Material Recording, Scheduling, Dispatching, and Distributing Workers

How to become a Freight Forwarder

Official title: Freight Forwarders

Also called: Air Export Agent, Air Export Coordinator, Export Coordinator, Freight Forwarder, GSA Coordinator (General Services Administration Coordinator), Import Agent, Ocean Export Specialist, Relocation Coordinator, Route Specialist

Research rates, routings, or modes of transport for shipment of products. Maintain awareness of regulations affecting the international movement of cargo. Make arrangements for additional services, such as storage or inland transportation.

Main tasks

Negotiate shipping rates with freight carriers.
Arrange for special transport of sensitive cargoes, such as livestock, food, or medical supplies.
Arrange for applicable duties, taxes, or paperwork for customs clearance.
Inform clients of factors such as shipping options, timelines, transfers, or regulations affecting shipments.
Prepare shipping documentation, such as bills of lading, packing lists, dock receipts, or certificates of origin.
Complete customs paperwork.
Prepare invoices or cost quotations for freight transportation.
Select shipment routes, based on nature of goods shipped, transit times, or security needs.

How to become one

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $52,260 a year The middle half earn $45,710 to $63,390.
About 100,300 people work in this job now, and about 106,400 are projected by 2035. (+6.2%)
People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Questions people ask

How much does a Freight Forwarder earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $52,260 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $45,710 to $63,390.

Is a Freight Forwarder a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 100,300 to about 106,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Freight Forwarder?

Usually not. Only 24% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Freight Forwarder?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.