How to become a cargo and freight agent
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.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
What cargo and freight agents do
- Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies.
- Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents.
- Track delivery progress of shipments.
- Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights.
- Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored.
- Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary.
Skills that matter most
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Monitoring
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
Is cargo and freight agent a good career?
On the numbers, this job is close to the average across occupations. Median pay is 3% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- District of Columbia $76,250
- New Hampshire $67,660
- South Dakota $64,340
- Nebraska $62,500
- Washington $60,760
Cargo and Freight Agents salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.