Forwarding agent
Forwarding agents work in forwarding companies in tasks involving the organisation of import and export shipments. The forwarding agent acts as an intermediary between the customer and the transport company, handling, for example, freight booking, handling of transport documents, customs formalities, and, if necessary, storage. In this profession, you must be familiar with the various transport options, as well as regulations related to import and export. The tasks require precision, organisational skills, service-mindedness, and language skills.
Forwarding companies.
Forwarding agents must have strong expertise in the logistics sector. The forwarding agent must be aware of transport practices, including different modes of transport, routing, storage, and customs practices. The profession calls for attention to detail and diligence, as forwarding agents must be able to handle a large amount of information and documents accurately and without errors.
The job requires good time management skills in order to handle several tasks and ensure that transportation takes place according to the agreed schedule. The work also requires good verbal and written communication skill. Operating in international logistics often requires the ability to understand different cultures, as well as language skills. Forwarding agents often use various information systems and software to manage and monitor transports, so IT skills are also needed.
Good interaction skills are necessary because the forwarding agent works directly with customers and transport companies. Customer service skills help forwarding agents handle customer queries and solve potential problems. A number of problems can arise in the logistics chain, such as delays, transport damage, or challenges related to customs formalities, in which case the forwarding agent must be able to quickly identify and effectively solve these problems.
- supply chain management
A suitable basic education for a forwarding agent is, for example, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree (BBA, University of Applied Sciences). You can complete a vocational qualification in business at the upper secondary level. The vocational qualification can also be completed through an apprenticeship.
After gaining professional skills, a Further Qualification in Business in the competence area of international business and forwarding, and a Specialist Qualification in Business in the competence area of international business can also be completed.
Median salary
3650 €/mo
The data is based on the median income, meaning the amount of salary which is the middle of the salary amounts arranged in order of magnitude.
Source: Statistics Finland's structural statistics on wages and salaries
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