Freight Forwarder Resume Example
Professional resume template and tips for Freight Forwarder positions
If you’re considering a career as a freight forwarder, this guide provides the specific overview you need. We detail the daily responsibilities, from negotiating carrier rates to arranging customs clearance, and list the essential technical tools like CargoWise and SAP. You’ll also discover the critical blend of skills, including negotiation, complex problem-solving, and service orientation, that employers value. Use this resource to understand the knowledge areas and daily tasks of a freight forwarder, and get practical advice for highlighting your expertise. Start building your standout resume with Mokaru to advance your logistics career today.
PATRICK EDWARDS
Professional Summary
Freight Forwarder with 3+ years in B2B industrial logistics, securing a 15% average annual cost reduction through carrier rate negotiations. Coordinates sensitive shipments and customs clearance using SAP and the Microsoft Office suite.
Skills
Experience
- Led negotiation strategy using critical thinking to secure 15% lower freight rates with major carriers, saving $200K annually
- Designed and implemented a customs clearance protocol in SAP, reducing paperwork errors by 25% across high-value shipments
- Developed training materials in PowerPoint and delivered sessions to 20+ staff on complex shipping regulations and compliance procedures
- Coordinated special transport for 50+ sensitive medical shipments using active listening to understand precise client requirements
- Managed end-to-end project for a key client's Asia-Europe lane using CargoWise, improving on-time delivery from 88% to 96%
- Prepared and audited all shipping documentation using Microsoft Excel, ensuring 100% accuracy for customs clearance over 12 months
- Supported senior forwarders by monitoring shipment statuses in Arcline ArcFreight and proactively updating 5+ daily client reports
- Assisted in preparing bills of lading and certificates of origin in Microsoft Word, ensuring error-free documentation for 100+ shipments
- Applied reading comprehension to accurately process client requests in Outlook, resolving 30+ routine shipping inquiries per week
Education
Certificates
- Certified Logistics Professional (CLP)
- Certified in Transportation and Logistics (CTL)
- Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate
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What does a Freight Forwarder do?
A Freight Forwarder performs various tasks on a daily basis. Here are the core responsibilities you can expect in this role:
- Negotiate shipping rates with freight carriers.
- Arrange for special transport of sensitive cargoes, such as livestock, food, or medical supplies.
- Arrange for applicable duties, taxes, or paperwork for customs clearance.
- 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.
What skills do you need as a Freight Forwarder?
Employers hiring for Freight Forwarder positions look for candidates with a strong combination of technical and soft skills. Here are the most important skills to highlight on your resume:
What knowledge areas are important for a Freight Forwarder?
Beyond skills and tools, employers value candidates with deep knowledge in these areas. Consider highlighting relevant coursework, certifications, or experience:
How do I write a great Freight Forwarder resume?
Creating an effective Freight Forwarder resume requires focusing on what employers in the HR & Admin sector value most.
Use relevant keywords
ATS systems scan for specific terms. Include these keywords naturally throughout your resume:
Quantify your impact
When describing how you "negotiate shipping rates with freight carriers", include metrics like percentages, team sizes, budgets, or project scope to demonstrate real results.
Showcase technical proficiency
Highlight hands-on experience with Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software and any transportation certifications that validate your expertise.
Match the experience level
For Freight Forwarder roles, employers typically expect usually requires a high school diploma. Highlight matching qualifications prominently at the top of your resume.
Example bullet points
Here are some strong bullet points you could adapt for your Freight Forwarder resume:
- Led negotiation strategy using critical thinking to secure 15% lower freight rates with major carriers, saving $200K annually
- Designed and implemented a customs clearance protocol in SAP, reducing paperwork errors by 25% across high-value shipments
- Developed training materials in PowerPoint and delivered sessions to 20+ staff on complex shipping regulations and compliance procedures
How to use AI to improve your Freight Forwarder resume
AI tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful when crafting your Freight Forwarder resume. They can help you brainstorm achievements, rephrase bullet points for impact, identify missing keywords, and tailor your content to specific job descriptions.
However, AI is not perfect. Always proofread the output carefully. AI can sometimes make factual errors, use generic language, or miss the nuances of your specific experience. Think of AI as a helpful assistant, not a replacement for your own judgment.
AI Resume Prompt
You are a senior recruiter with 15+ years of experience in technical hiring and resume optimization. You have reviewed thousands of resumes for Freight Forwarder positions and know exactly what hiring managers and ATS systems look for.
Your task:
Analyze my resume for a Freight Forwarder position and provide concrete, actionable feedback to maximize my chances.
Job description:
[paste the job description here]
Provide feedback on the following:
- Match analysis: Which requirements from the job description ARE and ARE NOT reflected in my resume?
- Quantification: Which bullet points lack concrete numbers/metrics? Provide examples of how I can rewrite them.
- Keywords: Which technical terms from the job description (such as Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, etc.) are missing or could be more prominent?
- Impact statements: Rewrite my 3 weakest bullet points using the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
- ATS optimization: What adjustments will increase my score in Applicant Tracking Systems?
- Priorities: Give me a top-5 of changes that will make the biggest difference, ranked by impact.
Be direct and critical - I want honest feedback, not compliments.
Why use Mokaru instead? At Mokaru, we have invested extensive research into our AI prompts and continuously update them based on recruiter feedback and ATS testing. Our AI resume builder handles the complexity for you: optimizing for ATS systems, matching job descriptions, and ensuring professional formatting, so you can focus on landing interviews.
Freight Forwarder Resume Example
Looking for a Freight Forwarder resume instead? The skills and experience are very similar to a Freight Forwarder. Here is an example you can use as inspiration:
WILLIAM HENDERSON
Summary
Freight Forwarder with 3+ years in B2B industrial logistics, securing a 15% average annual cost reduction through carrier rate negotiations. Coordinates sensitive shipments and customs clearance using SAP and the Microsoft Office suite.
Skills
Experience
- Led negotiation strategy using critical thinking to secure 15% lower freight rates with major carriers, saving $200K annually
- Designed and implemented a customs clearance protocol in SAP, reducing paperwork errors by 25% across high-value shipments
- Developed training materials in PowerPoint and delivered sessions to 20+ staff on complex shipping regulations and compliance procedures
- Coordinated special transport for 50+ sensitive medical shipments using active listening to understand precise client requirements
- Managed end-to-end project for a key client's Asia-Europe lane using CargoWise, improving on-time delivery from 88% to 96%
- Prepared and audited all shipping documentation using Microsoft Excel, ensuring 100% accuracy for customs clearance over 12 months
- Supported senior forwarders by monitoring shipment statuses in Arcline ArcFreight and proactively updating 5+ daily client reports
- Assisted in preparing bills of lading and certificates of origin in Microsoft Word, ensuring error-free documentation for 100+ shipments
- Applied reading comprehension to accurately process client requests in Outlook, resolving 30+ routine shipping inquiries per week
Education
Certifications
- Certified Logistics Professional (CLP)
- Certified in Transportation and Logistics (CTL)
- Microsoft Office Specialist: Excel Associate
Build Your Freight Forwarder Resume
Create a professional, ATS-optimized resume tailored for Freight Forwarder positions in minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
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