What Does a Freight Broker do all day?

If you are a new freight broker or considering freight brokering as a career, do you know how to productively fill your day? Plan out your day or it will plan itself. By making your own plan you will accomplish priorities you have set. If you let the day just run, who knows what will be accomplished by the end of the day. Here is a concise definition of a freight broker’s job and skills.

Cargo and freight agents coordinate and track incoming and outgoing cargo and freight shipments in airline, train, or trucking terminals or on shipping docks. An ideal freight broker can talk comfortably and intelligently to a company CEO and to a truck driver. They are not simply “middlemen” who add to the cost of shipping. Their biggest contribution is their ability to expedite the process with efficiency and reliability. They expedite shipments by determining the route that shipments are to take and by preparing all necessary shipping documents. Agents take orders from customers and arrange for the pickup of freight or cargo for delivery to loading platforms. They keep records of the cargo, such as its amount, type, weight, and dimensions. A valuable agent will note missing items, condition of damaged items, and excess supplies. Cargo and freight agents arrange cargo according to its destination. They also determine the shipping rates and other charges. They verify customs’ paperwork on imports and exports. Cargo and freight agents often track shipments electronically, using bar codes, and answer customers’ inquiries on the status of their shipments.

Much of a freight agent’s job is done via the computer. Typing, filing, recordkeeping, and other clerical skills are important. In house cargo and freight agents start out by checking items to be shipped, attaching labels to them and making sure that the addresses are correct,. As this occupation becomes more automated workers may need longer periods of training in order to master the use of the equipment. Cargo traffic is expected to grow faster than in the past, and so will the technologies developed to help in the process. Some recent technological advances include use of bar codes on cargo and freight which allows agents and customers to track shipments quickly over the Internet, rather than manually tracking their location. In addition, customers, reducing the need for cargo and freight agents, now can complete customs and insurance paperwork over the Internet. Buying over the Internet continues to grow which will result in more shipments. Jobs also will open up because of the increasing importance of same-day delivery, which expands the role of agents.

Training has become more important as the industry continues to evolve. We stay ahead of the curve and in touch so we can train others to succeed.

Moving Forward,

Jeff Roach,
www.brooketraining.com