- Arranging air transport for urgent and high-value freight and managing the risk door to door;
- Acting as a consultant in customs matters;
- Maintaining current knowledge of relevant legislation, political situations and other factors that could affect the movement of freight.
Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Freight Broker duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Freight Broker roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.
