20 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You usually start by checking orders and emails in Microsoft Outlook and your warehouse system (SAP or Accuship Star) to see what must ship that day. That takes an hour or two depending on backlog.
Then you pack, label, and seal shipments, print bills of lading with ADi SmartBOL or Accuship Star, and arrange carriers using Excel to compare costs and routes. Afternoon is for customs paperwork, answering client calls about damages or shortages, and updating import/export licenses and port formalities.
You’ll use SAP or Accuship Star for order status, inventory, and shipping records; ADi SmartBOL for bills of lading and freight documents; and Microsoft Excel to compute charges, space available, demurrage, or to compare routes and environmental impact.
Expect Microsoft Outlook for communication and Word for formal letters. Mozilla Firefox or Apple Safari are used for customs portals and online auctions. Get comfortable switching among them quickly.
AI can help draft emails, summarize customs rules, or check lists, but never upload customer names, licence numbers, or shipment IDs to public AI. Treat AI like a drafting tool, not a source of truth.
Double-check anything AI writes against SAP, Accuship Star, or official customs sites. Keep sensitive files in your company systems and follow IT rules for handling licences and insurance documents.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for 2025, about 816,870 people work in this field. The median pay is $45,260 per year; the lowest tenth earn about $34,650, and the top tenth about $62,190.
Pay varies by location, company scale, and if you handle international port duties or specialised licenses. Use the BLS numbers to set expectations.
Start with a high-school diploma and basic courses in Excel and business communication. Take short courses in import/export regulations, customs clearance, and freight documentation (bills of lading).
Learn one terminal system like SAP or Accuship Star and practice ADi SmartBOL if available. Seek an internship in a warehouse or with a freight forwarder to see real paperwork and port procedures.
A shipping coordinator focuses on day-to-day shipment execution: packing, labeling, booking transport, filing customs forms, and ensuring licences and insurance are in order. You run the paperwork and solve immediate problems at the port or with carriers.
Freight forwarders arrange international transport end-to-end and negotiate routes; logistics managers plan networks, budgets, and strategy. Coordinators are tactical operators working in SAP, ADi SmartBOL, Excel, and port systems.
Attention to paperwork and rules. Mistakes on customs forms, licences, or bills of lading create delays, demurrage charges, or fines. Learn to read and follow checklists for customs clearance and port regulations.
Come prepared to use Excel for simple computations (space, storage, demurrage) and to communicate clearly in Outlook when you need to fix shortages, damages, or nonconformance with suppliers and carriers.