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Cargo and Freight Agents

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$49,900	11100	9.7%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$49,900

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

11100

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

9.7%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Detailed Work Activities

Track goods or materials.
Provide notifications to customers or patrons.
Verify shipping documentation.
Maintain operational records.
Coordinate shipping activities with external parties.
Negotiate financial arrangements.
Coordinate operational activities.
Recommend packing or shipping methods.
Analyze shipping information to make routing decisions.
Calculate shipping costs.
Enter information into databases or software programs.
Track goods or materials.
Package objects for shipping.
Load materials or equipment.
Unload materials or equipment.
Inspect items for damage or defects.
Inspect shipments to ensure correct order fulfillment.
Package objects for shipping.
Record shipping information.
Supervise clerical or administrative personnel.
Arrange insurance coverage.
Load materials or equipment.
Manage clerical or administrative activities.
Load materials or equipment.
Attach identification information to products, items or containers.
Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products.
Assemble wood products.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored.
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.
Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery.
Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary.
Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods.
Prepare manifests showing numbers of airplane passengers and baggage, mail, and freight weights, transmitting data to destinations.
Arrange insurance coverage for goods.
Install straps, braces, and padding to loads to prevent shifting or damage during shipment.
Check import or export documentation to determine cargo contents and use tariff coding system to classify goods according to fee or tariff group.
Coordinate and supervise activities of workers engaged in packing and shipping merchandise.
Contact vendors or claims adjustment departments to resolve shipment problems or contact service depots to arrange for repairs.
Inspect and count items received and check them against invoices or other documents, recording shortages and rejecting damaged goods.
Route received goods to first available flight or to appropriate storage areas or departments, using forklifts, hand trucks, or other equipment.
Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshaling areas and help load and unload goods safely.
Assemble containers and crates used to transport items, such as machines or vehicles.
Maintain a supply of packing materials.
Direct or participate in cargo loading to ensure completeness of load and even distribution of weight.
Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers.
Attach address labels, identification codes, and shipping instructions to containers.
Open cargo containers and unwrap contents, using steel cutters, crowbars, or other hand tools.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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