According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies. | 77% |
| Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents. | 74% |
| Track delivery progress of shipments. | 71% |
| Prepare manifests showing numbers of airplane passengers and baggage, mail, and freight weights, transmitting data to destinations. | 70% |
| Advise clients on transportation and payment methods. | 69% |
| Arrange insurance coverage for goods. | 69% |
| Install straps, braces, and padding to loads to prevent shifting or damage during shipment. | 68% |
| Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights. | 68% |
| Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored. | 66% |
| Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery. | 66% |
| Check import or export documentation to determine cargo contents and use tariff coding system to classify goods according to fee or tariff group. | 65% |
| Coordinate and supervise activities of workers engaged in packing and shipping merchandise. | 64% |
| Contact vendors or claims adjustment departments to resolve shipment problems or contact service depots to arrange for repairs. | 64% |
| Inspect and count items received and check them against invoices or other documents, recording shortages and rejecting damaged goods. | 63% |
| Route received goods to first available flight or to appropriate storage areas or departments, using forklifts, hand trucks, or other equipment. | 62% |
| Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary. | 61% |
| Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods. | 60% |
| Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshaling areas and help load and unload goods safely. | 60% |
| Assemble containers and crates used to transport items, such as machines or vehicles. | 59% |
| Maintain a supply of packing materials. | 53% |
| Direct or participate in cargo loading to ensure completeness of load and even distribution of weight. | 52% |
| Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers. | 52% |
| Attach address labels, identification codes, and shipping instructions to containers. | 51% |
| Open cargo containers and unwrap contents, using steel cutters, crowbars, or other hand tools. | 50% |
