Cargo and Freight Agents
Expedite and route movement of incoming and outgoing cargo and freight shipments in airline, train, and trucking terminals and shipping docks. Take orders from customers and arrange pickup of freight and cargo for delivery to loading platform. Prepare and examine bills of lading to determine shipping charges and tariffs.
Also known as: Air Export Coordinator, Air Export Specialist, Air Freight Coordinator, Cargo Agent, Cargo Customer Service Agent (Cargo CS Agent), Cargo Router, Cargo Warehouse Agent, Container Coordinator, ...
Annual Salary
Median annual wage (May 2024)
Job Outlook
Projected growth, 2024–2034 (Much faster than average)
What You'd Do
- Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies.
- Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.
- Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents.
- Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights.
- Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods.
- Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary.
- Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored.
- Track delivery progress of shipments.
- Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery.
- Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers.
- Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshaling areas and help load and unload goods safely.
- Inspect and count items received and check them against invoices or other documents, recording shortages and rejecting damaged goods.
- Install straps, braces, and padding to loads to prevent shifting or damage during shipment.
- Coordinate and supervise activities of workers engaged in packing and shipping merchandise.
- Arrange insurance coverage for goods.
- Direct or participate in cargo loading to ensure completeness of load and even distribution of weight.
- Open cargo containers and unwrap contents, using steel cutters, crowbars, or other hand tools.
- Attach address labels, identification codes, and shipping instructions to containers.
- Route received goods to first available flight or to appropriate storage areas or departments, using forklifts, hand trucks, or other equipment.
- Maintain a supply of packing materials.
Top Skills
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Knowledge Areas
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation by education level
Technology & Tools
Software and tools commonly used in this role
In-Demand Technologies
Other Tools
Work Styles
Personality traits and work styles important for this career
Key Abilities
Cognitive, physical, and sensory abilities important for this role
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Activities
General types of job behaviors occurring on this job
Importance scale: 1 (low) – 5 (high)
Work Environment
Physical and social factors that influence the nature of work
Related Careers
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Salary data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024. Outlook data: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.