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How exposed to AI is a Freight Forwarder?

Of the 31 tasks O*NET lists for freight forwarders, 11 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 5 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
Air Export AgentAir Export CoordinatorExport CoordinatorFreight ForwarderGSA Coordinator (General Services Administration Coordinator)Import AgentOcean Export SpecialistRelocation CoordinatorRoute Specialist
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
31
tasks rated for this occupation
58%
hold a degree, from a survey of only 16
86k
people do this job in the US
13 of 51
least protected in office and admin

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

11
  • Inform clients of factors such as shipping options, timelines, transfers, or regulations affecting shipments
  • Prepare shipping documentation, such as bills of lading, packing lists, dock receipts, or certificates of origin
  • Prepare invoices or cost quotations for freight transportation
  • Negotiate shipping rates with freight carriers
  • Pay or arrange for payment of freight or insurance fees or other charges
  • Recommend or arrange appropriate merchandise packing methods, according to climate, terrain, weight, nature of goods, or costs
  • Provide detailed port information to importers or exporters
  • Arrange for applicable duties, taxes, or paperwork for customs clearance
  • Refer exporters to experts in areas such as trade financing, international marketing, government export requirements, international banking, or marine insurance
  • Consider environmental sustainability factors when determining merchandise packing methods
  • Recommend shipping solutions to minimize cost or environmental impacts

Only with software built on top

15
  • Calculate weight, volume, or cost of goods to be moved
  • Verify proper packaging and labeling of exported goods
  • Select shipment routes, based on nature of goods shipped, transit times, or security needs
  • Keep records of goods dispatched or received
  • Consolidate loads with a common destination to reduce costs to individual shippers
  • Monitor or record locations of goods in transit
  • Arrange delivery or storage of goods at destinations
  • Verify adherence of documentation to customs, insurance, or regulatory requirements
  • Determine efficient and cost-effective methods of moving goods from one location to another
  • Maintain current knowledge of relevant legislation, political situations, or other factors that could affect freight shipping
  • Arrange for special transport of sensitive cargoes, such as livestock, food, or medical supplies
  • Complete customs paperwork
  • Analyze shipping routes to determine how to minimize environmental impact
  • Arrange for transport, using a variety of modes, such as rail, short sea shipping, air, or roadways, to minimize carbon emissions or other environmental impacts
  • Review the environmental records of freight carriers to inform shipping decisions

Cannot be sped up

5
  • Provide shipment status notification to exporters, consignees, or insurers
  • Reserve necessary space on ships, aircraft, trains, or trucks
  • Make arrangements with customs brokers to facilitate the passage of goods through customs
  • Obtain or arrange cargo insurance
  • Assist clients in obtaining insurance reimbursements
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.