How to become a freight inspector

Official title: Freight inspector

Also called: Freight Inspector/Incoming Quality Inspector

Freight inspector inspects freight with reference to freight forwarding documents and documents differences in specifications. He/she also inspects freight with reference to compliance with laws and regulations, including inspecting proper positioning, cushioning, restraining and balancing of cargo and inspecting safety.

Main tasks

• Checking import/export documentation to determine cargo contents, and classifying goods into different fee or tariff groups, using a tariff coding system

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.

Related jobs

• Clearing/Forwarding agent
• Shipping agent/Boarding officer
• Auctioneer
• Exhibition/Conference/Event planner
• Employment agent/Labour contractor
• Real estate agent

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Questions people ask

Will AI change the work of a freight inspector?

Generative AI could change many tasks in this job, which usually reshapes the work more than it replaces it, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026