Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)

Designation of occupation

Forwarding clerk (m/f)

Duration of traineeship

Three years.

Field of activity

Forwarding clerks sell transport and logistics services. They organize the dispatch, receipt and storage of goods and select and provide the most suitable means of transport. Their tasks encompass choosing and making available the necessary loading, unloading and transshipment equipment, advising on packaging, acting as intermediary concerning forwarding, transport and storage insurance, processing damage claims, handling accounts, procuring or issuing the documentation required for cross-border shipments, and handling customs formalities. For all transactions forwarding clercs are expected to identify the best mode of dispatch, refer customers to the best freight terms by land, sea or air, solve logistics problems, organize own shipments and monitor the transshipment of goods. Highest priority has to be attached to optimal customer counselling in all forwarding activities.

Occupational skills

Forwarding clerks are qualified to perform commercial and administrative duties, in particular in the following fields:

Procurement market

• Take account of advantages and disadvantages of the various modes of freight transport
• Arrange for storage, transshipment and associated services

Arrangement of freight shipments for third parties

• Select transport services
• Conclude contracts for transportation, storage and transshipment
• Arrange for associated services

Sales

• Issue quotations for the forwarding company0s services with and without contracting in one0s own name
• Conclude forwarding contracts

Contract performance

• Provide forwarding services with and without contracting in one0s own name
• Process forwarding orders
• Handle the accounting for forwarding services 

Transportation logistics

• Source logistics services on behalf of the customer
• Develop customized logistics concepts fot the customer
• Devise and assess offers of logistics services

Accounting

• Payment transactions
• Bookkeeping
• Cost accounting and result accounts, accounting contol  

5. Particular requirements

Forwarding clerks are capable of carrying out the above-mentioned duties in a self-reliant manner within the framework of predetermined corporate goals. When advising clients they draw on their knowledge of the characteristics of the various modes of transport and the possibilities of combining these in the interest of saving time and cost. They can calculate prices and apply the regulatory provisions concerning transportation, customs and insurance. To the extent that international orders are communicated to the company in standard wording in a foreign language, forwarding clerks are able to act on such orders.

Forwarding clerks have a broad knowledge of the activities of their company and the industry as whole, and also of the use of the information and communication technologies required in day-to-day company activities, including compliance with the requirements concerning data privacy and data protection. They are familiar with general legal principles, including those governing vocational training and personnel management, and with the main principles of labour law and collective bargaining. They understand the principles of safety at work, environmental protection and the rational use of energy resources.

Last modified on: December 12, 2006