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Freight Forwarding Apprentice
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Freight Forwarding Apprentice
As a Freight Forwarding Apprentice, you will learn to coordinate Road, Air, Sea, and other modes of transport including customs. Your daily tasks include managing shipping documentation, calculating freight quotes, tracking cargo, and ensuring compliance with customs regulations, all while completing an apprenticeship course.
This hands-on, entry-level role is ideal for building a career in global supply chain logistics. You will split your time between on-the-job training and guided study, learning how to move goods from manufacturers to final destinations across international borders.
Key Responsibilities
- Shipment Coordination: Liaise with carriers, ports, and handling agents to book freight space.
- Documentation: Prepare and process essential shipping documents, including Bills of Lading, commercial invoices, and delivery notes.
- Customs Compliance: Assist with customs entries, tariff classifications, and HMRC import/export declarations.
- Pricing & Quotations: Calculate freight charges, duties, and VAT to prepare accurate commercial quotes for clients.
- Customer Service: Track live consignments, update clients on Estimated Times of Arrival (ETA), and quickly resolve any logistical delays.
Entry Requirements
- Education: Ideally 5 GCSEs (Grades A*-C or 4-9), including Maths and English.
- Skills: Strong communication, basic IT proficiency, and strong attention to detail.
- Attitude: A logical thinker with problem-solving abilities and a genuine interest in global trade. A good attitude to learning and development.
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Course Contents
- Select freight forwarding services based on customer requirements, taking into account country-specific factors, delivery times, and modes.
- Use generic or bespoke ICT systems to enter and monitor data on importing or exporting goods.
- Book, plan, and monitor international shipments, using manual or ICT systems, in accordance with the rules and regulations that apply to that area of the world and to the goods consigned.
- Prepare a customs declaration to a national standard, or give custom clearance instructions to a third party.
- Use data systems to submit the information required by customs authorities as part of the management of the international movement of goods.
- Produce freight costings and invoices in line with Incoterms, customer profile, or sales contract.
- Identify and source data from customers, systems, or colleagues.
- Identify and resolve problems in line with responsibilities.
- Create and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external customers.
- Adapt communication based on the situation and the audience.
- Identify problems outside of limits of responsibility and escalate within company policy.
- Communicate in writing, preparing communications on technical matters.
- Communicate with others verbally, including internal and external customers.
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Industry-Specific Skills
- Air: Use and adapt terminology appropriate to the air freight industry. Select and use documentation appropriate to the air freight industry.
- Ocean: Use and adapt terminology appropriate to the ocean freight industry. Select and use documentation appropriate to the ocean freight industry.
- Road: Use and adapt terminology appropriate to the road freight industry. Select and use documentation appropriate to the road freight industry.
You will split your time between on-the-job training and guided study, learning how to move goods from manufacturers to final destinations across international borders.
Your earnings can increase over time with an apprenticeship. Find out about potential future pay here.
Progression Opportunities
Progression opportunities include a job offer for Freight Forwarder, Transport Planner, Project Management, Internal Sales, Business Development.
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