Apprenticeship training course

International freight forwarding specialist (level 3)

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Information about International freight forwarding specialist (level 3)

Helping organise large-scale freight imports and exports.

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • The structure and functions of the freight forwarding industry.
  • The principle of the consolidation of goods.
  • Country specific factors that influence freight forwarding, including world geography, political boundaries, time zones and transit times and their influence on modal selection.
  • The function of the key regulatory organisations and trade associations in logistics and international freight forwarding.
  • Domestic and cargo booking procedures including haulage to and from departure and arrival ports.
  • The differing environmental impacts of road, ocean, and air transport.
  • Factors that affect insurance premiums including origin destination, mode of transport, route, commodity.
  • The principles of carriers liability.
  • Dangerous and hazardous goods and the specific modal restrictions applied to their movement.
  • The function of documentary letters of credit in reducing financial risk in international trade.
  • The differences in how goods are moved under the different customs controls that apply to and from the UK and the purpose, function, and range of procedure codes.
  • Direct and indirect customs representation and the rules of establishment.
  • The structure and key contents of the UK Trade Tariff.
  • Data sources for the preferences and trade agreements that may apply in international trade, including rules of origin.
  • The terms of international trade rules (Incoterms) and their part in customs valuation and financial risk transfer.
  • Techniques for pricing, spot-quoting, invoicing and accruals.
  • Written communication techniques, plain English principles, including Industry terminology.
  • Verbal communication techniques, giving and receiving information, matching style to audience, barriers to communication and how to overcome them.
  • Own companies customer service standards and complaints handling process.
  • Techniques for forming and maintaining business relationships.
  • Principle of value build-up in customs documentation.
  • Currency conversions, exchange rates and risks on pricing and invoicing calculations.
  • Air. The terminology used in air freight services.
  • Air. The structure and organisation of the air freight industry.
  • Air. The role of regulatory organisations in world-wide air freight, including airport authorities and handling agents.
  • Air. Documentation specific to international air freight, including air waybills and where to find industry information and data from systems regarding schedules and space availability.
  • Air. Air Cargo Tariff and Rules (TACT) and OAG World Airways Guides.
  • Air. The rules and regulations relating to aviation security
  • Air. Different ULD (Unit Load Device) types, their purpose and usage.
  • The structure and functions of the freight forwarding industry.
  • The principle of the consolidation of goods.
  • Country specific factors that influence freight forwarding, including world geography, political boundaries, time zones and transit times and their influence on modal selection.
  • The function of the key regulatory organisations and trade associations in logistics and international freight forwarding.
  • Domestic and cargo booking procedures including haulage to and from departure and arrival ports.
  • The differing environmental impacts of road, ocean, and air transport.
  • Factors that affect insurance premiums including origin destination, mode of transport, route, commodity.
  • The principles of carriers liability.
  • Dangerous and hazardous goods and the specific modal restrictions applied to their movement.
  • The function of documentary letters of credit in reducing financial risk in international trade.
  • The differences in how goods are moved under the different customs controls that apply to and from the UK and the purpose, function, and range of procedure codes.
  • Direct and indirect customs representation and the rules of establishment.
  • The structure and key contents of the UK Trade Tariff.
  • Data sources for the preferences and trade agreements that may apply in international trade, including rules of origin.
  • The terms of international trade rules (Incoterms) and their part in customs valuation and financial risk transfer.
  • Techniques for pricing, spot-quoting, invoicing and accruals.
  • Written communication techniques, plain English principles, including Industry terminology.
  • Verbal communication techniques, giving and receiving information, matching style to audience, barriers to communication and how to overcome them.
  • Own companies customer service standards and complaints handling process.
  • Techniques for forming and maintaining business relationships.
  • Principle of value build-up in customs documentation.
  • Currency conversions, exchange rates and risks on pricing and invoicing calculations.
  • Ocean. The terminology used in ocean freight services.
  • Ocean. Documentation specific to international ocean freight, including; Bills of Lading/sea waybills, export cargo shipping instructions.
  • Ocean. The structure and organisation of the ocean freight industry.
  • Ocean. The role of regulatory organisations in world-wide shipping including port authorities.
  • Ocean. The purpose and usages of the different container types and their respective benefits.
  • Ocean. Non-containerised ocean shipments
  • The structure and functions of the freight forwarding industry.
  • The principle of the consolidation of goods.
  • Country specific factors that influence freight forwarding, including world geography, political boundaries, time zones and transit times and their influence on modal selection.
  • The function of the key regulatory organisations and trade associations in logistics and international freight forwarding.
  • Domestic and cargo booking procedures including haulage to and from departure and arrival ports.
  • The differing environmental impacts of road, ocean, and air transport.
  • Factors that affect insurance premiums including origin destination, mode of transport, route, commodity.
  • The principles of carriers liability.
  • Dangerous and hazardous goods and the specific modal restrictions applied to their movement.
  • The function of documentary letters of credit in reducing financial risk in international trade.
  • The differences in how goods are moved under the different customs controls that apply to and from the UK and the purpose, function, and range of procedure codes.
  • Direct and indirect customs representation and the rules of establishment.
  • The structure and key contents of the UK Trade Tariff.
  • Data sources for the preferences and trade agreements that may apply in international trade, including rules of origin.
  • The terms of international trade rules (Incoterms) and their part in customs valuation and financial risk transfer.
  • Techniques for pricing, spot-quoting, invoicing and accruals.
  • Written communication techniques, plain English principles, including Industry terminology.
  • Verbal communication techniques, giving and receiving information, matching style to audience, barriers to communication and how to overcome them.
  • Own companies customer service standards and complaints handling process.
  • Techniques for forming and maintaining business relationships.
  • Principle of value build-up in customs documentation.
  • Currency conversions, exchange rates and risks on pricing and invoicing calculations.
  • Road. The terminology used in international road freight services.
  • Road. The structure and organisation of the international road freight industry.
  • Road. The role of regulatory organisations in international road freight.
  • Road. Driving hours regulations and working times in the UK and internationally.
  • Road. Documentation specific to international road freight services, including; road consignment notes (CMRs) and vehicle movement documentation.
  • Road. The principles of load planning and vehicle or container loading.

