Int. Freight Forwarding Specialist

The main role of a freight forwarding specialist is to manage the movement of goods between countries. They book shipments, prepare necessary documentation, and ensure compliance with customs and regulatory requirements for international and UK shipments. This involves using online systems, handling both electronic and paper documents, and consulting in-house IT and external resources for relevant customs rules.

Freight forwarding specialists interact with colleagues, customers, and external partners such as hauliers, shipping lines, ports, and customs officials. They handle bookings, choose transport methods (air, sea, road, or rail), and manage shipment progress, including dealing with delays and preparing sales quotes and invoices. They are also responsible for ensuring compliance with international trade laws.

The role involves balancing time, cost, and environmental concerns while maintaining clear communication with customers. Specialists may work in teams, gaining experience across different duties, or take on all responsibilities in smaller organizations. They ensure smooth transit, either managing shipments end-to-end or collaborating with others for multi-modal transport.

The apprenticeship includes core training and an option to specialize in air, ocean, or road freight depending on the employer’s needs. An apprentice in the Air option will communicate with customers, suppliers, and internal teams, using various IT systems to process shipments. They will work with airlines to find solutions, secure pricing, and book air freight services, ensuring all paperwork is correct and compliant with customs and aviation security regulations.

In the Ocean option, apprentices will liaise with shipping lines to book space on ships for containers or loose cargo, ensuring proper bills of lading and shipping instructions are in place.

In the Road option, apprentices will contact road haulage companies for collection and delivery information, primarily within the EU, and ensure all border crossing and customs documentation is correct. They may also obtain quotations for road freight services.

Key Responsibilities

1. Make international shipment bookings for customer goods, balancing time, cost, and environmental impact.
2. Monitor the progress of shipments to ensure they are on time and in line with the requirements of the booking.
3. Use appropriate methods of communication to keep customers informed about shipment progress and advise customers in the event of delays.
4. Prepare quotes for customers regarding the shipment of goods, both within the UK and internationally.
5. Enter details of booked shipments into the organization’s electronic operating system.
6. Co-ordinate activities with those of internal colleagues to meet operational priorities.
7. Manage cost throughout the whole shipment from dispatch to final destination.
8. Ensure that any specific documents required by a destination country are available at the time of shipment.
9. Respond to enquiries from colleagues, customers, and authorities about shipments.
10. Manage complaints about shipments, escalating to senior staff when necessary.
11. Submit a customs declaration and/or provide clearance instructions to a third-party customs broker.
12. (Air) Assess and provide recommendations to customers on international air freight options.
13. (Air) Book and process air freight by determining the relevancy of air freight services.
14. (Air) Arrange and ensure the security of goods during international air transit.
15. (Ocean) Assess and provide recommendations to customers on international ocean freight options.
16. (Ocean) Book and process ocean freight.
17. (Ocean) Create and handle the correct Bill of Lading for export and imports.
18. (Road) Assess and provide recommendations to customers on international road freight options.
19. (Road) Book and process road freight.
20. (Road) Monitor the impact of international road transit times and road conditions.

This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details.

What is an End-Point Assessment and Why It Happens

An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.

Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.

The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 18 months. The EPA period is typically 3 months.

The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:

• Fail
• Pass
• Distinction

EPA Gateway

The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.

The gateway requirements for your EPA are:

• Achieved English and mathematics qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules.
• For the professional discussion, you must submit a portfolio of evidence.

Assessment methods

Multiple-choice test: You will complete a multiple-choice test. It will be closed book, meaning you will not have access to any books or reference materials. The test will have 40 multiple-choice questions. You will have 60 minutes to complete it.

Practical assessment with questions: You will be observed by an independent assessor completing a set of tasks. It will last 3 hours. They will ask you at least 3 questions.

Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence: You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 90 minutes. They will ask you at least 12 questions.

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