Freight forwarder
Organise the transportation of goods and cargo around the UK and overseas.
Also known as: shipping clerk, import clerk, export clerk
About the job
What it's like
You would organise how to move goods and cargo around the UK and overseas. You’d plan the best ways to transport the cargoes by road, rail, air and sea for your customers.
You would work with various carriers – the companies that provide transport services – and work out the time and costs of getting goods from one place to another.
Your tasks might include:
arranging routes and schedules
booking cargo space with carriers
negotiating the rates
arranging insurance
calculating weight, volume and cost of goods to be moved
Rrecording details on a computer system
clearing goods through customs and arranging for any duties or taxes to be paid
You’d liaise with your customers to agree contracts, deliver quotations and invoices and give advice about the arrangements that have been made. You’d also do general administrative tasks such as filing.
Green job  Â
In this job you could be doing work to help the environment by finding the most fuel-efficient delivery routes.
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.
Environment
You would be office-based.
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Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Transport
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- freight forwarding
- data import/export
- customs broking
- consignment
- customs regulations
- job costing
- shipping regulations
- bill of lading
- trade compliance
- shipping management
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- making decisions
- managing resources
- developing a plan
- sorting
- attention to detail
- working with numbers
- problem solving
- written communication
- verbal communication
- building relationships
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Administration and Information Technology
Business in Practice
There are no set routes into this role but many employers value qualifications in supply, transport and logistics (or business with logistics).
There are only a few logistics, supply and transport centred courses in Scotland.
To enter a Higher National Diploma in Supply Chain Management (SCQF level 8) requires National 4/5 qualifications and two Highers at Grade C or above.
To enter a degree in Transport Management requires a relevant HND.
There are a number of postgraduate courses (SCQF level 11) available such as an MSc in Logistics and supply chain management which would require an undergraduate degree for entry.
To apply to a degree elsewhere in the UK you may require National 5 qualifications, Highers and Advanced Highers.
Relevant work-based qualifications such as a Scottish Vocational Qualification in Supply Chain Management (SVQ level 2/3) or accredited training from the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply or be willing to work towards these qualifications once in a job.
Previous experience in office administration or transport would helpful.
You will also need good computer skills, and the ability to speak a foreign language could be useful if the company operates in Europe or further afield.
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