Freight Forwarder Job Description

Freight Forwarder Duties and Responsibilities

Freight Forwarder job description should contain a variety of functions and roles including:

• 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;
• 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.
• Offering consolidation services by air, sea and road, 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;
• 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;
• Obtaining, checking and preparing documentation to meet customs and insurance requirements, packing specifications, and compliance with overseas countries’ regulations and fiscal regimes;
• Acting as broker in customs negotiations worldwide to guide the freight efficiently through complex procedures;
• Arranging payment of freight and other charges or collection of payment on behalf of the client;
• Utilising e-commerce, internet technology and satellite systems to enable real-time tracking of goods;
• Dealing with special arrangements for transporting delicate cargoes, such as livestock, food and medical supplies;
• Arranging courier and specialist hand-carry services;
• Arranging insurance and assisting the client in the event of a claim;
• Working closely with customers, colleagues and third parties to ensure smooth operations to deadlines;
• Maintaining communication and control through all phases of the journey, including the production of management reports and statistical and unit cost analysis;
• Arranging air transport for urgent and high-value freight and managing the risk door to door;
• Arranging charters for large volume, out-of-gauge or project movements by air and sea;
• Offering tailored IT solutions and electronic data interchange (EDI) connections;

Freight Forwarder Requirements / Skills / Qualifications

Freight Forwarder job description should include these common skills and qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in supply chain, transport or business-related discipline
• x years of experience in freight forwarding
• Strong organizational skills
• Attention to detail
• The ability to communicate effectively and clearly
• Teamwork and an aptitude for coordinating your work with others
• Knowledge and understanding of geography and cultural differences
• The ability to detect and solve problems.

As a hiring manager, recruiting an ideal Freight Forwarder starts with crafting a good job description. Use this Freight Forwarder job description template to save yourself time and help you attract the most qualified candidates. Feel free to revise it to meet your specific needs.

Job seekers interviewing for the role of a Freight Forwarder may also reference it in preparation for the interview.