Career overview
Cargo and Freight Agents
O*NET-SOC 43-5011.00
Median pay / yr$49,900
OutlookRapid Growth
Expedite and route movement of incoming and outgoing cargo and freight shipments in airline, train, and trucking terminals and shipping docks. Take orders from customers and arrange pickup of freight and cargo for delivery to loading platform. Prepare and examine bills of lading to determine shipping charges and tariffs.
What it takes
The skills, knowledge, and credentials employers look for in Cargo and Freight Agents.
Skills employers look for
- SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
- Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
- NegotiationBringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
Knowledge areas
- TransportationKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
- GeographyKnowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
- Public Safety and SecurityKnowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
- English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
- Administration and ManagementKnowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Certifications that help you get hired
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