How to hire a freight forwarder

How to hire a freight forwarder, step by step

Here's a step-by-step freight forwarder 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 forwarder job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new freight forwarder
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your freight forwarder job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a freight forwarder for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A freight forwarder's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, freight forwarders from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of freight forwarders.

   Type of Freight Forwarder	Description	Hourly rate
   Freight Forwarder		$12-25
   Cargo Agent	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... Show more	$12-21
   Import-Export Agent	Import or export agents are professionals who are required to act as the middle person for purchasing or selling products between both domestic and overseas companies. These agents must possess a variety of export documentation to facilitate domestic and international shipments of products to ensure timely delivery... Show more	$15-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Supply Chain
   • Customer Service
   • Booking
   • Import Export
   • Delivery Orders
   • AES
   • Freight Carriers
   • US Customs
   • Freight Rates
   • International Freight
   • Forwarders
   • LCL
   • FCL
   • Smooth Operation

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain relationships with customs brokers and freight forwarders and assist in reviewing such service providers.
   • Book material RO/RO, LCL, and FCL loads on ocean line carrier for international delivery.
   • Maintain TSA clearance in order to ship freight on passenger airlines.
   • Use LogiSuite to create airway bills & TSA documents for cargo exports.
   • Communicate with U.S. Customs and FDA officials when necessary to expedite the exam process.
   • Negotiate rates and contracts with air freight agents as well as LTL and FTL base carriers

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, freight forwarders' average salary in montana is 36% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level freight forwarders 50% less than senior-level freight forwarders.
   • Certifications. A freight forwarder 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 forwarder's salary.

   Average freight forwarder salary

   $38,215yearly

   $18.37 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level freight forwarder salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a freight forwarder job description

   A good freight forwarder job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a freight forwarder job description:

   Freight forwarder job description example

   Job DescriptionInternational Freight Forwarder

   About us: For over 20 years Supply Chain Solutions has been committed to providing businesses with solutions to complex supply chain issues and creating efficient processes through transportation, logistics, and technology solutions. At SCS, the driving force behind our success is our people. We want our associates at every level to love what they do and excel at it. Maintaining a positive company culture is important to us and we strive daily to live out our core values of: Honesty and Respect, Find A Better Way, and Deliver Results.

   About the position: As a member of the International Operations team, the International Freight Forwarder handles import operations, including all related activities for an assigned base of accounts. In this role you will manage expedited transactions and tasks in order to meet customer needs and comply with government requirements.

   Some of the key responsibilities for this position include:

   • Receive, review, and process international shipments, produce accurate documentation based upon government guidelines, and update database in a timely manner with most current information.
   • Proactively communicate with clients on status of their shipments, as well as actively maintain and escalate communication with steamship lines and truckers.
   • Coordinate the release of goods from the carrier, customs or other governmental agency examinations that may be required and arrange and track delivery of goods.
   • Provide weekend and holiday support of operations as needed.

   About you:

   You are a great fit for this role if you:

   • Have at least 1-3 years of transportation and/or logistics experience.
   • Are able to handle multiple, competing priorities, meet deadlines, manage risk, and resolve problems effectively and efficiently.
   • Possess excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills and able to interact effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
   • Thrive on providing excellent customer service, working as part of a team, and finding and recommending creative solutions to common problems.

   Think this could be a good fit? Check out the full job description and apply on our website today!

   
   

   #LI-BF1 #LI-Hybrid

   
   
   Job Posted by ApplicantPro
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find freight forwarders 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 forwarders they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level freight forwarders 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 forwarder job on Zippia to find and recruit freight forwarder candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit freight forwarders, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 forwarder

   Once you've found the freight forwarder candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new freight forwarder first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

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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