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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.
Other titles employers use
Air Export Specialist · Drop Shipment Clerk · Freight Broker · Intermodal Dispatcher · International Coordinator · Load Planner · Logistics Coordinator · Logistics Service Representative
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies.
- Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents.
- Track delivery progress of shipments.
- Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.
- Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights.
- Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, persuading and practical work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Negotiation
- Time Management
Subjects to know
- Transportation
- Geography
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Administration and Management
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Near Vision
- Written Expression
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.1 | Shared rooms, but not shoulder to shoulder |
| On your feet | 2.2 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.6 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.2 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a high school diploma. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 37%
- A four-year degree 31%
- A two-year degree 18%
- High school or less 14%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Presentation software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Mobile location based services software
- Procurement software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 18,300
- Job openings each year
- 1,960
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 13.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 18,300 | 1,960 | 13.7% |
| Texas | 12,690 | 1,410 | 27.9% |
| Florida | 10,350 | 1,100 | 13.2% |
| Illinois | 8,500 | 890 | 8.7% |
| New York | 7,170 | 0 | — |
| New Jersey | 3,900 | 420 | 15.4% |
| Kentucky | 3,220 | 350 | 16.7% |
| Arizona | 3,140 | 340 | 16.7% |
| North Carolina | 3,040 | 330 | 16.5% |
| Georgia | 3,000 | 320 | 15.4% |
| Washington | 2,880 | 350 | 17.1% |
| Missouri | 2,870 | 310 | 15.3% |
| Minnesota | 2,810 | 300 | 12.9% |
| Ohio | 2,760 | 290 | 7.0% |
| South Carolina | 2,670 | 280 | 7.2% |
| Michigan | 2,390 | 250 | 8.6% |
| Pennsylvania | 1,800 | 190 | 6.5% |
| Virginia | 1,710 | 180 | 13.2% |
| Indiana | 1,670 | 180 | 11.3% |
| Tennessee | 1,430 | 140 | — |
| Nevada | 1,250 | 130 | 12.6% |
| Oregon | 1,240 | 130 | 15.9% |
| Arkansas | 1,200 | 130 | 13.2% |
| Maryland | 1,180 | 130 | 18.0% |
| Wisconsin | 950 | 100 | 9.2% |
| Colorado | 870 | 100 | 33.8% |
| Iowa | 830 | 90 | 18.6% |
| Kansas | 780 | 80 | 18.2% |
| Utah | 760 | 90 | 35.7% |
| Puerto Rico | 710 | 80 | 12.7% |
| Alaska | 700 | 70 | 11.1% |
| Alabama | 630 | 70 | 5.0% |
| Idaho | 530 | 60 | 29.3% |
| Oklahoma | 480 | 50 | 9.1% |
| Mississippi | 470 | 50 | 11.9% |
| Connecticut | 460 | 50 | 12.2% |
| Montana | 370 | 40 | 5.7% |
| Louisiana | 360 | 40 | 5.9% |
| Maine | 290 | 30 | −3.3% |
| Massachusetts | 290 | 30 | 20.8% |
| South Dakota | 280 | 30 | 12.0% |
| New Hampshire | 250 | 30 | 13.6% |
| Nebraska | 230 | 20 | 9.5% |
| North Dakota | 210 | 20 | 16.7% |
| West Virginia | 170 | 20 | −10.5% |
| Rhode Island | 160 | 20 | 23.1% |
| Guam | 150 | 10 | — |
| New Mexico | 150 | 20 | 15.4% |
| Virgin Islands | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Delaware | 60 | 10 | −14.3% |
| Vermont | 40 | 0 | — |
| Wyoming | 40 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Valdosta State University
- Degrees each year
- 22
- Admit rate
- 83%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
Program entryOpen major
Open college FLThe University of Tampa
- Degrees each year
- 16
- Admit rate
- 41%
- Annual cost after aid
- $32,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open college MONorthwest Missouri State University
- Degrees each year
- 2
- Admit rate
- 86%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Program entryApply after enrollment
Open collegeCompare every college offering business operations support and assistant services