FREIGHT FORWARDER SKILLS, EXPERIENCE, AND JOB REQUIREMENTS
Updated: Dec 30, 2025 – The Freight Forwarder has experience in freight forwarding across air and sea freight, with strong expertise in customs compliance, HAWB/MAWB, and accurate tax and duty calculations. This role requires skills in documentation services such as Certificates of Origin and Letters of Credit, with the ability to analyze data, generate reports, and optimize freight processes. The forwarder also demonstrates excellent communication and customer service skills while effectively managing end-to-end logistics operations both independently and within a team.
Essential Hard and Soft Skills for a Standout Freight Forwarder Resume
- Vessel Reporting
- Data Entry
- Logistics Coordination
- Document Handling
- Compliance Filing
- Rate Negotiation
- Shipment Tracking
- SAP Processing
- Freight Claims
- Route Planning
- Time Management
- Communication Skills
- Detail Orientation
- Quality Management
- Client Relations
- Issue Resolution
- Business Planning
- Cost Control
- Multitasking
- Problem Solving
Summary of Freight Forwarder Knowledge and Qualifications on Resume
1. BA in Supply Chain Operations with 1 year of Experience
- Experience in handling forwarding projects and orders
- Good knowledge of the local freight forwarding market
- Good knowledge of the English language
- Analytical approach and problem-solving skills
- Ability to work in a busy and unpredictable environment
- Focus on achieving results and continuous self-improvement
- Motivation to provide excellent service to customers
- Ability to cooperate effectively with others
- Able to ensure order verification, order adjustments, and billing adjustments
- Must be detail-oriented and have the ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
2. BA in International Business with 3 years of Experience
- Previous experience in a time-dependent logistics environment
- Experience in an ocean freight background.
- Strong experience in Import/Export regulations, ideally with a worldwide remit.
- Flexibility, positive, and an outgoing attitude.
- The drive and tenacity to succeed while delivering excellent customer service.
- Experience with the following systems, including Hawbs, Manifest, and Mawb.
- Strong communication skills, both oral and written, with proper business etiquette
- Superb customer service skills with negotiation skills
- Strong analytical skills with an understanding of a basic P&L (Profit and Loss) statement
- The ability to operate in a global environment
3. BA in Transportation Management with 5 years of Experience
- Working experience in a similar position
- Relevant working experience in the Road/Client Services field
- Experience in coordinating transport with temperature-controlled products.
- Technical understanding of the overall Expediting process activity
- Experience in follow-up on financial operations achievements
- Good organized, negotiator, customer, and result-oriented
- Open-minded, strong sales ability, and persuasiveness
- Experience in working with TMS IT systems
- Excellent PC Skills (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
- Proficiency in the English language (reading, writing, speaking)
- Proven ability to use critical thinking for problem-solving to resolve customer needs.
4. BA in Business Administration with 4 years of Experience
- Working experience in the logistics environment or related industry.
- Knowledge and experience in foreign trade, logistics management, warehousing, and distribution, and other supply chain-related services.
- Customer-oriented with the ability to establish strong relationships and interact effectively with customers at various levels and with various characteristics.
- Ability to effectively and efficiently adopt/adapt information technology and logistics solutions as an enabler to supply-chain processes.
- Good analytical problem solving
- Strong spoken and written communication skills
- Team player with the ability to work independently under pressure and within deadlines.
- Working knowledge of Vietnam Landscapes
- Strong/Potential Leadership, self-motivated, and motivating others
- Skills in time management, setting priorities, multi-tasking, and deadline-oriented work
- Fluent in the English language.
5. BA in International Trade with 2 years of Experience
- Experience in freight forwarding in air or sea freight
- Experience in customs compliance/HAWB and MAWB
- Proven track record of calculating taxes and duties via imported air freight
- Excellent customer service experience
- Experience with Documentation Services (Certificates of Origin, Letters of Credit, etc)
- Excellent communication skills
- Able to analyse numerical data and understand components and relationships, find patterns and draw conclusions.
- Ability to use Company-standard software to generate reports, charts, and graphs
- Able to comprehend the full range of freight forwarding services - order management, movement scheduling, customs brokerage, monitor and control services, cost optimization, etc.
- The ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team
Professional Skills FAQs
What are professional skills?
Professional skills are abilities that help individuals perform tasks effectively in a workplace environment. These skills include both technical competencies required for specific roles and soft skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem solving.
What is the difference between hard skills and soft skills?
Hard skills are technical abilities learned through education or training, such as programming, data analysis, or laboratory testing. Soft skills refer to interpersonal abilities like communication, leadership, adaptability, and teamwork.
Why are professional skills important for careers and resumes?
Professional skills help employers evaluate whether a candidate can perform job responsibilities effectively. Listing relevant skills on a resume demonstrates qualifications and helps applications pass Applicant Tracking Systems used in modern hiring processes.
What professional skills do employers look for?
Employers usually value a combination of technical expertise and transferable workplace skills. Common examples include analytical thinking, communication, teamwork, leadership, time management, adaptability, and digital literacy.
How can professionals develop professional skills?
Professionals can develop skills through continuous learning, training programs, certifications, mentorship, and practical work experience. Staying updated with industry trends also helps individuals maintain relevant and competitive skills.
Editorial Process
Lamwork content is developed through structured review of publicly available job postings and documented hiring trends.
Editorial operations are managed by Thanh Huyen, Managing Editor, with research direction and final oversight by Lam Nguyen, Founder & Editorial Lead. Content is periodically reviewed to reflect observable labor market changes.