Freight forwarder Course

Lesson 1 • Key Industry Associations and Standards

Introduces international bodies that govern freight forwarding practices and professional standards. Students understand compliance obligations and membership benefits.

Lesson 2 • The Global Freight Industry Overview

Covers the structure of international trade logistics and the freight forwarding market. Establishes context for all subsequent operational and regulatory topics.

Lesson 3 • Supply Chain Fundamentals for Forwarders

Maps the end-to-end supply chain and identifies where forwarders add value. Provides the conceptual framework used throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Ocean Freight Fundamentals

Covers vessel types, container categories, and liner service structures. Directly supports carrier selection and booking decisions in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Road and Rail Freight Options

Introduces trucking and rail services, including intermodal connections. Builds understanding of inland transport as part of multimodal solutions.

Lesson 3 • Carrier Evaluation and Selection Criteria

Provides a framework for assessing carrier reliability, capacity, and pricing. Students apply structured criteria to make defensible carrier recommendations.

Lesson 4 • Air Freight Fundamentals

Explains air cargo capacity, unit load devices, and airline service types. Students apply this knowledge when selecting air options for time-sensitive cargo.

Lesson 1 • Purpose and Structure of Trade Terms

Explains why standardized trade terms exist and how they are organized by transport mode. Provides the conceptual foundation for applying specific terms accurately.

Lesson 2 • Departure and Arrival Trade Terms

Covers terms where the seller's obligation ends at origin and terms where it ends at destination. Students distinguish when each group is appropriate.

Lesson 3 • Applying Trade Terms to Shipments

Translates trade term selection into operational tasks for the forwarder. Students produce booking instructions aligned with the agreed trade term.

Lesson 1 • Document Verification and Filing

Establishes a systematic process for checking document accuracy before submission. Students apply checklists to catch errors that cause customs holds or payment delays.

Lesson 2 • Bills of Lading and Air Waybills

Covers the legal function, types, and completion of transport documents. Students distinguish negotiable from non-negotiable instruments and their implications.

Lesson 3 • Commercial and Packing Documents

Teaches preparation of commercial invoices, packing lists, and certificates of origin. Accurate completion of these documents underpins customs clearance.

Lesson 4 • Letters of Credit and Documentary Collections

Explains how trade finance instruments dictate document requirements. Students align document preparation with letter of credit terms to avoid discrepancies.

Lesson 1 • Duty Relief and Trade Programs

Introduces preferential duty programs, free trade agreements, and duty drawback. Students identify opportunities to reduce duty costs for clients.

Lesson 2 • Export Controls and Licensing

Covers controlled goods, dual-use items, and export license requirements. Students screen shipments and apply for licenses when required.

Lesson 3 • Customs Fundamentals and Entry Types

Covers the purpose of customs control, entry types, and the role of the customs broker. Establishes the regulatory framework applied throughout this chapter.

Lesson 4 • Customs Compliance Programs

Explains authorized economic operator and trusted trader programs that streamline clearance. Students assess client eligibility and support application processes.

Lesson 1 • Profitability Analysis and Cost Control

Introduces job costing, variance analysis, and cost control techniques. Students identify margin leakage and implement corrective actions on shipment files.

Lesson 2 • Ocean Freight Rate Structures

Explains base rates, surcharges, and accessorial charges in ocean freight. Students calculate total ocean freight costs from carrier tariffs and spot quotes.

Lesson 3 • Building and Presenting Quotations

Teaches how to structure, price, and present freight quotations to clients. Students apply margin strategies and communicate value clearly in proposals.

Lesson 4 • Air Freight Rate Structures

Covers weight-based pricing, dimensional weight, and air cargo surcharges. Students compute chargeable weight and total air freight costs accurately.

Lesson 1 • Principles of Cargo Insurance

Covers insurable interest, indemnity, and the types of cargo insurance policies. Establishes the legal and commercial foundation for all insurance decisions.

Lesson 2 • Claims Management and Subrogation

Covers the cargo claims process from loss notification to settlement. Students guide clients through claims and understand subrogation rights.

Lesson 3 • Arranging and Documenting Coverage

Explains the process of placing cargo insurance and issuing certificates. Students produce accurate insurance certificates aligned with shipment and trade term requirements.

Lesson 1 • Customer Relationship and Service Quality

Develops skills in client communication, service recovery, and account retention. Students apply structured communication practices to build long-term client trust.

Lesson 2 • In-Transit Monitoring and Exception Handling

Teaches proactive shipment tracking and response to transit exceptions. Students apply escalation procedures to minimise delays and protect client cargo.

Lesson 3 • Origin and Export Operations

Manages cargo pickup, export customs filing, and cargo delivery to the carrier. Students coordinate origin activities to meet vessel and flight cut-off times.

Lesson 4 • Destination and Import Operations

Covers arrival notification, import customs clearance, and final delivery coordination. Students manage destination activities to achieve on-time delivery.