Description
Coordinate domestic and international freight movements by optimizing rates, routes, and modes to meet cost, service, and security goals. Ensure compliance with trade, customs, and carrier regulations, and arrange value-added services such as storage, drayage, and inland transportation. Manage documentation, tracking, carrier bookings, and stakeholder communications across the shipment lifecycle.
- • Select optimal routes and modes based on commodity, transit time, cost, and security.
- • Determine efficient, cost-effective freight solutions from origin to destination.
- • Book capacity with ocean, air, rail, and truck carriers.
- • Arrange first-mile, last-mile, drayage, and storage services at origin and destination.
- • Coordinate special handling for sensitive cargo, such as perishables, hazardous materials, or medical supplies.
- • Assist shippers with freight claims and insurance reimbursements.
- • Calculate shipment weights, dimensions, chargeable weight, and estimated freight costs.
- • Prepare and audit shipping documents (bills of lading, packing lists, commercial invoices, certificates of origin).
- • Consolidate shipments to common destinations to reduce cost and improve utilization.
- • Advise customers on shipping options, lead times, transfers, and regulatory constraints.
- • Maintain accurate records of shipments dispatched, received, and exceptions.
- • Stay current on trade regulations, sanctions, and geopolitical events affecting freight.
- • Track and trace shipments; record locations and milestones in transportation systems.
- • Negotiate rates and service terms with carriers and logistics providers.
- • Arrange cargo insurance and verify coverage levels.
- • Process or arrange payment of freight, accessorials, duties, taxes, and insurance fees.
- • Prepare freight quotations and cost analyses for proposed moves.
- • Recommend and coordinate packaging solutions suited to route, climate, handling, and cost.
- • Verify export/import packaging, labeling, and marks meet regulatory and carrier requirements.
- • Audit documentation for compliance with customs, insurance, hazardous materials, and trade regulations.
- • Determine applicable duties and taxes; gather data for customs clearance.
- • Complete or transmit customs entry documentation and partner government agency filings.
- • Coordinate with customs brokers to expedite clearances and resolve holds.
- • Provide port, terminal, and carrier cut-off and availability information to stakeholders.
- • Issue proactive shipment status updates to shippers, consignees, and insurers.
- • Refer customers to experts in trade finance, export controls, international banking, or marine insurance.
- • Analyze routes and modes to reduce environmental impact and emissions.
- • Select or combine modes (rail, short sea, air, and road) to meet sustainability and service targets.
- • Incorporate sustainability considerations into packing and consolidation plans.
- • Recommend shipping strategies that balance cost, service, risk, and environmental impact.
- • Review carrier safety, compliance, and environmental performance to inform selection.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Interview time
Related Pathways
Supply Chain & Transportation
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
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
