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How exposed to AI is a Customs Broker?

Of the 23 tasks O*NET lists for customs brokers, 7 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 3 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Corporate Licensed BrokerCustoms Broker
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
23
tasks rated for this occupation
20%
hold a degree, from a survey of 20
334k
people do this job in the US
16 of 48
least protected in business and finance

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

7
  • Advise customers on import and export restrictions, tariff systems, insurance requirements, quotas, or other customs-related matters
  • Confer with officials in various agencies to facilitate clearance of goods through customs and quarantine
  • Inform importers and exporters of steps to reduce duties and taxes
  • Obtain line releases for frequent shippers of low-risk commodities, high-volume entries, or multiple-container loads
  • Provide advice on transportation options, types of carriers, or shipping routes
  • Apply for tariff concessions or for duty drawbacks and other refunds
  • Prepare papers for shippers to appeal duty charges

Only with software built on top

13
  • Prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures
  • Clear goods through customs and to their destinations for clients
  • Pay, or arrange for payment of, taxes and duties on shipments
  • Calculate duty and tariff payments owed on shipments
  • Request or compile necessary import documentation, such as customs invoices, certificates of origin, and cargo-control documents
  • Classify goods according to tariff coding system
  • Stay abreast of changes in import or export laws or regulations by reading current literature, attending meetings or conferences, or conferring with colleagues
  • Post bonds for the products being imported or assist clients in obtaining bonds
  • Quote duty and tax rates on goods to be imported, based on federal tariffs and excise taxes
  • Arrange for transportation, warehousing, or product distribution of imported or exported products
  • Monitor or trace the location of goods
  • Insure cargo against loss, damage, or pilferage
  • Suggest best methods of packaging or labeling products

Cannot be sped up

3
  • Sign documents on behalf of clients, using powers of attorney
  • Contract with freight forwarders for destination services
  • Maintain relationships with customs brokers in other ports to expedite clearing of cargo
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.