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.
Negotiating1
Negotiate shipping rates
+Negotiate a door-to-door freight rate with Maersk’s commercial rep, targeting a 12% reduction on the current…
Negotiate shipping rates
+Negotiate a door-to-door freight rate with Maersk’s commercial rep, targeting a 12% reduction on the current Shanghai to Rotterdam LCL contract, confirm minimum transit time of 28 days, include port contingency costs and valid until next quarter’s rate review — report back by Thursday.
The tools that do the workArcline ArcFreightjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Keeping the record5
Complete customs paperwork.
+Complete the full customs declaration for the April 10 Ningbo export to Hamburg: verify HS codes, commodity…
Complete customs paperwork.
+Complete the full customs declaration for the April 10 Ningbo export to Hamburg: verify HS codes, commodity values, exporter and consignee details, attach commercial invoice, packing list and certificate of origin, then submit to customs and save the filing reference.
The tools that do the workAESDirectjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Track shipments
+Track the 20-TEU FCL booked on the April 2 sailing from Savannah to Valencia: confirm vessel name, ETAs at…
Track shipments
+Track the 20-TEU FCL booked on the April 2 sailing from Savannah to Valencia: confirm vessel name, ETAs at all ports, container discharge status, and last-mile pickup window, then update the customer with current ETA and any exceptions.
The tools that do the workCargoWise ediEnterprisejob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Obtain or arrange cargo insurance.
+Obtain comprehensive cargo insurance for the AES shipment leaving Santos on May 5: secure all-risks coverage…
Obtain or arrange cargo insurance.
+Obtain comprehensive cargo insurance for the AES shipment leaving Santos on May 5: secure all-risks coverage for CIF value including war and strikes clauses, confirm insurer, policy number, premium and claims contact, then email certificate to the consignee.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptionsO*NET
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Coordinate shipment process
+Coordinate the full shipment process for the June 1 air freight from Singapore to Nairobi: confirm AWB…
Coordinate shipment process
+Coordinate the full shipment process for the June 1 air freight from Singapore to Nairobi: confirm AWB number, supplier packing completion, customs clearance slot at origin, carrier acceptance, transit insurance and consignee delivery appointment, then circulate the timeline to operations and sales.
The tools that do the workKewill Global Trade and Logisticsjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Guide on shipping documentation and regulations
+Advise the sales team on shipping documentation and import rules for our new Kenyan customer: explain…
Guide on shipping documentation and regulations
+Advise the sales team on shipping documentation and import rules for our new Kenyan customer: explain required commercial invoice details, consignee registration, prohibited goods list, applicable duties and the steps to obtain an import permit, then draft a one-page checklist they can follow.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work13
Publish tariffs
+Publish the updated tariff schedule for sea and air freight lanes effective next Monday to the rate database,…
Publish tariffs
+Publish the updated tariff schedule for sea and air freight lanes effective next Monday to the rate database, include commodity codes, origin-destination pairs, unit prices and surcharge rules, verify regulatory approvals and send confirmation to pricing and sales teams by Friday.
The tools that do the workSAPESCO
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Control trade commercial documentation
+Check and reconcile the paperwork for the three export bookings departing Wednesday—commercial invoices,…
Control trade commercial documentation
+Check and reconcile the paperwork for the three export bookings departing Wednesday—commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin and bills of lading—fix any mismatches with the shipper, then upload the final packet to the shipment record and notify customs and the operations supervisor.
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Ensure compliance with trade regulations
+Review the shipment file for container MAEU1234567, check commodity codes, licenses and certificates, flag…
Ensure compliance with trade regulations
+Review the shipment file for container MAEU1234567, check commodity codes, licenses and certificates, flag any non-compliant line items, update the compliance checklist, and prepare corrective instructions for the operations manager by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workCargoWise ediEnterprisejob descriptionsWikipedia
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Calculate weight, volume, or cost of goods to be moved.
+Take the commercial invoice and packing list for Booker Foods export to Rotterdam, calculate gross and net…
Calculate weight, volume, or cost of goods to be moved.
+Take the commercial invoice and packing list for Booker Foods export to Rotterdam, calculate gross and net weight, CBM per carton, pallet cube and landed cost per SKU, then add totals to the cost sheet and send to sales by noon tomorrow.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Recommend shipping solutions to minimize cost or environmental impacts.
