Occupations · Office and Administrative Support

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.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 43-5011.01

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Negotiate shipping rates with freight carriers.
Arrange for special transport of sensitive cargoes, such as livestock, food, or medical supplies.
Inform clients of factors such as shipping options, timelines, transfers, or regulations affecting shipments.
Arrange for applicable duties, taxes, or paperwork for customs clearance.
Prepare shipping documentation, such as bills of lading, packing lists, dock receipts, or certificates of origin.
Complete customs paperwork.
Recommend or arrange appropriate merchandise packing methods, according to climate, terrain, weight, nature of goods, or costs.
Refer exporters to experts in areas such as trade financing, international marketing, government export requirements, international banking, or marine insurance.
Prepare invoices or cost quotations for freight transportation.
Select shipment routes, based on nature of goods shipped, transit times, or security needs.
Calculate weight, volume, or cost of goods to be moved.
Arrange delivery or storage of goods at destinations.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Reading Comprehension3.8

Monitoring3.5

Critical Thinking3.4

Active Listening3.4

Speaking3.2

Writing3.2

Active Learning3.1

Mathematics3.0

Learning Strategies2.8

Science1.0

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft Outlook●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●SAP software●AESDirectArcline ArcFreightCEDAS GatewayCargoWise ediEnterpriseEmail softwareIES EcellerateKewill Global Trade and LogisticsManufacturing resource planning MRP softwareOracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOneOrder management softwarePackage tracking softwareQuestaWeb TradeMaster QWRedBerry LogisticsRiege Software International ProcarsStar Tec Software Hercules ExportTMW Enterprise Transportation Management SystemsTailwind Management Systems TailwindWeb browser software

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

2 / 5Some preparation — a school diploma and a few months of on-the-job training.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Spend Time Standing−1.4 below average

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets−1.4 below average

Spend Time Sitting+1.3 above average

Health and Safety of Other Workers−1.2 below average

Exposed to Contaminants−1.2 below average

Conflict Situations+1.2 above average

Exposed to Hazardous Equipment−1.2 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2024-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Bachelor's Degree44%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)25%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)16%

Master's Degree14%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2024-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Conventional5.6

Enterprising3.9

Realistic3.5

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Coordination3.8

Service Orientation3.2

Social Perceptiveness3.2

Negotiation3.2

Time Management3.2

Complex Problem Solving3.1

Persuasion3.1

Systems Analysis3.0

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

TransportationAdministrativeCustomer and Personal ServiceAdministration and ManagementEnglish LanguageComputers and Electronics

Abilities it leans on

Written ComprehensionOral ExpressionOral ComprehensionInformation OrderingNear VisionProblem Sensitivity

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

Cargo AgentExport ClerkImport AgentTruck DriverFreight RouterAir Cargo AgentFreight AnalystRoute SpecialistAir Export ClerkAir Export AgentFreight ForwarderExport CoordinatorOcean Export ClerkFreight Specialist

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 3

+TMW Enterprise Transportation Management Systems+Microsoft PowerPoint+Order management software

No longer listed 1

−TMW Enterprise Transportation Software

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

Cargo AgentImport AgentTruck DriverExport ClerkFreight HeadExport FreightFreight RouterGSA CoordinatorFreight AnalystAir Cargo AgentOcean ForwarderAccount Manager

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
freight transport dispatcher	4323.6	exact
forwarding manager	3331.2	close
international forwarding operations coordinator	3331.3	broader
rail logistics coordinator	4323.12	broader

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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