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.
Convincing1
Negotiate shipping rates
+Negotiate a six-month contract rate with Maersk's Rotterdam desk for the weekly 40ft container service to New…
Negotiate shipping rates
+Negotiate a six-month contract rate with Maersk's Rotterdam desk for the weekly 40ft container service to New York, propose a per-TEU base and peak surcharge, insist on notification of schedule changes 14 days out, and confirm acceptance by Friday noon.
The tools that do the workArcline ArcFreightMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Keeping the record3
Complete customs paperwork.
+Complete the export customs entry for shipment 87245 to clear Rotterdam customs: verify commercial invoice…
Complete customs paperwork.
+Complete the export customs entry for shipment 87245 to clear Rotterdam customs: verify commercial invoice values and HS codes, confirm consignee EORI NL123456789, attach packing list and bill of lading, then submit for release this afternoon.
The tools that do the workAESDirectjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Track shipments
+Track the Hapag-Lloyd booking 447-22 from Shanghai to Felixstowe, pull the vessel ETAs, container current GPS…
Track shipments
+Track the Hapag-Lloyd booking 447-22 from Shanghai to Felixstowe, pull the vessel ETAs, container current GPS position, deviation alerts, and update the customer with arrival window and planned pickup slot by end of day.
The tools that do the workCargoWise ediEnterprisejob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Obtain or arrange cargo insurance.
+Arrange all-risk cargo insurance for AWB 99887766 covering goods value 120,000 euros from Shenzhen to…
Obtain or arrange cargo insurance.
+Arrange all-risk cargo insurance for AWB 99887766 covering goods value 120,000 euros from Shenzhen to Hamburg, secure insurer confirmation of transit cover and war/strike clauses, email the policy details to the shipper and accounts payable before sailing.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Learning1
Coordinate shipment process
+Coordinate the inland pickup, export documentation, port delivery and carrier booking for shipment 55121:…
Coordinate shipment process
+Coordinate the inland pickup, export documentation, port delivery and carrier booking for shipment 55121: assign pickup to DriverCo for Tuesday, ensure export licence is attached, confirm vessel booking and issue bill of lading draft to the seller by Wednesday close.
The tools that do the workKewill Global Trade and Logisticsjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Analysing1
Guide on shipping documentation and regulations
+Advise the importer on required shipping documents and compliance for textile goods into the UK: list…
Guide on shipping documentation and regulations
+Advise the importer on required shipping documents and compliance for textile goods into the UK: list commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, required fibre content declarations, applicable UK import duty rates, and recommend lab testing before arrival.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work14
Publish tariffs
+Publish the tariff schedule for ocean export services effective Monday, include commodity codes,…
Publish tariffs
+Publish the tariff schedule for ocean export services effective Monday, include commodity codes, origin-destination pairs, all surcharges and unit rates, validate error-free rate calculations, then upload the printable tariff and notify sales and operations by end of day Friday.
The tools that do the workCargoWise ediEnterpriseESCO
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Control trade commercial documentation
+Review and verify the supplier commercial invoices, packing lists and certificates for the Chengdu shipment,…
Control trade commercial documentation
+Review and verify the supplier commercial invoices, packing lists and certificates for the Chengdu shipment, confirm HS codes and incoterms match the booking, correct any discrepancies, then file the approved trade documents to the shipment record and alert Customs clearance by 10:00 tomorrow.
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Ensure compliance with trade regulations
+Check the shipment paperwork for the Li & Sons textile export to Rotterdam, verify commodity codes and…
Ensure compliance with trade regulations
+Check the shipment paperwork for the Li & Sons textile export to Rotterdam, verify commodity codes and licenses match the commercial invoice and packing list, correct any mismatches, then prepare a compliance checklist and send to customs broker by Thursday noon.
The tools that do the workCargoWise ediEnterpriseSAPjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Calculate weight, volume, or cost of goods to be moved.
+Calculate the chargeable weight for the 20 pallets of ceramic tiles on booking 4821A by applying dimensional…
Calculate weight, volume, or cost of goods to be moved.
+Calculate the chargeable weight for the 20 pallets of ceramic tiles on booking 4821A by applying dimensional rules, compare gross vs volumetric weight, produce a one-page cost sheet with freight, fuel surcharge and handling, and email the quote to customer by end of day.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Refer exporters to experts in areas such as trade financing, international marketing, government export requirements, international banking, or marine insurance.