+Draft a claim dossier for the damaged pallet on voyage VL2304: include the bill of lading, photos, survey…
Recommend shipping solutions to minimize cost or environmental impacts.
+Draft a claim dossier for the damaged pallet on voyage VL2304: include the bill of lading, photos, survey report, packing list and commercial invoice, calculate declared value and submit to the insurer with a cover letter requesting indemnity within 14 days.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Assist clients in obtaining insurance reimbursements.
+Prepare an update for the client, carrier Northeast Shipping and the warehouse: summarize current location,…
Assist clients in obtaining insurance reimbursements.
+Prepare an update for the client, carrier Northeast Shipping and the warehouse: summarize current location, estimated arrival, ETA risk factors, any paperwork pending, and the action items each party must complete before delivery, send by 09:00.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OutlookO*NET
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Arrange door-to-door transportation
+Arrange door-to-door transportation for the 20 pallets of electronics from Shanghai warehouse to Diego…
Arrange door-to-door transportation
+Arrange door-to-door transportation for the 20 pallets of electronics from Shanghai warehouse to Diego Morales at García Importers in Mexico City, pickup Monday, deliver by Friday, include customs clearance, export paperwork checked, notify Diego on booking and give carrier ETA.
The tools that do the workCargoWise ediEnterpriseMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Book cargo space on ships or planes
+Book cargo space for 20 pallets of electronics, weight 2,400 kg, from Shanghai to Veracruz by sea sailing L2X…
Book cargo space on ships or planes
+Book cargo space for 20 pallets of electronics, weight 2,400 kg, from Shanghai to Veracruz by sea sailing L2X on June 12, request confirmed space and provisional departure/arrival times, advise freight prepaid and container type 40HC, send booking confirmation to supplier and carrier.
The tools that do the workArcline ArcFreightjob descriptions
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Resolve issues during shipping (delays, damages)
+Resolve the container delay and water damage claim for BL 34567: get carrier delay explanation, arrange…
Resolve issues during shipping (delays, damages)
+Resolve the container delay and water damage claim for BL 34567: get carrier delay explanation, arrange inspection report at Veracruz terminal, source photos and damaged pallet list from Diego Morales, stop further delivery until salvage agreed, and prepare claim file for insurer and carrier recovery.
The tools that do the workKewill Global Trade and LogisticsMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Manage cargo insurance
+Arrange marine cargo insurance for the Shanghai to Veracruz shipment, insure CIF value USD 120,000 plus 10…
Manage cargo insurance
+Arrange marine cargo insurance for the Shanghai to Veracruz shipment, insure CIF value USD 120,000 plus 10 percent for freight, include all-risks cover and war extension, send policy quote to Garcia Importers and finance for approval before departure June 12.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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Prepare bills of lading
+Prepare the ocean bill of lading for BL 34567: party names as shipper Shanghai Tech Co, consignee Garcia…
Prepare bills of lading
+Prepare the ocean bill of lading for BL 34567: party names as shipper Shanghai Tech Co, consignee Garcia Importers, notify Diego Morales, 20 pallets, 2,400 kg, 40HC container no. CAXU7890123, freight prepaid, goods described as electronic components, and attach commercial invoice and packing list.
The tools that do the workCargoWise ediEnterpriseWikipedia
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Issue bills of lading
+Issue original ocean bills of lading for BL 34567 to Shanghai Tech Co: sign three originals, mark freight…
Issue bills of lading
+Issue original ocean bills of lading for BL 34567 to Shanghai Tech Co: sign three originals, mark freight prepaid, include notify party Diego Morales at Garcia Importers, split to one release on surrender, and arrange courier to shipper with tracking and signature required.
The tools that do the workCargoWise ediEnterpriseMicrosoft OutlookESCO
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Communicate with clients, carriers, and stakeholders
+Tell Marco at Oceanic Lines, Amira in procurement, and the consignee contact that the 20-foot shipment on…
Communicate with clients, carriers, and stakeholders
+Tell Marco at Oceanic Lines, Amira in procurement, and the consignee contact that the 20-foot shipment on vessel HARMONY voy. 045 departs Shanghai on Tuesday; attach the commercial invoice, packing list, and draft bill of lading, list required customs codes, note the STA date of July 28, and ask carriers to confirm container stuffing and ETA within 24 hours.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Outlookjob descriptions
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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