Occupation Profile

Cargo and Freight Agents

(SOC Code : 43-5011)

in California

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.

Employers usually expect an employee in this occupation to be able to do the job after Moderate-term on-the-job training (1-12 months) .

Occupational Wages

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Area	Year	Period	Hourly Mean	Hourly by Percentile
				25th	Median	75th
California	2012	1st Qtr	$20.76	$15.58	$19.96	$25.30

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Occupational Projections of Employment (also called "Outlook" or "Demand")

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Area	Estimated Year-Projected Year	Employment		Employment Change		Annual Avg Openings
		Estimated	Projected	Number	Percent
California	2010 - 2020	11,400	14,100	2,700	23.7	560

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Job Openings from JobCentral National Labor Exchange

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Enter a Zip Code Find a Zip code in California

Within miles of Zip Code.

Possible Licenses Required and Issuing Authority

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License Title

License Authority

Cargo Shipper`s Agent

Department of Insurance
Producer Licensing Bureau
www.insurance.ca.gov

About Licenses

Industries Employing This Occupation (click on Industry Title to View Employers List)

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Industry Title

Number of Employers in State of California

Percent of Total
Employment for Occupation in State of California

Freight Transportation Arrangement

2,301

48.8%

Scheduled Air Transportation

508

12.4%

General Freight Trucking

4,469

2.8%

Management of Companies and Enterprises

914

1.8%

About Staffing Patterns

Training Programs (click on title for more information)

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Program Title

General Office Occupations and Clerical Services

Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/Technician.

About Training & Apprenticeships

About This Occupation (from O*NET - The Occupation Information Network)

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Top Tasks (Specific duties and responsibilities of this job.)

Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies.

Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of the arrival of freight or baggage, and arrange for delivery.

Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.

Prepare manifests showing baggage, mail, and freight weights, and number of passengers on airplanes, and transmit data to destinations.

Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents.

Check import/export documentation to determine cargo contents, and classify goods into different fee or tariff groups, using a tariff coding system.

Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods.

Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights.

Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary.

Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers.

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Top Skills used in this Job

Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Time Management - Managing one`s own time and the time of others.

Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others` reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others` actions.

Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.

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Top Abilities (Attributes of the person that influence performance in this job.)

Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

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Top Work Values (Aspects of this job that create satisfaction.)

Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees.

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Top Interests (The types of activities someone in this job would like.)

Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

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Alternate Titles

Cargo Agents; Cargo Routers; Dispatchers; Documentation Clerks; Freight Brokers; Freight Forwarders; Freight Shipping Agents; Logistics Coordinators; and Shipping Agents