+Call exporter BrightHarvest, explain trade finance and export credit options relevant to their Kenya…
Refer exporters to experts in areas such as trade financing, international marketing, government export requirements, international banking, or marine insurance.
+Call exporter BrightHarvest, explain trade finance and export credit options relevant to their Kenya shipment, draft a referral email to the bank trade team and the marine insurer with shipment details and next steps, and copy the export marketing advisor before Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Recommend shipping solutions to minimize cost or environmental impacts.
+Review routing options for the chilled pharma consignment 7729 to reduce emissions and costs, prepare two…
Recommend shipping solutions to minimize cost or environmental impacts.
+Review routing options for the chilled pharma consignment 7729 to reduce emissions and costs, prepare two alternatives showing transit time, CO2 estimate and total landed cost, recommend the best option and send to operations and the client by tomorrow morning.
The tools that do the workArcline ArcFreightO*NET
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Assist clients in obtaining insurance reimbursements.
+Compile the documents and details for claim 1198 for damaged electronics, draft the insurer submission with…
Assist clients in obtaining insurance reimbursements.
+Compile the documents and details for claim 1198 for damaged electronics, draft the insurer submission with photos, bills of lading and packing list, list claimed amounts and supporting evidence, then send to the insurer and copy the client and claims lead today.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Communicate with clients, carriers, and stakeholders
+Prepare the daily stakeholder update for the Typhoon-affected sailings: summarise carrier ETAs, container…
Communicate with clients, carriers, and stakeholders
+Prepare the daily stakeholder update for the Typhoon-affected sailings: summarise carrier ETAs, container statuses, customer-impacting delays, and recommended actions, then distribute to clients, carriers and internal ops by 09:00 with priority flags for urgent items.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Arrange door-to-door transportation
+Arrange door-to-door transportation for the 20 pallets of electronics from Shenzhen to Priya Patel at…
Arrange door-to-door transportation
+Arrange door-to-door transportation for the 20 pallets of electronics from Shenzhen to Priya Patel at GreenTech, pick up Monday, deliver to GreenTech dock in Rotterdam by their 10am appointment, confirm customs paperwork and carrier ETAs before dispatch.
The tools that do the workArcline ArcFreightjob descriptions
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Book cargo space on ships or planes
+Book 40 CBM of container space on the earliest available vessel from Shanghai for the July 12 slot, secure…
Book cargo space on ships or planes
+Book 40 CBM of container space on the earliest available vessel from Shanghai for the July 12 slot, secure confirmed sailing and booking number, advise exporter Anna Lopez and confirm hazardous declaration and weight checks before cut-off.
The tools that do the workCargoWise ediEnterprisejob descriptions
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Resolve issues during shipping (delays, damages)
+Resolve the delayed shipment of 15 crates for client Marco Rossi: contact vessel agent to get updated ETA,…
Resolve issues during shipping (delays, damages)
+Resolve the delayed shipment of 15 crates for client Marco Rossi: contact vessel agent to get updated ETA, inspect damage report photos from terminal, arrange triage survey if needed, log claim reference and update Marco and procurement contact Sophie by EOD.
The tools that do the workKewill Global Trade and Logisticsjob descriptions
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Manage cargo insurance
+Prepare a negotiable bill of lading for Exporter SeaLine to Consignee Netherlands Trading for the 400 cartons…
Manage cargo insurance
+Prepare a negotiable bill of lading for Exporter SeaLine to Consignee Netherlands Trading for the 400 cartons on Voyage 776, include shipper, consignee, notify party, commodity description and declared gross weight, and send draft to legal for check.
The tools that do the workSAPjob descriptions
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Prepare bills of lading
+Issue the clean bill of lading for shipment 2026-045 after confirming full freight paid and container seal…
Prepare bills of lading
+Issue the clean bill of lading for shipment 2026-045 after confirming full freight paid and container seal intact, sign and release to consignee Johan Meijer, send copy to accounts and courier original to his address within two working days.
The tools that do the workCargoWise ediEnterpriseWikipedia
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Issue bills of lading
+Set up cargo insurance for the palletised garments consigned to Bella Imports: obtain premium quote for…
Issue bills of lading
+Set up cargo insurance for the palletised garments consigned to Bella Imports: obtain premium quote for all-risk cover at declared value EUR 45,000, secure binder, send policy summary and claim instructions to exporter Li Wei and credit team before pickup.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Says who?
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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