What Is a Freight Agent?

Many companies require cargo transportation services. As mentioned on ezlogz.com, there is no need to look for a suitable vessel and negotiate contracts yourself when you can contact a freight agent whose function is to manage the logistics of carriers and shipping companies. By using a computer system, they combine and distribute resources so that each cargo item is delivered to its destination quickly and safely. A freight agent can specify the delivery cost and help you to develop a route for moving the goods to their destination. Thanks to transportation monitoring programs, the customer is able to know where the cargo is at every moment. To try becoming a freight agent for the first time, a secondary education is all that is generally required. All responsibilities will become clear during work as companies often conduct internships and teach everything at the workplace. The first tasks may simply involve verification of the destination address to which the cargo is to be delivered; but after gaining industry experience, the workload increases and the agent performs more and more tasks to support the transportation process.

The list of duties of a freight agent includes a few functions. He must make sure that the goods are delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible. The agent is responsible for searching for warehouses, drawing up documentation, and introducing information to the database related to the transported cargo and carriers. As digital technologies develop, computer systems are widely used for logistics; and agents are able to introduce information into the corresponding database or cloud system. Therefore, it is necessary to study the software designed for forwarding logistics thoroughly. The database may also contain information about transport companies that offer the highest speed of transportation at lower cost.

Sometimes, a freight agent must obtain a license from the corresponding organizations when this condition is required for conducting business operations. Also, some particular types of cargo can't be shipped without a license. For instance, if the agent deals with forwarding for automobile companies in America, he will need a document from the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). To obtain the license, it is necessary to fill out an application specifying basic information about your own company and wait for a response. Freight agents work for a particular company which generally develop if a professional can find reliable carriers and cooperate with consigners competently.

Currently, many agents work remotely. All information about carriers is available electronically, so it is enough to have access to the corresponding database. Monitoring of the cargo transportation after concluding the contract is performed from the freight broker's name. Agents typically receive a percentage from the delivery cost as a reward. During a day, it is possible to arrange transportation of 10 or more cargo shipments. The insurance company in which the goods are insured is responsible for the cargo. If any problems occur during transportation leading to the box deformation, damage, or complete loss, the customer will receive compensation. The agent's task is to provide the best conditions for the safe transportation of goods to their destination.