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What does a freight coordinator do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

Freight coordinators work with shipping and logistics companies to ensure their supply lines are intact and efficient. They help monitor freights as they deliver shipments to their destinations and report all problems encountered. The coordinator is also responsible for coordinating with other transport providers to patch up gaps in the delivery schedule due to vehicle breakdowns and accidents. The freight coordinator is expected to be hands-on in this task and quickly respond to inquiries and resolve problems.

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Freight coordinator responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real freight coordinator resumes:

  • Manage coordination of LCL and FCL with global steamship lines and airlines.
  • Manage, negotiate and track multimillion FTL freight for a consumer electronics company.
  • Monitor and manage inventory levels after final assembly and inspection to ensure on time delivery in a warehouse setting using WMS.
  • Accomplish procedures in the LCL department such as loading of cargo to foreign destinations and customer relations on a daily basis.
  • Manage and coordinate the workload of the release team members and are responsible for organizing and hosting all production release windows.
  • Create export documents for shipping using product HTS codes, weights/dimensions, and individual government standards.
  • Work closely with multiple shippers, consolidators, couriers, and freight forwarders to ensure timely arrival of goods to contractors.
  • Coordinate with freight forwarders expediting international shipments.
  • Ensure TSA regulations compliance and avoid penalties and sanctions.
  • Tag and scan parts into production with RF scanner.
  • Cross-Train to handle Nitto orders as well as FTL's.
  • Complete BOL's for customers, provide BOL's to carriers
  • Prepare BOL's and follow up on any carrier issues.
  • Create PowerPoint sales presentations and design marketing materials for employees and clients.
  • Perform for export notifications for several NVOCC's including ISO tank operators.

Freight coordinator skills and personality traits

We calculated that 48% of Freight Coordinators are proficient in Customer Service, Sales Floor, and Store Transfers. They’re also known for soft skills such as Customer-service skills, Detail oriented, and Math skills.

We break down the percentage of Freight Coordinators that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Customer Service, 48%

    Served as primary point of contact for all customers/vendors regarding international freight while maintaining excellent and professional customer service skills.

  • Sales Floor, 37%

    Received and unpacked stock, apply sales stickers and sensors and prepared items to be put on sales floor.

  • Store Transfers, 8%

    Receive freight boxes and store transfers through register daily.

  • Logistics, 1%

    Prepared documentation, maintained records, called on warehouses and coordinated logistics for product pick-up and receiving.

  • Freight Carriers, 1%

    Negotiated service contracts with various Freight carriers that dramatically reduced costs and simplified administration.

  • Merchandise Invoices, 0%

    Compare and verify merchandise invoices to items actually received to ensure that shipments are correct.

Common skills that a freight coordinator uses to do their job include "customer service," "sales floor," and "store transfers." You can find details on the most important freight coordinator responsibilities below.

Customer-service skills. The most essential soft skill for a freight coordinator to carry out their responsibilities is customer-service skills. This skill is important for the role because "material recording clerks may interact with customers in order to respond to problems or complaints." Additionally, a freight coordinator resume shows how their duties depend on customer-service skills: "completed bol's for customers, provided bol's to carriers"

Detail oriented. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling freight coordinator duties is detail oriented. The role rewards competence in this skill because "material and product inspecting clerks must pay attention to detail when checking items for defects, some of which are small and difficult to spot." According to a freight coordinator resume, here's how freight coordinators can utilize detail oriented in their job responsibilities: "estimated freight rates, and recorded shipment details including costs and weights, confirmed freight prior to exporting"

Math skills. This is an important skill for freight coordinators to perform their duties. For an example of how freight coordinator responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "material recording clerks may need to calculate shipping costs or take measurements." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a freight coordinator: "conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis of logistics operations usingsimulation models and other tools. ".

Communication skills. freight coordinator responsibilities often require "communication skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "material recording clerks are frequently in contact with suppliers, vendors, or managers and need to convey their company’s needs effectively." This resume example shows what freight coordinators do with communication skills on a typical day: "facilitate communications between carriers, customers, retail operations, and billing departments to ensure outstanding customer service and accuracy. "

All freight coordinator skills

The three companies that hire the most freight coordinators are:

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Compare different freight coordinators

Freight coordinator vs. Shipper

A shipper is an employee who is responsible for filling customer orders and ensures that the quality of these orders meets the company standards. Shippers are tasked with locating items in a warehouse and preparing them for shipping while completing all the transportation procedures so that no complications arise during the cargo-sending process. They use different trays, forklifts, and scissor lifts following the safety standards set by government regulations and company rules. Shippers must also know how to operate a scanner or use the shipping system to track inventory.

