Cargo Agent Held About 86,000 Jobs in 2006

Cargo Agent arranges for and tracks incoming and outgoing shipments in airline, train, or trucking terminals or on shipping docks. They expedite shipments by determining the route that shipments will take and by preparing all necessary documents. Agents take orders from customers and arrange for the pickup of freight or cargo and its delivery to loading platforms. Cargo and freight agents may keep records of the cargo, including its amount, type, weight, dimensions, destination, and time of shipment. They keep a tally of missing items and record the condition of damaged items.

Cargo and freight Agent arranges cargo according to its destination, and determines any shipping rates and other charges that usually apply to freight. For imported or exported freight, they verify that the proper customs paperwork is in order. Cargo and freight agents often track shipments electronically, using bar codes, and answer customers?questions about the status of their shipments.

Employment

Cargo and freight agents held about 85,900 jobs in 2008. Most agents were employed in transportation. Approximately 52 percent worked for firms engaged in support activities for the transportation industry, 19 percent were in the air transportation industry, 8 percent worked for courier businesses, and 7 percent were in the truck transportation industry.

Job Outlook

Employment of cargo and freight agents is expected to increase by 24 percent during the 2008-18 decade, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. As the overall economy continues to grow, more agents will be needed to handle the growing number of shipments resulting from increases in cargo traffic. Additionally, as shipments require multiple modes of transportation to reach their final destinations, such as freight trucking and air, a greater number of agents will be needed to manage the process. The growing popularity of online shopping and same day delivery may also spur employment growth.

Education and Training

Many jobs are entry level and require only a high school diploma. Cargo and freight agents undergo informal on-the-job training. They start out by checking items to be shipped, attaching labels to them, and making sure that addresses are correct. As this occupation becomes more automated, workers may need longer periods of training to master the use of equipment.

Earnings

Median hourly wages of cargo and freight agents in May 2008 were $17.92. The middle 50 percent earned between $13.67 and $22.92. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $10.65, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $27.70. Median hourly wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of cargo and freight agents in May 2008 were:

Massachusetts Port Authority
Air Cargo

Boston’s Logan International Airport serves as the air cargo gateway to a six-state region with a population of 13.2 million and a gross regional product of $350 billion. It is among America’s most efficient cargo airports, handling over 440,000 tons of cargo in 1997 in a land area of 2,500 acres.

Boston's Logan International Airport serves as the gateway to the six-state New England region with a population of over 14 million. In 2006, Boston Logan handled nearly 28 million passengers and carried nearly 716 million pounds of cargo and mail. Logan enjoys direct airport access to U.S. interstate highway system, and is minutes from downtown and the seaport. You can click Logan Airport Job page to find more detail there.

Boston Logan International Airport is the world's 35th most active airport, and offers nonstop service to 79 destinations and 35 international destinations. Boston Logan is served by 60 air carriers, including 19 foreign flag carriers and 8 air cargo carriers. Over 100 freight forwarders and brokers with a 300-year tradition of trade and commerce use Logan every day.

Cargo Agent

Cargo Agent Held About 85,900
Jobs in 2008

Cargo Agent - Nature of The Work

Employment

Job Outlook

Education and Training

Earnings

Massachusetts Port Authority
Air Cargo

Cargo Agent Held About 85,900 Jobs in 2008

Cargo Agent - Nature of The Work

Employment

Job Outlook

Education and Training

Earnings

Massachusetts Port Authority Air Cargo

Cargo Agent Held About 85,900
Jobs in 2008

Massachusetts Port Authority
Air Cargo