Like any field, the freight forwarding industry has jobs that require qualified personnel to ensure the smooth running of the business. To better manage the industry, jobs are divided into different categories and titles. This is to ensure that division of labor and specialization is achieved so that each individual is assigned what he knows best. It’s also the only way that tasks can be divided up and taken to different people to handle them. Different jobs require different qualifications and experiences just like any other field. Jobs can be contractual or permanent. Examples of freight forwarding jobs include the following;
First of all, there are the freight forwarders who carry out the actual transport of goods from one place to another. A company may decide to do this on its own or decide to contract out this work to another transportation service provider. Most cargo transportation companies contract this service to specialized people and companies that make sure that the merchandise is delivered as required. They do this by signing a contract that stipulates their operating terms and how payments are calculated and made. This job takes up the lion’s share of the freight forwarding industry.
Import coordinators are also part of freight forwarding jobs. They are people or groups of people, preferably companies that specialize in handling imports from different countries. They make sure that goods are received and stored safely while they await clearance and shipment. These people or companies are normally responsible in case the goods disappear or are damaged during the importation process. Therefore, they plan the receipt of goods from other countries and ensure that all import requirements are met so as not to conflict with the law or other established regulations.
Logistics agents also form an important group in freight transport jobs. These are the people who know all the customs processes and requirements. Since most of the cargo that is transported is not accompanied by the consignee, it is necessary to have logistics personnel to organize the clearance and shipment of the goods once they arrive at customs. Without such personnel, a shipment is forced to linger at the port for longer periods waiting to be cleared before it can be picked up by the owner. This will cause unnecessary delays and even interfere with the status of the goods, especially if the goods are perishable.
Customer service representatives also form an important wing of freight forwarding jobs. These are the people who deal with customer inquiries and complaints. This can be related to the status of different shipments, the delay in the delivery of a particular shipment, when a certain shipment is expected to arrive, among others. They represent the face of the company and must have full knowledge and understanding of the transport company’s processes and services. Lack of knowledge of the carrier’s processes and services will mean that customer service representatives will be unable to answer customer questions on certain topics.