Cargo and freight agents arrange for and track incoming and outgoing shipments in airline, train, or trucking terminals or on shipping docks. They expedite shipments by determining the route that shipments will take and by preparing all necessary documents. Agents take orders from customers and arrange for the pickup of freight or cargo and its delivery to loading platforms. Cargo and freight agents may keep records of the cargo, including its amount, type, weight, dimensions, destination, and time of shipment. They keep a tally of missing items and record the condition of damaged items.
Cargo and freight agents arrange cargo according to its destination. They also determine any shipping rates and other charges that usually apply to freight. For imported or exported freight, they verify that the proper customs paperwork is in order. Cargo and freight agents often track shipments electronically, using bar codes, and answer customers' questions about the status of their shipments.
Work environment. Cargo and freight agents work in a wide variety of businesses, institutions, and industries. Some work in warehouses, stockrooms, or shipping and receiving rooms that may not be temperature controlled. Others may spend time in cold storage rooms or outside on loading platforms, where they are exposed to the weather.
Most jobs for cargo and freight agents involve frequent standing, bending, walking, and stretching. Some lifting and carrying of small items may be involved. Although automated devices have lessened the physical demands of this occupation, not every employer has these devices. The work still can be strenuous, even though mechanical material-handling equipment is used to move heavy items.
The typical workweek is Monday through Friday. However, evening and weekend hours are common in jobs involving large shipments.
| 1. | Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies. |
| 2. | Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of the arrival of freight or baggage, and arrange for delivery. |
| 3. | Advise clients on transportation and payment methods. |
| 4. | Prepare manifests showing baggage, mail, and freight weights, and number of passengers on airplanes, and transmit data to destinations. |
| 5. | Determine method of shipment, and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents. |
| 6. | Check import/export documentation to determine cargo contents, and classify goods into different fee or tariff groups, using a tariff coding system. |
| 7. | Estimate freight or postal rates, and record shipment costs and weights. |
| 8. | Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by using a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods. |
| 9. | Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary. |
| 10. | Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers. |
| 11. | Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshalling areas, and help load and unload goods safely. |
| 12. | Inspect and count items received and check them against invoices or other documents, recording shortages and rejecting damaged goods. |
| 13. | Install straps, braces, and padding to loads in order to prevent shifting or damage during shipment. |
| 14. | Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored. |
| 15. | Coordinate and supervise activities of workers engaged in packing and shipping merchandise. |
| 16. | Arrange insurance coverage for goods. |
| 17. | Direct or participate in cargo loading in order to ensure completeness of load and even distribution of weight. |
| 18. | Open cargo containers and unwrap contents, using steel cutters, crowbars, or other hand tools. |
| 19. | Attach address labels, identification codes, and shipping instructions to containers. |
| 20. | Contact vendors and/or claims adjustment departments in order to resolve problems with shipments, or contact service depots to arrange for repairs. |
| 21. | Route received goods to first available flight or to appropriate storage areas or departments, using forklifts, handtrucks, or other equipment. |
| 22. | Maintain a supply of packing materials. |
| 23. | Assemble containers and crates used to transport items such as machines or vehicles. |
| 24. | Obtain flight numbers, airplane numbers, and names of crew members from dispatchers, and record data on airplane flight papers. |
| 25. | Send samples of merchandise to quality control units for inspection. |
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