| Detail | For this role |
|---|---|
| Department | Logistics and Warehousing |
| Level | Mid level |
| Reports to | Freight Manager |
| Direct reports | None |
| Experience | 2 to 5 years in freight forwarding or shipping |
Freight Forwarding Executive job description template
Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.
Job title: Freight Forwarding Executive
Department: Logistics and Warehousing
Reports to: Freight Manager
Location: [City], [office, branch or site]
About the role
A Freight Forwarding Executive arranges the movement of cargo by sea, air or land across borders. They book space with shipping lines and airlines, prepare transport documents such as the bill of lading and airway bill, coordinate pickup, and track the shipment to destination. They work with customs, carriers and the customer to keep cargo moving to plan. A good one books the right space at the right rate, gets the documents right the first time, and keeps the customer informed at every leg of an international shipment.
Key responsibilities
- Book sea, air or land freight space with carriers to match the customer's cargo and timeline.
- Prepare and check transport documents including the bill of lading, airway bill and manifest.
- Arrange pickup, container stuffing or cargo consolidation and delivery at both ends.
- Coordinate with the customs clearance team so documents and timelines align for smooth release.
- Track the shipment across each leg and update the customer on milestones and delays.
- Compute and quote freight charges, surcharges and local costs accurately to the customer.
- Manage carrier and agent relationships at origin and destination for reliable handling.
- Handle exceptions such as rollovers, short shipments and documentation discrepancies.
- Process pre-alerts, arrival notices and delivery orders in time to avoid holding charges.
- Keep shipment files complete for billing, audit and any claims.
Requirements
- Graduate in commerce or a related field
- Knowledge of international freight and Incoterms
- A diploma in export and import or logistics is an advantage
- 2 to 5 years in freight forwarding or shipping
KRAs and KPIs for a Freight Forwarding Executive
Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.
| Key result area | How to measure it |
|---|---|
| Booking reliability | Cargo shipped on the planned vessel or flight above 95 percent |
| Document accuracy | Transport documents issued without errors that cause holds or amendments |
| Shipment visibility | Customers updated at each milestone with no surprise delays |
| Cost accuracy | Freight quotes and invoices accurate with zero unbilled costs |
| Exception handling | Rollovers and discrepancies resolved before they cause missed deliveries |
| Charges control | Detention and holding charges avoided through timely documentation |
Skills and tools
Tools used day to day: Freight forwarding software, Carrier and port portals, MS Excel, Email and quotation tools, Shipment tracking systems.
Reporting line and career path
Next roles: Senior Freight Executive, Freight Manager, Key Account Manager Logistics
Interview questions for a Freight Forwarding Executive
- Walk me through arranging a sea freight export from booking to delivery order.
- What is the difference between a house bill of lading and a master bill of lading?
- A container is rolled over to the next vessel. How do you manage the customer and the cargo?
- How do you quote freight so that no cost is missed and the margin holds?
- How do Incoterms change who arranges and pays for each leg of a shipment?
- Tell me about a documentation discrepancy you caught before it caused a hold.
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What does a Freight Forwarding Executive do?
A Freight Forwarding Executive arranges cargo movement by sea, air or land. They book carrier space, prepare transport documents such as the bill of lading and airway bill, arrange pickup and delivery, and track shipments to destination. They quote freight, coordinate with customs, keep customers updated, and handle exceptions like rollovers and discrepancies.
What qualifications do you need to become a Freight Forwarding Executive?
A commerce graduate degree and a working knowledge of international freight and Incoterms are the usual base. A diploma in export and import or logistics is an advantage. Employers value accuracy with documents, familiarity with carrier and port portals, and clear communication with customers and overseas agents.
What is the difference between freight forwarding and logistics?
Freight forwarding is a specialised part of logistics focused on arranging the carriage of cargo, usually across borders, with the associated documents and carrier bookings. Logistics is the broader function that also covers warehousing, domestic transport, inventory and distribution. A freight forwarder handles the shipping leg within the larger logistics picture.