Description
Research air freight rates and routings; book cargo space and coordinate door-to-door air shipments; ensure compliance with IATA, ICAO, TSA, FAA, and customs rules; and arrange ancillary services such as pickup, airport handling, storage, and final delivery.
- • Assist clients with air cargo insurance claims.
- • Select air shipment routings and flight schedules based on cargo type, transit time, and security needs.
- • Determine cost-effective air freight solutions, including express, deferred, and charter options.
- • Book cargo capacity with airlines and allocate space in ULDs.
- • Arrange pickup, airport handling, storage, and final delivery at destination.
- • Coordinate special handling for perishables, pharmaceuticals, live animals, dangerous goods, or AOG cargo.
- • Calculate chargeable weight, dimensional weight, volume, and air freight costs.
- • Prepare air cargo documents, including AWB/HAWB, packing lists, invoices, and certificates of origin.
- • Consolidate shipments into air consolidations to reduce cost.
- • Advise clients on service options, cut-off times, screening, and routing constraints.
- • Maintain records of cargo received, dispatched, and delivered.
- • Stay current on IATA, ICAO, TSA, FAA, and customs regulations for air cargo.
- • Track and trace shipments and update status milestones.
- • Negotiate rates, surcharges, and space agreements with airlines and handlers.
- • Obtain and manage cargo insurance coverage.
- • Arrange payment of freight, fuel, security, and insurance charges.
- • Prepare quotations and invoices for air transportation and ancillary services.
- • Recommend packaging, insulation, and temperature-control methods suitable for air transit.
- • Verify packaging, labeling, and markings comply with IATA DGR and destination rules.
- • Ensure cargo screening, Known Shipper validation, and chain-of-custody per TSA rules.
- • Manage e-AWB and e-freight documentation processes with airlines and handlers.
- • Coordinate ULD build-up and breakdown with ground handlers, ensuring weight and dimension accuracy.
- • Audit documents for compliance with customs, insurance, and airline requirements.
- • Prepare or coordinate customs entries, AES filings, and other export/import paperwork.
- • Liaise with customs brokers and airline cargo terminals to expedite clearance and recovery.
- • Provide airport, airline, and terminal information to shippers and consignees.
- • Send proactive status updates and exception notices to shippers, consignees, and insurers.
- • Refer clients to experts in trade finance, export compliance, international banking, or risk management.
- • Analyze routings and plan first- and last-mile transport to reduce emissions and fuel use.
- • Consider sustainable materials and right-sizing when advising on air packing.
- • Recommend lower-impact options, such as deferred services or sea-air solutions, when feasible.
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Supply Chain & Transportation
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
