Freight forwarder Job Information | National Careers Service

Job profiles

Freight forwarder

Hours

35-40 per week
Starting salary

£15,000 + per year

Freight forwarders organise the movement of goods around the UK and between countries. They plan the most efficient ways of transporting goods by road, rail, air and sea. If you're interested in geography, and have good number and planning skills, this job might suit you well.

In this job you will also need to work accurately and pay close attention to detail. You will need to be good with computers.

To get into this job you will find it useful to have office experience, computer skills and foreign language skills. Some employers may ask for some GCSE passes and some may ask for A levels. You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. If you have a degree or BTEC HNC/HND you could apply for the graduate training schemes run by the larger employers.

The work

As a freight forwarder, your work would involve:

arranging routes and schedules, and confirming the details with carriers
booking cargo space with carriers
negotiating rates
arranging insurance
calculating weight, volume and cost of goods to be moved
recording details on a computer system
preparing quotations and invoices
clearing goods through customs and arranging for any duties or taxes to be paid
preparing contracts such as Letters of Credit
advising clients about the arrangements that have been made
carrying out general administrative tasks such as filing.

You may also be known by other job titles such as traffic office clerk, or if your job involves importing and/or exporting goods overseas, you could be known as an import, export or shipping clerk.

Hours

In a full-time job you would work between 35 and 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. You could work standard office hours, shifts, or flexible hours if you regularly deal with countries in different time zones. You would be office-based.

Income

Salaries are typically between £15,000 and £25,000, depending on location and level of experience. Managers could earn £30,000 to £40,000 a year.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

You will find it useful to have office experience, computer skills and foreign language skills. Some employers may ask for four GCSEs (A-C) including English and maths (or qualifications of a similar level), while others may prefer you to be qualified to A level standard or above.

You may be able to get into this job through an Apprenticeship scheme. The range of Apprenticeships available in your area will depend on the local jobs market and the types of skills employers need from their workers. To find out more, visit the Apprenticeships website.

Apprenticeships

If you have a BTEC HND or degree, you may be able to join one of the larger employers through a graduate training scheme. You may have an advantage with one of the following subjects:

transport and distribution management
logistics
supply chain management
business and management
foreign languages with business studies.

Check with colleges or universities for exact course entry requirements.

Training and development

You will be trained on the job by your employer. Your training may include the chance to take work-based qualifications such as:

Traffic Office at Level 2 and 3
Level 2 Certificate in International Trade and Logistics Operations
qualifications from professional bodies such as the British International Freight Association (BIFA), Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) or the Institute of Export.

For more information about the Level 2 Certificate in International Trade and Logistics, contact the awarding bodies EDI plc and ABC Awards.

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) offers BTEC-accredited Intermediate Awards in Customs Import and Export Procedures, and International Freight Procedures.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) offers:

Level 2 Certificate in Logistics and Transport
Level 3 Certificate in Logistics and Transport – for supervisors
Level 5 Professional Diploma in Logistics and Transport – for new managers, or recent graduates with non-business degrees.

If your job involves exporting or importing goods from abroad, you could choose to take professional qualifications from the Institute of Export:

Certificate in International Trade (CIT) – an entry-level qualification
Advanced Certificate in International Trade (ACIT) – you must be 18 or over with at least four GCSEs (A-C) including English plus one A level or equivalent, or at least 21 with three or more years’ work experience in international trade
Diploma in International Trade (DIT) – you must have passed or have exemptions from the Advanced Certificate.

If you have a relevant qualification at level 3 or 4, or a HND, degree or postgraduate qualification, these may count towards the ACIT qualification.

Skills and knowledge

To be a freight forwarder you should have:

good spoken and written communication skills
good mathematical skills
accuracy and attention to detail
computer literacy
organisational and planning skills
tact and diplomacy
an interest in geography.

