Cargo agent vs freight agent

The differences between cargo agents and freight agents can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a cargo agent has an average salary of $35,411, which is higher than the $34,524 average annual salary of a freight agent.

The top three skills for a cargo agent include security procedures, data entry and customer service. The most important skills for a freight agent are logistics, DOT, and data entry.

Cargo agent vs freight agent overview

	Cargo Agent	Freight Agent
Yearly salary	$35,411	$34,524
Hourly rate	$17.02	$16.60
Growth rate	1%	-3%
Number of jobs	27,874	32,620
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Average age	43	43
Years of experience	-	-

What does a cargo agent do?

A cargo agent is primarily in charge of facilitating cargo shipments, ensuring the cargo gets to their destination timely and accurately. They are responsible for preparing and processing the necessary documents and fees, routing shipments and arranging the shipping methods, weighing the parcels, and coordinating the logistics and transportation details. They also negotiate postal and shipping rates, prepare invoices, and maintain records of all transactions and necessary information. Moreover, a cargo agent communicates with clients to answer inquiries, notify them of any delays, and provide updates regularly.

What does a freight agent do?

Freight agents are independent contractors who help shippers to connect with carriers willing to haul the freight. They work with a freight broker and play a role in the movement of freight, and have to find available carriers to ship a client's freight. Being a freight agent no longer requires a license, does not require a freight broker bond, and does not assume the risk of the client's creditworthiness in terms of invoice collections. The agents use load boards to find a carrier. This provides them with a marketplace to post their client's freight for potential carriers to agree to haul.

Cargo agent vs freight agent salary

Cargo agents and freight agents have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Cargo Agent	Freight Agent
Average salary	$35,411	$34,524
Salary range	Between $27,000 And $45,000	Between $24,000 And $49,000
Highest paying City	San Diego, CA	New York, NY
Highest paying state	California	New York
Best paying company	United Service Technologies	TPI
Best paying industry	Transportation	Transportation

Differences between cargo agent and freight agent education

There are a few differences between a cargo agent and a freight agent in terms of educational background:

	Cargo Agent	Freight Agent
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	Bachelor's Degree, 37%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Cargo agent vs freight agent demographics

Here are the differences between cargo agents' and freight agents' demographics:

	Cargo Agent	Freight Agent
Average age	43	43
Gender ratio	Male, 68.6% Female, 31.4%	Male, 61.9% Female, 38.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 6.0% Unknown, 7.1% Hispanic or Latino, 27.5% Asian, 14.1% White, 44.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 6.2% Unknown, 7.4% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 14.2% White, 51.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
LGBT Percentage	11%	11%

Differences between cargo agent and freight agent duties and responsibilities

Cargo agent example responsibilities.

Manage and carry out specific program and regulatory activities such as enforcing hazmat and weight restrictions.
Maintain compliance issues relate to TSA, FAA, and cargo operations for several major airlines.
Handle various amounts of freight including both FTL, LTL, dry, refrigerate, flatb, and intermodal.
Practice safe conscious behaviors in all operational processes and procedures by adhering to strict TSA, IATA, and DCOM regulations.
Set up containers for USPS mail.
Handle accounts that require FDA clearance.

Show more

Freight agent example responsibilities.

Manage and carry out specific program and regulatory activities such as enforcing hazmat and weight restrictions.
Prepare, issue and submit documentation to ensure proper exportation of client FCL and LCL shipments.
Solicit votes for annual and special shareholders meetings as well as for proxy fights.
Work with AS400 data system to enter nd update shipment details, carrier status and tracking and tracing.
Trace key transaction information such as HBL, commercial invoice and other require documents to determine if record is available.
Provide guidance and clarification on proxy materials, voting methods and specific proposals.

Show more

Cargo agent vs freight agent skills

Common cargo agent skills

Security Procedures, 18%
Data Entry, 17%
Customer Service, 8%
Freight Shipments, 7%
Computer System, 7%
Air Freight, 4%

Common freight agent skills

Logistics, 75%
DOT, 4%
Data Entry, 4%
Freight Carriers, 3%
US Customs, 2%
Air Cargo, 1%

Cargo Agent vs. similar jobs

Cargo Agent related careers

Cargo Agent related jobs

What similar roles do

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse office and administrative jobs

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z