Freight Forwarder CV Example
A freight forwarder CV demonstrates your expertise in international logistics, customs procedures, and coordinating the movement of goods across global supply chains.
Recommended template: ProfessionalPro
Key Skills to Include
Quick Tips
- Detail your experience with specific trade lanes and modes of transport.
- Highlight knowledge of customs regulations and Incoterms.
- Include any professional qualifications such as FIATA diploma or BIFA training.
- Quantify volumes handled and cost savings achieved through rate negotiations.
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Upgrade to ProHow to Write Your Freight Forwarder CV
A freight forwarder CV must demonstrate your commercial acumen, logistics expertise, and thorough understanding of international trade regulations. This is a role that sits at the intersection of customer service, supply chain management, and customs compliance. Your CV should show that you can manage complex shipments across multiple modes and geographies while delivering cost-effective solutions and maintaining full regulatory compliance.
CV Structure
Open with a profile summarising your experience, trade lanes, and key achievements. Follow with detailed work experience focusing on the scope of operations managed, volumes handled, and commercial results delivered. Include a section for professional qualifications such as BIFA or FIATA certifications. List technical skills including freight management software proficiency. Two pages is appropriate for most freight forwarding CVs.
CV Format
Choose a professional, corporate-style template that reflects the international business environment of freight forwarding. Use clear section headings and consistent formatting. Present financial figures, volumes, and percentages prominently to demonstrate commercial impact. Export as PDF for submission to recruitment agencies and direct employers.
CV Profile Examples
Senior Freight Forwarder
Commercially driven freight forwarder with nine years of experience managing international shipments across air, sea, and road modes for clients in the automotive, pharmaceutical, and FMCG sectors. Expert in customs brokerage, Incoterms application, and carrier rate negotiation. Manages an annual freight spend of £4.5M and has delivered cumulative cost savings exceeding £600,000 through strategic carrier partnerships and consolidation strategies.
Freight Forwarding Coordinator
Organised and detail-oriented freight forwarding coordinator with five years of experience handling import and export shipments via UK ports and airports. Proficient in preparing customs entries, bills of lading, and commercial invoices. Skilled in using CargoWise and Descartes systems to track shipments and manage documentation across complex multi-modal supply chains.
Trainee Freight Forwarder
Ambitious logistics graduate with twelve months of experience in a busy freight forwarding office, assisting with export documentation, shipment tracking, and customer communications. Currently completing the BIFA Foundation Certificate in International Trade and Freight Forwarding. Keen to develop expertise in customs procedures and build a career in international logistics.
State your years of freight forwarding experience, the transport modes you specialise in, and the trade lanes you have managed. Mention your annual freight spend or volume handled. Include a headline achievement such as cost savings delivered or new business won. Reference your customs expertise and any professional qualifications.
Key Skills for Your Freight Forwarder CV
International Shipping
Managing the logistics of transporting goods across international borders via sea, air, and road freight modes.
Customs Documentation
Preparing and processing import and export customs entries, declarations, and supporting trade documents accurately.
Incoterms
Applying International Commercial Terms to define buyer and seller responsibilities for shipping costs, risk, and delivery obligations.
Air/Sea/Road Freight
Coordinating shipments across multiple transport modes, selecting the optimal combination for cost, speed, and reliability.
Supply Chain Coordination
Managing the end-to-end movement of goods from origin to destination, coordinating with multiple parties at each stage.
Carrier Negotiation
Negotiating freight rates, service levels, and contract terms with shipping lines, airlines, and haulage operators.
Freight Management Software
Operating industry systems such as CargoWise, Descartes, and CDS for shipment tracking, documentation, and customs processing.
Regulatory Compliance
Ensuring all shipments comply with customs regulations, trade sanctions, and import/export licensing requirements.
Work Experience Examples
For each role, describe the types of shipments managed, the client sectors served, and the volumes handled. Quantify commercial achievements including rate savings, new account wins, and efficiency improvements. Detail your customs knowledge with references to specific systems, tariff classification, and compliance procedures. Include any team leadership or mentoring responsibilities.
Senior Freight Forwarder
Albion Global Logistics Ltd
Managed a portfolio of key accounts shipping goods internationally via air, sea, and European road freight, handling an annual volume of 8,000 TEUs and 2,500 air freight tonnes.
Responsibilities
- Coordinated end-to-end shipments from booking through customs clearance to final delivery, ensuring compliance with trade regulations and client SLAs.
- Negotiated contract rates with shipping lines, airlines, and haulage providers to secure competitive pricing across key trade lanes.
- Prepared and reviewed customs documentation including entries, commodity codes, and certificates of origin for import and export clearances.
- Managed a team of three freight coordinators, allocating workloads and conducting quality checks on documentation accuracy.
- Advised clients on Incoterms, customs duty implications, and trade compliance requirements for shipments to EU and non-EU destinations.
Achievements
- Negotiated a three-year ocean freight contract delivering £280,000 in annual savings across the Far East to UK trade lane.
- Reduced customs clearance delays by 35% through pre-lodgement of import entries and closer collaboration with HMRC-approved agents.
- Won a new automotive account worth £1.2M annually by presenting a bespoke supply chain solution combining sea freight with bonded warehousing.
Freight Forwarding Coordinator
Pacific Freight Services
Handled import and export shipments for SME clients, managing bookings, documentation, and shipment tracking across air and sea freight modes.
Responsibilities
- Booked freight space with carriers, confirmed departure and arrival schedules, and communicated updates to clients and consignees.
- Prepared export documentation including commercial invoices, packing lists, and bills of lading for shipments to worldwide destinations.
- Processed import customs entries using the CHIEF and CDS systems, classifying goods under correct tariff codes.
- Tracked shipments from origin to destination, proactively identifying delays and arranging alternative routing when necessary.
Achievements
- Processed an average of 120 import and export shipments per month with a 99.5% documentation accuracy rate.
- Identified a tariff classification error that saved a regular client £42,000 in overpaid customs duties over two years.
Education & Qualifications
List your degree and institution first, especially if you studied logistics, supply chain management, or international business. BIFA, FIATA, and customs practitioner qualifications should be displayed in a dedicated certifications section. Mention any language skills that support your work on international trade lanes.
BIFA Foundation Certificate
British International Freight Association qualification covering the fundamentals of international trade and freight forwarding.
FIATA Diploma
International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations diploma recognised globally as a mark of freight forwarding competence.
Customs Practitioner Certificate
Specialist qualification demonstrating expertise in UK customs procedures, tariff classification, and trade compliance.
IATA Dangerous Goods Certificate
Certification for handling and shipping dangerous goods by air freight in compliance with IATA regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What skills are most important for a freight forwarder CV?
How do I quantify achievements on a freight forwarder CV?
Should I mention specific trade lanes on my CV?
Is a degree required for freight forwarding roles?
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