If we compare the average freight coordinator annual salary with that of a shipper, we find that shippers typically earn a $3,566 lower salary than freight coordinators make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both freight coordinator and shipper positions are skilled in ltl, purchase orders, and forwarders.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between freight coordinators and shipper. For instance, freight coordinator responsibilities require skills such as "customer service," "sales floor," "punctuality," and "store transfers." Whereas a shipper is skilled in "pallets," "basic math," "math," and "shipping receiving." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Shippers really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $35,425. Comparatively, freight coordinators tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $39,048.The education levels that shippers earn slightly differ from freight coordinators. In particular, shippers are 1.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a freight coordinator. Additionally, they're 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Freight coordinator vs. Shipping

When it comes to shipping, a worker is primarily in charge of processing deliveries while ensuring accuracy and timeliness. One of their responsibilities revolves around processing information, maintaining an accurate record of all transactions, inspecting goods, and organizing an efficient transport of goods. There are also instances when they must handle issues and inquiries, track orders, reach out to clients, and coordinate with other logistics personnel. Furthermore, it is essential to adhere to all the policies and standards of the company.

A career as a shipping brings a lower average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a freight coordinator. In fact, shippings salary is $5,607 lower than the salary of freight coordinators per year.Only some things about these jobs are the same. Take their skills, for example. Freight coordinators and shippings both require similar skills like "customer service," "sales floor," and "logistics" to carry out their responsibilities.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that freight coordinator responsibilities requires skills like "punctuality," "store transfers," "freight carriers," and "merchandise invoices." But a shipping might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "pallets," "electric pallet jack," "shipping receiving," and "load trucks."

Shippings earn a lower average salary than freight coordinators. But shippings earn the highest pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $35,592. Additionally, freight coordinators earn the highest salaries in the manufacturing with average pay of $39,048 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Shippings tend to reach similar levels of education than freight coordinators. In fact, they're 2.0% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Freight coordinator vs. Receiver

A receiver is responsible for confirming receipt of items delivered from distribution centers to the warehouse. Receivers carefully evaluate order invoices, ensuring the correct quantity of the items, and inspect the merchandise for any possible mislabeling and defects. They also coordinate with the distributors for replacement and verifications concerning the delivery. A receiver must have excellent organizational and analytical skills, especially on billing discrepancies by utilizing specific shipping software to monitor the delivery activities.

On average, receivers earn lower salaries than freight coordinators, with a $4,398 difference per year.freight coordinators and receivers both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "customer service," "sales floor," and "purchase orders," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a freight coordinator is likely to be skilled in "punctuality," "store transfers," "logistics," and "freight carriers," while a typical receiver is skilled in "math," "basic math," "ladders," and "pet."

Receivers earn the best pay in the manufacturing industry, where they command an average salary of $33,859. Freight coordinators earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $39,048.Most receivers achieve a similar degree level compared to freight coordinators. For example, they're 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Freight coordinator vs. Shipper receiver

A shipper receiver is responsible for processing and packaging items for shipment and receiving incoming merchandise for warehouse storage. Shipper receivers assist in loading and unloading items from the distribution trucks, checking inventory receipts, inspecting the quality and quantity of the items, preparing shipping documents, and ensuring the cleanliness and orderliness of storage areas. They also update inventory records on the warehouse's database, administering orders and payments, and responding to the customer's inquiries and concerns. A shipper receiver should have a working knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on operating warehouse tools and equipment safely and efficiently.

Shipper receivers typically earn lower pay than freight coordinators. On average, shipper receivers earn a $3,263 lower salary per year.While their salaries may vary, freight coordinators and shipper receivers both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "sales floor," "ltl," and "purchase orders. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "customer service," "punctuality," "store transfers," and "logistics" are skills that commonly show up on freight coordinator resumes. On the other hand, shipper receivers use skills like shipping receiving, pallets, basic math, and electric pallet jack on their resumes.In general, shipper receivers earn the most working in the construction industry, with an average salary of $37,076. The highest-paying industry for a freight coordinator is the manufacturing industry.shipper receivers reach similar levels of education compared to freight coordinators, in general. The difference is that they're 1.9% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.0% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of freight coordinator

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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