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.
Import specialist responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real import specialist resumes:
- 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.
- Prepare legal import documents for customs, bill of lading, USDA consumption.
- Coordinate timely deliveries for FCL's, LTL, BB cargo, and OOG equipment.
- Coordinate inbound cargo for FCL accounts and irregular LCL cargo while maintaining close customer contact.
- Fill AES for export clearance and submit all relate documents before doc cuts off to carriers.
- Negotiate rates for import & export shipments with provide costs to maximize profits along with Incoterms.
- Advise clients on compliance issues including HTS classification, marking assists, and anti-dumping and wood certification.
- Arranged/Coordinate final delivery of freight and process client invoice.
- Share knowledge with forwarders on manufacturing deliveries regarding specific retail ship windows.
- Provide HTS classification of import materials used in production.
Import specialist skills and personality traits
We calculated that 12% of Import Specialists are proficient in Data Entry, Logistics, and US Customs. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Leadership skills, and Management skills.
We break down the percentage of Import Specialists that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Data Entry, 12%
Performed rapid and accurate data entry to ensure productiveness of company.
- Logistics, 10%
Analyze and produce tactical and strategic plans that drive improved execution and further support Logistics initiatives.
- US Customs, 9%
Worked regularly and closely with US Customs authorities to ensure correct product classification.
- Invoice, 5%
Communicated with external customers utilizing exceptional customer service to obtain missing or incomplete invoice statements required for U.S. Customs clearance.
- Delivery Orders, 4%
Arranged/coordinated delivery orders, pick up numbers, freight availability and distribution of notifications for final delivery.
- Forwarders, 4%
Shared knowledge with forwarders on manufacturing deliveries regarding specific retail ship windows.
Common skills that an import specialist uses to do their job include "data entry," "logistics," and "us customs." You can find details on the most important import specialist responsibilities below.
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for an import specialist to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what import specialists do because "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." Additionally, an import specialist resume shows how import specialists use communication skills: "maintained container schedule for communication between freight forwarders, trucking companies, and warehouse personnel. "
Leadership skills. Many import specialist duties rely on leadership skills. "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources.," so an import specialist will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways import specialist responsibilities rely on leadership skills: "played leadership role in directing team of four customer service representatives along with performing international import and export shipment responsibilities. "
Problem-solving skills. For certain import specialist responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "problem-solving skills." The day-to-day duties of an import specialist rely on this skill, as "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what import specialists do: "handle b-35 report (report of unresolved files with us customs) and retrieve pod's. "
Time-management skills. Another crucial skill for an import specialist to carry out their responsibilities is "time-management skills." A big part of what import specialists relies on this skill, since "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." How this skill relates to import specialist duties can be seen in an example from an import specialist resume snippet: "project management database management brokerage management accomplishments achieved 98% on time delivery and customs compliance. "
The three companies that hire the most import specialists are:
- Sysco23 import specialists jobs
- Kuehne+Nagel9 import specialists jobs
- Deringer-Ney Inc.9 import specialists jobs
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Compare different import specialists
Import specialist vs. Air cargo agent
An air cargo agent is responsible for the safety of all air cargo in a flight. They are responsible for inspecting each shipment, logging shipment information, monitoring shipments in transit, and ensuring that shipments reach their destinations. They also determine delivery routes, pick-up locations, and delivery costs. This position is essential for companies that provide constant deliveries, such as online stores. An air cargo agent must have strong research skills, good communication skills, and have a sincere devotion to bringing cargoes safely to their destinations.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, import specialist responsibilities require skills like "logistics," "invoice," "customer service," and "government agencies." Meanwhile a typical air cargo agent has skills in areas such as "reservations," "dot," "faa," and "patrol." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
The education levels that air cargo agents earn slightly differ from import specialists. In particular, air cargo agents are 3.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an import specialist. Additionally, they're 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Import specialist vs. 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. They also negotiate postal and shipping rates, prepare invoices, and maintain records of all transactions and necessary information. Moreover, a cargo agent communicates with clients to answer inquiries, notify them of any delays, and provide updates regularly.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real import specialist resumes. While import specialist responsibilities can utilize skills like "logistics," "invoice," "delivery orders," and "fda," cargo agents use skills like "security procedures," "freight shipments," "computer system," and "air freight."
Cargo agents earn a lower average salary than import specialists. But cargo agents earn the highest pay in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $35,472. Additionally, import specialists earn the highest salaries in the transportation with average pay of $47,468 annually.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Cargo agents tend to reach lower levels of education than import specialists. In fact, they're 6.9% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.7% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Import specialist vs. Freight forwarder
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.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, import specialists are more likely to have skills like "data entry," "logistics," "invoice," and "import shipments." But a freight forwarder is more likely to have skills like "supply chain," "booking," "aes," and "freight carriers."
When it comes to education, freight forwarders tend to earn similar degree levels compared to import specialists. In fact, they're 2.4% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Import specialist vs. Freight broker
Even though a few skill sets overlap between import specialists and freight brokers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, an import specialist might have more use for skills like "data entry," "us customs," "invoice," and "delivery orders." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of freight brokers require skills like "tms," "ftl," "shippers," and "freight carriers. "
Freight brokers reach lower levels of education compared to import specialists, in general. The difference is that they're 5.0% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.1% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of import specialist
Updated January 8, 2025
