Cargo & 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.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- 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.
- Prepare manifests showing numbers of airplane passengers and baggage, mail, and freight weights, transmitting data to destinations.
- Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.
- Arrange insurance coverage for goods.
- Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights.
- Install straps, braces, and padding to loads to prevent shifting or damage during shipment.
- Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored.
- Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers.
- Direct or participate in cargo loading to ensure completeness of load and even distribution of weight.
- Attach address labels, identification codes, and shipping instructions to containers.
- Open cargo containers and unwrap contents, using steel cutters, crowbars, or other hand tools.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
89%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
89%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
87%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
84%
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
81%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
81%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
80%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
74%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
74%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
71%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
71%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
67%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
67%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
66%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
62%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
60%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
59%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
59%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
57%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
55%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
53%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
52%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
51%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
49%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
49%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
47%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
45%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
42%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
41%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
41%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
38%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
35%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
35%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
34%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
34%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
33%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
31%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
30%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
28%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
27%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
26%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
24%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
24%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
23%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
22%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
21%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
21%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
21%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
21%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
20%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
19%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
18%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
17%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
17%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
15%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
12%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
9%
Education
Bachelor's degree
Some college, no degree
Post-secondary certificate
Interests
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
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