What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Cargo and Freight Agents in the U.S. earn more than $52,260 a year — the middle 80% land between $38,340 and $79,810. About 97,670 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Cargo and Freight Agents”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Clerical support workers earn about ₹24,252 a month on average — around ₹2.9 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$52,260typical pay / year
97,670people in this work
$79,810+top 10% earn
₹2.9 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Sending & sharing1
Determine method of shipment
+Decide whether to ship the pallet via cargo manifested on the next scheduled freighter, as air courier for…
Determine method of shipment
+Decide whether to ship the pallet via cargo manifested on the next scheduled freighter, as air courier for door-to-door, or by consolidated surface transfer based on weight, dimensions, value, and hazardous class, then confirm routing and cut-off times with operations by 1400 today.
The tools that do the workTransportation management system TMSjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Keeping the record5
Record shipment costs and weights
+Record each crate's gross and net weight, volumetric weight, and total freight charges into the shipment cost…
Record shipment costs and weights
+Record each crate's gross and net weight, volumetric weight, and total freight charges into the shipment cost sheet, apply the hazard surcharge and customs fees, then reconcile totals against the purchase order and save the updated workbook.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Track shipment delivery progress
+Update the tracking log with the airway bill number, current carrier location, estimated time of arrival, and…
Track shipment delivery progress
+Update the tracking log with the airway bill number, current carrier location, estimated time of arrival, and any exception notes, then notify the consignee and operations supervisor of changes to ETA.
The tools that do the workTransportation managementjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Check the condition of the cargo
+Inspect the shipment on the apron, note seal numbers, photograph any dents, moisture or compromised…
Check the condition of the cargo
+Inspect the shipment on the apron, note seal numbers, photograph any dents, moisture or compromised packaging, record temperature readings for sensitive cargo, and file a condition report with operations and claims if damage found.
The tools that do the workPostingESCOWikipedia
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Enter shipping information into computer systems
+Enter shipper, consignee, airway bill, commodity details, weight, dimensions, hazardous classification, and…
Enter shipping information into computer systems
+Enter shipper, consignee, airway bill, commodity details, weight, dimensions, hazardous classification, and routing code into the shipment record, verify against the physical manifest and save the entry.
The tools that do the workSAPjob descriptionsO*NET
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Prepare manifests for passengers and freight
+Prepare passenger and freight manifests listing names or AWB numbers, seat or pallet locations, weights,…
Prepare manifests for passengers and freight
+Prepare passenger and freight manifests listing names or AWB numbers, seat or pallet locations, weights, special handling codes and emergency contact, then circulate the final manifests to flight crew, ground handling and security before departure.
The tools that do the workTransportation management system TMSjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work13
Handle freight inspection equipment
+Inspect the handheld X-ray unit and traceable seal kit used on the Quito cargo bay, log serial numbers and…
Handle freight inspection equipment
+Inspect the handheld X-ray unit and traceable seal kit used on the Quito cargo bay, log serial numbers and calibration stickers, note any damage or missing parts, arrange urgent replacement if anything fails the checklist, and file the inspection sheet with maintenance today.
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Prepare freight shipment reports
+Compile the export shipment report for Flight AV321 to Miami: list AWB numbers, declared weights, hazard…
Prepare freight shipment reports
+Compile the export shipment report for Flight AV321 to Miami: list AWB numbers, declared weights, hazard class entries, inspection clearance stamps, discrepancies found and corrective action, attach scanned inspection sheets and submit to operations and compliance by 16:00 today.
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Advise clients on transportation and payment methods
+Advise Air Charter Logistics and KLM Cargo on quickest transport routes and payment options for the 2.5-ton…
Advise clients on transportation and payment methods
+Advise Air Charter Logistics and KLM Cargo on quickest transport routes and payment options for the 2.5-ton telemetry crate leaving Amsterdam Friday, compare airfreight, road feeder, and courier costs, and recommend carrier plus payment terms to secure booking today.
The tools that do the workTransportation management system TMSjob descriptionsO*NET
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Resolve issues related to shipment delays or damages
+Investigate the delayed shipment for Delta Ground Handling: trace last scan, request damage photos from…
Resolve issues related to shipment delays or damages
+Investigate the delayed shipment for Delta Ground Handling: trace last scan, request damage photos from warehouse, confirm insurance cover and corrective delivery plan, notify freight forwarder and the consignee with ETA and claims next steps within two hours.