More information

Skills for Logistics (Opens new window)
12 Warren Yard
Warren Farm Office Village
Milton Keynes
MK12 5NW
Tel: 01908 313360
www.skillsforlogistics.org

British International Freight Association (BIFA) (Opens new window)
Education and Training Services
Redfern House
Browells Lane
Feltham
Middlesex
TW13 7EP
Tel: 020 8844 2266
www.bifa.org

Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport UK (CILT UK) (Opens new window)
Logistics and Transport Centre
Earlstrees Court
Earlstrees Road
Corby
Northants
NN17 4AX
Tel: 01536 740104
www.ciltuk.org.uk

Institute of Export (Opens new window)
Export House
Minerva Business Park
Lynch Wood
Peterborough
PE2 6FT
Tel: 01733 404400
www.export.org.uk

Opportunities

You could work for local, national or international freight forwarding companies, major retailers, manufacturers or warehousing and distribution firms. With experience, you could progress to supervisor or manager.

Jobs may be advertised in the local press, Jobcentre Plus, specialist recruitment agencies and trade magazines.

You may find the following useful for job vacancies and general reading (links open in new window):

Job profiles are based on the latest information supplied to us by industry bodies, such as Sector Skills Councils. Please be aware that with the introduction of the Qualifications and Credit Framework there has been, and will continue to be, changes to vocational qualifications. For more information, please check with industry bodies directly.

We do not accept responsibility for the content of external sites.

Related industry information

Industry summary

The freight forwarding industry is part of the logistics sector, represented by the Skills for Logistics Sector Skills Council, which also includes: air freight; road haulage; storage and warehousing; wholesaling; postal services; and couriers. Logistics is the movement and supply of all goods (or freight) from raw materials, through all stages of the manufacturing process to the delivery of the finished product to companies and consumers. This is known as the ‘supply chain.’ Nearly 2,320,000 people work in the logistics sector, which accounts to 8% of the UK workforce. It has been estimated that the logistics sector is worth £86.54 billion to the UK economy.

Freight forwarders organise the movement of goods around the UK and between countries. They use computer systems to plan the most efficient ways of transporting goods by road, rail, air and sea taking into consideration the following factors such as, the perishable or hazardous nature of the goods, cost, transit time and security. Due to the nature of the work, freight forwarders are often found working in teams consisting of clerks, warehouse staff and drivers.

Key facts:

Freight forwarding companies employ 138,200 people across the UK, which accounts for 8% of UK logistics employment.
There are 5,600 freight forwarding workplaces in the UK.

Jobs in the industry range from: freight forwarder, large goods vehicle (LGV) drivers, transport managers, distribution managers, van drivers, transport clerks, distribution clerks.

National and regional data

East Midlands – 156,600 employees work within the logistics sector in this region. Of these, 14,400 people work in freight forwarding, this equates to 9% of the logistics workforce in the East Midlands.

East of England – 186,700 people are employed in the logistics sector in the region, 16,400 of these individuals work in freight forwarding. This is 9% of the logistics workforce in the region.

London – 178,800 employees work in the logistics sector in London. Of these 21,300 work in freight forwarding, which accounts for 12% of the logistics workforce in the region.

North East – The logistics sector employs 55,000 workers in the North East, of these, 2,900 are employed in freight forwarding. This is 5% of the logistics workforce in the region.

North West – 193,400 workers are employed in the logistics sector in the region, of which 17,000 are employed in freight forwarding. Freight forwarding employment accounts for 9% of the logistics workforce in the region.

South East – 256,300 people work in the logistics sector in the region. The freight forwarding industry employs 19,200 employees of these people, which equates to 7% of the logistics workforce in the South East.

South West – 135,100 employees work in the logistics sector in the region, of these 7,500 work in freight forwarding. This equates to 6% of the logistics workforce in the South West.

West Midlands – The logistics sector employs 187,500 workers in the West Midlands, of these, 14,600 people are employed in freight forwarding. This is 8% of the logistics workforce in the region.

Yorkshire and the Humber – 158,100 workers are employed by the logistics sector in the region, of these 12,600 work in freight forwarding. This is 8% of the logistics workforce in the region

[N.B. Data derived from Annual Population Survey, 2008, Annual Business Inquiry, 2007 and Inter‐Departmental Business Register, 2007.]