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Freight broker vs import specialist

The differences between freight brokers and import specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a freight broker has an average salary of $52,390, which is higher than the $51,757 average annual salary of an import specialist.

The top three skills for a freight broker include TMS, logistics and FTL. The most important skills for an import specialist are data entry, logistics, and us customs.

Freight broker vs import specialist overview

Freight BrokerImport Specialist
Yearly salary$52,390$51,757
Hourly rate$25.19$24.88
Growth rate5%6%
Number of jobs7,5281,736
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Average age4343
Years of experience--

What does a freight broker do?

Freight brokers have licensed property brokers who provide assistance to shippers in hauling materials. Their job involves linking carriers and shippers in hauling materials. They take part in the shipping logistics of organizations or companies. Among the matters they negotiate include tracking of shipments, keeping delivery and pickup tracks, and shipping rates. Among the necessary skills for this job include customer service, negotiation, communication, and marketing.

What does an import specialist do?

An import Specialist in the United States handles freight shipments coming to the country. They detect and assist in preventing violation of the country's customs laws. Their primary responsibility is to enforce the import/export regulations of the United States to prevent the entry of illegal drugs and products into the country. They are tasked with ensuring that weapons or weapon parts do not make it through the border. Additionally, they carry out physical checks and go through cargo manifests on the database while also explaining import/export policies to foreign shippers.

Freight broker vs import specialist salary

Freight brokers and import specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Freight BrokerImport Specialist
Average salary$52,390$51,757
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $77,000Between $36,000 And $72,000
Highest paying City-Uniondale, NY
Highest paying state-New York
Best paying company-The Judge Group
Best paying industry-Transportation

Differences between freight broker and import specialist education

There are a few differences between a freight broker and an import specialist in terms of educational background:

Freight BrokerImport Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 52%Bachelor's Degree, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Freight broker vs import specialist demographics

Here are the differences between freight brokers' and import specialists' demographics:

Freight BrokerImport Specialist
Average age4343
Gender ratioMale, 64.6% Female, 35.4%Male, 33.1% Female, 66.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 5.3% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.2% Asian, 12.9% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 4.9% Unknown, 6.6% Hispanic or Latino, 21.4% Asian, 18.2% White, 48.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage11%11%

Differences between freight broker and import specialist duties and responsibilities

Freight broker example responsibilities.

  • Manage EDI transmit pricing on orders from customers.
  • Manage, inspect, photograph, and create reports biweekly for U.S. department of HUD and Fannie Mae assign properties.
  • Book dry and refrigerate freight for FTL and LTL loads.
  • Specialize in working with power only units and flat beds experience in working with FTL, and LTL shipments.
  • Create, develop and retain business relationships with shippers.
  • Provide RFP's for large company customers
  • Show more

Import specialist example responsibilities.

  • Work closely with government agencies, such as FDA and USDA.
  • Collaborate with foreign suppliers and freight forwarders on corrective action/preventive actions.
  • Communicate with external customers utilizing exceptional customer service to obtain missing or incomplete invoice statements require for U.S. Customs clearance.
  • Classify products with HS classification for NAFTA purposes.
  • Process special commodities such as FDA regulate articles, ADD/CVD entries.
  • Document the declaration sheet of Hazmat material for the current flight.
  • Show more

Freight broker vs import specialist skills

Common freight broker skills
  • TMS, 19%
  • Logistics, 18%
  • FTL, 17%
  • Shippers, 12%
  • LTL, 4%
  • Freight Carriers, 4%
Common import specialist skills
  • Data Entry, 12%
  • Logistics, 10%
  • US Customs, 9%
  • Invoice, 5%
  • Delivery Orders, 4%
  • Forwarders, 4%

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