The tools that do the workSAPO*NETWikipedia
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Maintain a supply of packing materials.
+Top up packing supplies for outgoing airfreight: list required pallets, void fill, banding and…
Maintain a supply of packing materials.
+Top up packing supplies for outgoing airfreight: list required pallets, void fill, banding and hazardous-materials packaging needed for next week, raise a purchase requirement to procurement and schedule delivery by Wednesday to avoid shipment holds.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshaling areas and help load and unload goods safely.
+Direct delivery trucks arriving this morning: assign Truck 12 to Dock B and Truck 7 to Marshaling Bay 3,…
Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshaling areas and help load and unload goods safely.
+Direct delivery trucks arriving this morning: assign Truck 12 to Dock B and Truck 7 to Marshaling Bay 3, stage forklifts and two loaders, supervise safe loading/unloading and sign off the load sheets when complete to keep the 0900 dispatch on schedule.
The tools that do the workPostingO*NET
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Notify customers of freight or baggage arrival
+Notify Consignee AeroTech and their freight forwarder that booking AWB 234-567890 has arrived at our…
Notify customers of freight or baggage arrival
+Notify Consignee AeroTech and their freight forwarder that booking AWB 234-567890 has arrived at our terminal: provide pickup window, weight and pallet count, remark any customs hold, and include contact for same-day collection to avoid storage charges.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Assist in the preparation of customs documentation
+Prepare complete customs documentation for the outgoing Milan to New York shipment, verify commodity codes,…
Assist in the preparation of customs documentation
+Prepare complete customs documentation for the outgoing Milan to New York shipment, verify commodity codes, HS numbers, and dangerous goods declarations, attach inspection reports and shippers’ invoices, then send the packet to customs broker and export control for clearance today.
The tools that do the workBrokerageWikipedia
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Coordinate multi-modal transportation logistics
+Set up the multi-modal movement plan for the Chengdu consignment: confirm air-leg capacity, book the road…
Coordinate multi-modal transportation logistics
+Set up the multi-modal movement plan for the Chengdu consignment: confirm air-leg capacity, book the road feeder to the airport, reserve sea lift for onward leg, align handover times with the ground handler and forwarder, and circulate the timeline to operations by 1700.
The tools that do the workTransportation management system TMSWikipedia
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Analyse the fuel compartments
+Inspect and report on the fuel compartments for aircraft B737-800 scheduled today: record volumes, check…
Analyse the fuel compartments
+Inspect and report on the fuel compartments for aircraft B737-800 scheduled today: record volumes, check seals and venting, photograph anomalies, compare readings to the maintenance log, and deliver a signed fuel compartment report to engineering and flight ops by end of shift.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Analyse the safety equipment
+Carry out a full audit of the onboard safety equipment on A330 AOG aircraft: verify expiry dates on life…
Analyse the safety equipment
+Carry out a full audit of the onboard safety equipment on A330 AOG aircraft: verify expiry dates on life vests and rafts, test emergency locator beacons functionally, note missing items, produce a non-conformance list and send corrective actions to maintenance and safety by 1600.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Analyse the specific licenses required
+Compile a requirements brief listing all licenses needed for handling hazardous cargo in Spain: include…
Analyse the specific licenses required
+Compile a requirements brief listing all licenses needed for handling hazardous cargo in Spain: include operator permits, dangerous goods certifications, staff DG training records, and national regulator references, then email the summary to compliance and HR before Friday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordESCO
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Lead inspections
+Lead the incoming freight inspection for flight AZ219: supervise visual and X‑ray checks, ensure use of…
Lead inspections
+Lead the incoming freight inspection for flight AZ219: supervise visual and X‑ray checks, ensure use of inspection equipment, sign off the inspection sheet, log any discrepancies with photos, and forward the completed inspection report to cargo control and the consignee within two hours.
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Says who?
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The logs, files & records this job keeps
Shared with other careers — the same record means something different in each.
Related careers
Same family of work — each with its own tasks and prompts.
The LLOS Work Atlas is the world's largest evidenced task library — a map of human work, with a ready prompt behind every task. 1,774 careers · every task named by the sources that witnessed it — O*NET, ESCO, real job descriptions, Wikipedia — and the deepest tasks by several at once. And it is honest about limits: where AI cannot help, the map says so.
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses