Profession forwarding manager

Forwarding managers plan and organise cargo shipments within national and international areas. They communicate with carriers and negotiate the best way to send the cargo to its destination which can be a single customer or a point of distribution. Forwarding managers act as experts in supply chain management. They know and apply the rules and regulations for each specific type of cargo and communicate the conditions and costs to the clients.

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Personality Type

• Conventional / Enterprising

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• Freight handler
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• Remover
• Remover helper
• Ship loader
• Warehouse worker

Knowledge

• Supply chain management

  The flow of goods in the supply chain, movement and storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from point of origin to point of consumption.

• Cost metrics

  Know various routing protocols to calculate itineraries; compare different possible routes and determine the most efficient one. Understand topological and link-state databases.

Skills

• Plan medium to long term objectives

  Schedule long term objectives and immediate to short term objectives through effective medium-term planning and reconciliation processes.

• Coordinate import transportation activities

  Oversee import transportation operations; optimise import processes and service strategies.

• Prepare bills of lading

  Prepare bills of lading and associated shipping documentation in accordance with customs and legal requirements.

• Manage carriers

  Manage carriers and help customers in assessing route, performance, mode, and costs.

• Book cargo

  Book cargo for shipment following customer specifications.

• Oversee shipment routing

  Organise the distribution of the cargo, also known as 'forwarding'. Take into account the instructions of the client and determine where regular routing or various routings may be required.

• Have access to shipping rates

  Have the ability to access information about shipping rates and compare the information across providers. Use this information to prepare bids for clients.

• Meet non vessel operating common carriers rules

  Understand regulations and rules in the field of non vessel operating common carriers (NVOCC), common carriers that do not operate the vessels by which ocean transportation is provided.

• Assess carriers

  Evaluate carrier performance; evaluate strengths and weaknesses, network and infrastructure.

• Manage medium term objectives

  Monitor medium term schedules with budget estimations and reconciliation on a quarterly basis.

• Prepare documentation for international shipping

  Understand how to prepare and process official documents for international shipping.

• Exert a goal-oriented leadership role towards colleagues

  Embrace a leadership role in the organisation and with colleagues as to provide coaching and direction to subordinates aiming at the achievement of specific objectives.

• Oversee cargo storage requirements

  Oversee the implementation of requirements in the storage of customer cargo.

• Develop efficiency plans for logistics operations

  Elaborate and implement plans in order to increase efficiency and reduce waste during logistics operations.

• Make bids in forward auctions

  Create and provide forward bids, taking into account possible special requirements such as refrigeration of goods or transport of potentially hazardous materials.

• Coordinate export transportation activities

  Coordinate all export transportation operations while considering export strategies and services.

• Inspect carrier documents

  Inspect written or digital official documents required by carrier or country of import or transit.

• Analyse supply chain trends

  Analyse and make predictions about trends and evolutions in supply chain operations in relation to technology, efficiency systems, types of products shipped, and logistical requirements for shipments, in order to remain at the forefront of supply chain methodologies.

• Implement short term objectives

  Define priorities and immediate actions for the short future.

• Plan transport operations

  Plan mobility and transport for different departments in order to obtain the best possible movement of equipment and materials. Negotiate the best possible delivery rates. Compare different bids and select the most reliable and cost-effective bid.

• Foster relationships with various types of carrier

  Establish relationships with various types of carriers e.g. trucking companies, air freighters and ocean liners.

• Communicate with shipment forwarders

  Maintain a good flow of communication with shipper and freight forwarders, who ensure a correct delivery and distribution of goods.

• Manage freight payment methods

  Manage freight payment methods in accordance with the procedure that must be followed wherein payment is made around the time the freight is due to arrive, clear customs, and be released.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB