Office and administrative support
Cargo and freight agents
Expedite and route movement of incoming and outgoing cargo and freight shipments in airline, train, and trucking terminals and shipping docks. Take orders from customers and arrange pickup of freight and cargo for delivery to loading platform. Prepare and examine bills of lading to determine shipping charges and tariffs.
Median pay
$52,260
Growth to 2035
+6%
faster than average
Openings a year
9,000
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Cargo and freight agents
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Cargo and freight agents: 53% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies.
- Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents.
- Track delivery progress of shipments.
- Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.
- Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights.
- Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored.
- Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery.
- Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary.
Also called: Air Export Specialist · Drop Shipment Clerk · Freight Broker · Intermodal Dispatcher · International Coordinator · Load Planner · Logistics Coordinator · Logistics Service Representative
Outlook and AI
Cargo and freight agents held 100,300 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 106,400 by 2035 (+6%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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- Cargo and freight agents vs. Postal service clerk
- Cargo and freight agents vs. Postal service mail carrier
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- Cargo and freight agents vs. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators
- Cargo and freight agents vs. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Cargo and freight agents vs. Order clerk