How to hire a freight agent

How to hire a freight agent, step by step

Here's a step-by-step freight agent hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a freight agent job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new freight agent
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a freight agent do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the freight agent you need to hire. Certain freight agent roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect freight agent also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents freight agent salaries for various positions.

   Type of Freight Agent	Description	Hourly rate
   Freight Agent		$11-23
   Ocean Export Coordinator	This is a person who helps clients with information and product flow across international waters. The responsibilities that come with this position include; making policy changes with changes made to import-export laws, auditing workflow operations, communicating shipment information with necessary parties, monitor shipment until satisfactory delivery, and addressing customer queries and complaints... Show more	$14-28
   Air Export Coordinator	It is the responsibility of an air export coordinator to oversee customer shipment operations such as vendor invoices, rate quotation, billing, etc. Air export coordinators serve as the liaison between sales groups... Show more	$13-26

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Logistics
   • DOT
   • Data Entry
   • Freight Carriers
   • US Customs
   • Air Cargo
   • TMS
   • Freight Shipments
   • LTL
   • TSA
   • AMS
   • AES
   • EDI
   • Import Documentation

   Check all skills

   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.

   More freight agent duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your freight agent job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A freight agent can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, freight agents' average salary in alaska is 50% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level freight agents 51% less than senior-level freight agents.
   • Certifications. A freight agent with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a freight agent's salary.

   Average freight agent salary

   $16.60hourly

   $34,524 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level freight agent salary

   $24,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 15, 2026

   Average freight agent salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$41,520	$20
   2	Massachusetts	$36,859	$18
   3	Texas	$36,024	$17
   4	New Mexico	$35,185	$17
   5	California	$34,318	$17
   6	Michigan	$34,313	$17
   7	Illinois	$34,303	$16
   8	North Carolina	$34,177	$16
   9	Ohio	$33,783	$16
   10	Arizona	$33,549	$16
   11	Maryland	$33,412	$16
   12	Georgia	$33,195	$16
   13	Alabama	$32,933	$16
   14	Virginia	$32,761	$16
   15	Florida	$31,432	$15
   16	Colorado	$31,090	$15
   17	Nevada	$27,555	$13
   18	Louisiana	$27,141	$13

   Average freight agent salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	TPI	$39,290	$18.89	3
   2	UPS	$38,305	$18.42	5
   3	FedEx	$37,106	$17.84	86
   4	Expeditors	$36,247	$17.43	121
   5	SMART Modular Technologies	$36,227	$17.42
   6	DHL	$35,486	$17.06	12
   7	Global Aviation	$35,099	$16.87
   8	The Employment Solutions	$33,993	$16.34
   9	J.B. Hunt Transport Services	$33,815	$16.26	2
   10	PeopleReady	$33,516	$16.11
   11	Southwest Airlines	$33,022	$15.88	17
   12	PrimeFlight Aviation Services	$32,628	$15.69	111

4. Writing a freight agent job description

   A job description for a freight agent role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a freight agent job description:

   Freight agent job description example

   Come work at a place where innovation and teamwork come together to support the most exciting missions in the world!
   What you'll do:
   
   * Provide optimal guest experience services.
   * Assist guests in the proper selection of merchandise in accordance with their identified needs.
   * Demonstrate a high level of interest in the welfare, health, and proper handling of all animals.
   * Perform cashiering duties.
   * Perform related duties in support of the store attaining its assigned sales goal.
   * Ensure merchandise is properly stocked and priced.
   * Adhere to established operational guidelines and store policies and procedures.
   * Evaluate guest inquiries and as needed refers to Guest Experience Leader and/or Leader on Duty.
   
   Key Accountabilities:
   
   The incumbent must be able to consistently perform all the following duties and responsibilities with or without a reasonable accommodation.
   
   * Ensures the health and well-being of live animals by providing the correct care in accordance with the established Petco standards, policies and procedures including the completion of the hourly animal health check and wellness cards.
   * Interacts professionally and effectively through verbal and written communication with all professional contacts with an emphasis on company interests.
   * Provides prompt and courteous service to all Petco guests by determining their needs and sharing product knowledge to suggest the appropriate merchandise, and by effectively employing suggestive selling techniques to increase individual sales.
   * Demonstrates knowledge in nutrition, Pals Rewards membership sign-up, Welcome to the Family and effective suggestive selling techniques to increase sales.
   * Ensures an exceptional guest experience for all Omni-channel initiatives, to include but not limited to Instacart, Extended Aisle and Repeat Delivery.
   * Performs all aspects of point-of-sale service, e.g. cash sales, credit and check sales, returns and exchanges. Performs the daily balance of cash drawer as necessary.
   * Assists in stocking and facing merchandise according to established standards.
   * Completes cash register transactions as well as guest carry-out service consisting of merchandise weighing up to but not exceeding 50 pounds per trip.
   * Adheres to loss prevention policies.
   * Assists in the loading, unloading and stocking of merchandise according to established procedures, in order to ensure that the store is well stocked and that inventory counts are accurate.
   * Ensures that store animals, birds, reptiles and fish receive the highest quality care, maintained in habits that are clean, safe, and secure, and that all reasonable and required steps are taken to maintain their good health.
   * Alerts store leaders immediately if any animal, reptile, bird or fish is in need of medical attention or other special care.
   * Performs routine housekeeping tasks as required to maintain the professional image and appearance of the store, to include sweeping/mopping the floors, dusting, washing the windows, facing the merchandise on the shelves, restroom maintenance, etc.
   * Assists store leadership in the opening/closing of the store as needed, to include the accurate completion of required paperwork.
   * Participates in the completion of quarterly and annual physical inventory counts.
   * Adheres to and promotes established safety procedures and maintenance of clean, safe and healthy environment for store partners, guests and animals.
   * Performs special projects as assigned.
   
   Supervisory Responsibility:
   
   None.
   
   Work Environment:
   
   The majority of job duties are conducted indoors, although merchandise receiving, merchandise carry-outs, or stock balancing will require leaving the store briefly. This position requires bending, kneeling, moving merchandise and standing for long periods of time. Must be able to lift 50 lbs and pull 2000 lbs utilizing material handling equipment. Improper use of safety equipment and/or not following proper lifting techniques may pose of risk of injury to customers, pets, and store personnel. Follow all safety precautions and procedures.
   
   Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find freight agents for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any freight agents they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level freight agents with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your freight agent job on Zippia to find and recruit freight agent candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with freight agent candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new freight agent

   Once you've decided on a perfect freight agent candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new freight agent. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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