A freight forwarder is responsible for the coordination of international modes of transportation, including the customs, warehouse, pricing, insurance logistics and other related issues. A freight forwarder makes sure that their clients’ products are exported safely and smoothly.

You can become a freight forwarder yourself. Although there is no formal degree related to becoming a freight forwarder, yet there are some requirements for that. Most of the companies train their freight forwarders on their own, yet knowing a few things beforehand is always beneficial:

Know-How of the International Transport System is a Must

Just as I have mentioned above, there is no formal degree for becoming a freight forwarder. However, the more knowledge you have regarding the international transport system, the more better your chances of you becoming a freight forwarder are. You should read a lot about it and attend different workshops and seminars which are offered related to this topic.

Study Documents Related to Global Transport

Freight forwarding is all about global transport.  It involves a lot of paperwork and documentation. This is why you should be fully versed in them. It includes invoicing as well as checking if certain goods can be exported to a particular country or not.

Get Your License from Ocean Transportation Intermediaries

Ocean Transportation Intermediaries offer licensing for freight forwarding. So, whether you are planning to work as a freight forwarder on your own, or with a company, you need to have proper licensing for that. According to the license, you will also have to sign a bond with the Federal Maritime Commission. You may not to get an accreditation from the Air Transport Association as well.

Specialize

Many freight forwarding companies offer specialization in specific areas. If you have become a freight forwarder, then do go ahead and get a specialization from your company in one area. You can even join a professional agency like the Forwarders Association of America and National Customs Brokers for having access to different resources and materials available with them. They also hold workshops for freight forwarders and you can benefit from them as well.