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Freight forwarder skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical freight forwarder skills. We ranked the top skills for freight forwarders based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 23.3% of freight forwarder resumes contained supply chain as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a freight forwarder needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 freight forwarder skills for your resume and career

1. Supply Chain

A supply chain is a network or a sequence by which finished products of a company are distributed to retailers and then supplied to the end-users. The distribution of products and services from the production line to the final buyers is carried out in a series of steps including; manufacturing, transportation, and their distribution. The whole supply chain consists of different entities including; manufacturers, transportation, warehouses, suppliers, and retailers. The entities ensure that the products retain their originality while also minimizing the cost of delivery.

Here's how freight forwarders use supply chain:
  • Provided logistics and supply chain management solutions.
  • Ensured all partners in the supply chain are working effectively to ensure smooth operations and on time delivery of freight.

2. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how freight forwarders use customer service:
  • Air import operation; administrative ability, customer service.
  • Carried out customer service by communicating with companies, banks, trucking companies, steamship lines, airlines and railroads.

3. Booking

Here's how freight forwarders use booking:
  • Surveyed volume estimates for both sea and air freights * Provided price quotes * Booking sea and air freights.
  • Realized efficient and expedited shipments by implementing booking and order-processing procedures for ocean container loads.

4. Import Export

Here's how freight forwarders use import export:
  • Prepared required import export container documentation.
  • Direct report to Corporate President, Import Mangers and VP of Finance coordinating sales, account management and import export operations.

5. Delivery Orders

A delivery order is a document that is issued to confirm the transportation of a product or cargo to another party. Delivery orders are generally issued by the product owner, sender, or shipment carrier. It is a non-negotiable document and only acts as a product release confirmation from the sender.

Here's how freight forwarders use delivery orders:
  • Traffic (delivery order).
  • Prepared arrival notices/delivery orders/outgoing invoices.

6. AES

AES stands for Advanced Encryption Standard. It is a standard for electronic data encryption, commonly used to implement file encryption, wireless security, SSL/TLS, and processor security.

Here's how freight forwarders use aes:
  • Created, verified and submitted export documentation such as AES, Bills of Lading, and Certificates of Origin.
  • Collect the correct documentation from vendors and submit the information to customs via AES (Automated Export System).

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7. Freight Carriers

Here's how freight forwarders use freight carriers:
  • Coordinate with our contracted vendors, steamship companies, air freight carriers and consolidators in procuring space and services.
  • Review the environmental records of freight carriers to inform shipping decisions.

8. US Customs

The US Customs and Border Protection is the United State's most prominent law enforcement agency in charge of border control, security, travel, and trade. It is responsible for enforcing government regulations on border-related activities. Their jobs include enforcing laws on traveling overseas, luggage inspection, import/export monitoring, and border patrol. The agency is based in Washington DC and comprises over 4000 federals officers maintaining peace throughout the states.

Here's how freight forwarders use us customs:
  • Prepared documents for US Customs for import and export freight from all over the world from air and sea.
  • Certificate of Origins, US Customs and Border control manifest and any FDA certs and Docs.

9. Freight Rates

Here's how freight forwarders use freight rates:
  • Negotiated freight rates for customers with distributor, and served as point of contact for customer needs.
  • Booked, obtained and provided freight rates and routing information to Commodity Traders.

10. International Freight

Here's how freight forwarders use international freight:
  • Owned and managed international freight forwarding company.
  • Coordinated the logistics of domestic and international freight for outbound and inbound shipments.

11. Forwarders

Here's how freight forwarders use forwarders:
  • Collaborated with third-party freight forwarders to implement a more efficient service.
  • Prepared Forwarders Outstanding Account for the Principal & Financial Controller's Report.

12. LCL

Here's how freight forwarders use lcl:
  • Booked material RO/RO, LCL, and FCL loads on ocean line carrier for international delivery.
  • Maintained complete and up-to-date use of 20' & 40' HC containers and LCL cargo.

13. FCL

Here's how freight forwarders use fcl:
  • Planned multiple destination deliveries for consolidated FCL containers.
  • Quoted ocean FCL & LCL rates to all the customers in order to satisfy their shipping needs.

14. Smooth Operation

Here's how freight forwarders use smooth operation:
  • Worked closely with customers, colleagues and third parties to ensure smooth operations to deadlines.

15. Customs Brokers

Here's how freight forwarders use customs brokers:
  • Coordinate with the airlines, ocean carriers, customs brokers and warehouses to ensure each shipment is on schedule for delivery.
  • Coordinated forwarding of air, sea, and storage shipment with customs brokers, agents and vendors.
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List of freight forwarder skills to add to your resume

Freight forwarder skills

The most important skills for a freight forwarder resume and required skills for a freight forwarder to have include:

  • Supply Chain
  • Customer Service
  • Booking
  • Import Export
  • Delivery Orders
  • AES
  • Freight Carriers
  • US Customs
  • Freight Rates
  • International Freight
  • Forwarders
  • LCL
  • FCL
  • Smooth Operation
  • Customs Brokers
  • Cost-Effective Methods
  • LTL
  • Relevant Legislation
  • Environmental Impacts
  • TSA
  • FDA
  • Necessary Space
  • Customer Satisfaction
  • Data Management

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.

Updated January 8, 2025

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