  Skills

  • Select freight forwarding services based on customer requirements, taking into account country specific factors, delivery times and modes.
  • Use generic or bespoke ICT systems in order 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.
  • Air. Use and adapt terminology appropriate to the air freight industry.
  • Air. Select and use documentation appropriate to the air freight industry.
  • Select freight forwarding services based on customer requirements, taking into account country specific factors, delivery times and modes.
  • Use generic or bespoke ICT systems in order 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.
  • Ocean. Use and adapt terminology appropriate to the ocean freight industry.
  • Ocean. Select and use documentation appropriate to the ocean freight industry.
  • Select freight forwarding services based on customer requirements, taking into account country specific factors, delivery times and modes.
  • Use generic or bespoke ICT systems in order 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.
  • Road. Use and adapt terminology appropriate to the road freight industry.
  • Road. Select and use documentation appropriate to the road freight industry.

  Behaviours

  • Takes accountability for own actions
  • Commercially driven
  • Flexible in response to client needs and requirements
  • Takes personal responsibility for their own sustainable working practices
  • Collaborate with others for example, within teams, across disciplines, and external stakeholders
  • Takes accountability for own actions
  • Commercially driven
  • Flexible in response to client needs and requirements
  • Takes personal responsibility for their own sustainable working practices
  • Collaborate with others for example, within teams, across disciplines, and external stakeholders
  • Takes accountability for own actions
  • Commercially driven
  • Flexible in response to client needs and requirements
  • Takes personal responsibility for their own sustainable working practices
  • Collaborate with others for example, within teams, across disciplines, and external stakeholders
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Transport and logistics
• Qualification level: 3; Equal to A level
• Course duration: 18 months
• Maximum funding: £9,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Air freight forwarder
  • Freight forwarder
  • Freight forwarding specialist
  • Import/export administrator
  • Import/export clerk
  • Import/export customer service operator
  • Import/export freight co-ordinator
  • Import/export freight forwarder
  • Import/export operator
  • Seafreight freight forwarder
  • Shipping co-ordinator

View more information about International freight forwarding specialist (level 3) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.