Air freight- what are the responsibilities of an air freight agent?

Air freight agents

Air freight agents are a group of people who work in the air freight industry and have knowledge about the different laws and rules pertaining to different countries. They are primarily responsible for the export and import of goods through air freight. They work as representatives of the airline that pays them for their services. Some air freight agents work only in specific countries, while some specialise in shipping operations throughout the world.

The duties of an air freight agent are elaborated on below.

Assembling cargo

They have to assemble and sort out cargo according to its final destination and also make space arrangements for shipments on the plane.

Managing cargo traffic

They have to manage inbound and outbound shipments and see to it that they reach their pre-determined destinations safely.

Take orders and bookings

An air freight agent should look after receiving orders from customers and once the order is placed, they should make arrangements to pick up the parcel from the sender’s address and transport it to the plane.

Calculating costs

An air freight agent should weigh all the shipments and calculate the cost accordingly. They should also make proper bills and accept payments from customers.

Keep all documents ready

They should see to it that the customers have submitted all the required documents with all the necessary information. They may also have to prepare and process some documents on their own.

Communicating with shippers

Air freight agents should be well aware of the timings of flight departures and landings and should inform shippers in advance about any delays.