Cargo and Freight Agents
Also called: Air Export Specialist, Drop Shipment Clerk, Logistics Coordinator, Logistics Service RepresentativeExpedite and route movement of incoming and outgoing cargo and freight shipments in airline, train, and trucking terminals and shipping docks. Take orders from customers and arrange pickup of freight and cargo for delivery to loading platform. Prepare and examine bills of lading to determine shipping charges and tariffs.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 9 of its 24 tasks, and jobs are projected to grow 6.2% by 2035. In the most exposed occupations, the squeeze shows up first among early-career workers. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
BLS figures cover the broader occupation “Cargo and freight agents”, which includes this one and others.
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 4.4% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 9.0 hires for every 10 job openings in transportation, warehousing, and utilities, which employs about 92% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.9.0 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $54,890 | $45,740 to $61,320 | 1,020 |
| Alaska | $52,070 | $46,520 to $72,730 | 580 |
| Arizona | $49,880 | $39,010 to $59,020 | 1,840 |
| Arkansas | $50,500 | $45,450 to $58,740 | not published |
| California | $57,690 | $47,270 to $73,730 | 17,060 |
| Colorado | $51,390 | $48,220 to $60,300 | 850 |
| Connecticut | not published | not published | 560 |
| District of Columbia | $76,250 | $72,810 to $76,250 | 60 |
| Florida | $48,520 | $45,910 to $61,560 | 8,110 |
| Georgia | $51,380 | $45,450 to $62,020 | 3,630 |
| Guam | $38,360 | $30,470 to $53,230 | 60 |
| Hawaii | $42,400 | $37,030 to $57,700 | 1,760 |
| Idaho | $45,710 | $43,110 to $55,730 | 300 |
| Illinois | $59,750 | $48,840 to $62,480 | 6,110 |
| Indiana | $50,020 | $40,830 to $65,390 | 1,200 |
| Iowa | $48,370 | $44,240 to $61,380 | 660 |
| Kansas | $42,500 | $31,790 to $46,040 | 890 |
| Kentucky | $46,230 | $41,180 to $58,500 | 2,570 |
| Louisiana | $48,940 | $45,200 to $61,870 | 840 |
| Maine | $50,340 | $47,210 to $60,800 | 190 |
| Maryland | $48,730 | $38,530 to $58,430 | 740 |
| Massachusetts | $58,680 | $51,170 to $72,310 | 820 |
| Michigan | $47,940 | $44,520 to $58,800 | 2,150 |
| Minnesota | $58,650 | $48,040 to $62,930 | 1,380 |
| Mississippi | $49,920 | $39,540 to $60,940 | 260 |
| Missouri | $50,840 | $39,760 to $65,540 | 1,410 |
| Montana | $59,240 | $46,620 to $66,350 | 370 |
| Nebraska | $62,500 | $51,320 to $78,500 | 390 |
| Nevada | $47,000 | $40,950 to $60,960 | 490 |
| New Hampshire | $67,660 | $44,650 to $77,130 | 80 |
| New Jersey | $60,210 | $49,470 to $69,860 | 4,280 |
| New Mexico | $48,910 | $44,570 to $63,010 | 110 |
| New York | $60,040 | $47,570 to $80,820 | 5,760 |
| North Carolina | $48,000 | $43,250 to $61,720 | 2,520 |
| North Dakota | $54,230 | $48,000 to $95,330 | 380 |
| Ohio | $49,530 | $45,840 to $61,760 | 2,840 |
| Oklahoma | $49,940 | $32,930 to $67,140 | 300 |
| Oregon | $49,420 | $43,730 to $58,500 | 1,290 |
| Pennsylvania | $49,590 | $40,470 to $69,480 | 2,810 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,600 | $23,180 to $29,740 | 300 |
| Rhode Island | $60,310 | $48,380 to $73,150 | 140 |
| South Carolina | $57,000 | $48,480 to $66,290 | 1,540 |
| South Dakota | $64,340 | $60,390 to $68,830 | 200 |
| Tennessee | $51,800 | $46,920 to $66,280 | 3,390 |
| Texas | $48,470 | $40,260 to $61,060 | 7,610 |
| Utah | $52,770 | $39,520 to $72,080 | 590 |
| Vermont | $47,560 | $47,560 to $60,530 | 80 |
| Virgin Islands | $29,400 | $29,400 to $32,910 | not published |
| Virginia | $49,680 | $46,850 to $60,420 | 1,280 |
| Washington | $60,760 | $52,190 to $72,520 | 2,410 |
| West Virginia | $49,100 | $43,100 to $60,560 | 130 |
| Wisconsin | $57,290 | $48,130 to $65,970 | 1,280 |
| Wyoming | not published | not published | 160 |
Nationally: $52,260. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 9 of its 24 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| AI + software | Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies. | Not published |
| AI + software | Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents. | Not published |
| AI alone | Advise clients on transportation and payment methods. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Track delivery progress of shipments. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights. | Not published |
| AI + software | Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored. | Not published |
See all 24 tasks
| AI + software | Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery. | Not published |
| AI + software | Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods. | Not published |
| Not much | Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary. | Not published |
| AI + software | Check import or export documentation to determine cargo contents and use tariff coding system to classify goods according to fee or tariff group. | Not published |
| Not much | Arrange insurance coverage for goods. | Not published |
| Not much | Install straps, braces, and padding to loads to prevent shifting or damage during shipment. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
| Not much | Contact vendors or claims adjustment departments to resolve shipment problems or contact service depots to arrange for repairs. | Not published |
| Not much | Coordinate and supervise activities of workers engaged in packing and shipping merchandise. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
| Not much | Route received goods to first available flight or to appropriate storage areas or departments, using forklifts, hand trucks, or other equipment. | Not published |
| Not much | Inspect and count items received and check them against invoices or other documents, recording shortages and rejecting damaged goods. | Not published |
| Not much | Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshaling areas and help load and unload goods safely. | Not published |
| Not much | Assemble containers and crates used to transport items, such as machines or vehicles. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
| Not much | Maintain a supply of packing materials. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
| Not much | Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
| AI alone | Direct or participate in cargo loading to ensure completeness of load and even distribution of weight. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
| Not much | Attach address labels, identification codes, and shipping instructions to containers. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare manifests showing numbers of airplane passengers and baggage, mail, and freight weights, transmitting data to destinations. | Not published |
| Not much | Open cargo containers and unwrap contents, using steel cutters, crowbars, or other hand tools. O*NET flags this task's ratings as uncertain | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 2 of the 24 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 24 tasks fall under 20 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #11 Provide information to guests, clients, or customers
- #35 Process digital or online data
- #39 Determine values or prices of goods or services
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct organizational operations, activities, or procedures | |||
| Load products, materials, or equipment for transportation or further processing | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure adequate performance | |||
| Maintain operational records | |||
| Package objects | |||
| Provide information to guests, clients, or customers | |||
| Process digital or online data | |||
| Determine values or prices of goods or services |
Show all 20 activities
| Examine materials or documentation for accuracy or compliance | |||
| Advise others on business or operational matters | |||
| Execute financial transactions | |||
| Inspect characteristics or conditions of materials or products | |||
| Inspect completed work or finished products | |||
| Analyze data to improve operations | |||
| Mark materials or objects for identification | |||
| Assemble products or work aids | |||
| Operate transportation equipment or vehicles | |||
| Negotiate contracts or agreements | |||
| Supervise personnel activities | |||
| Replenish inventories of materials, equipment, or products |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- Advice or a recommendation16%
- An analysis or summary14%
- A document or report11%
- Data or a spreadsheet8%
- An explanation or answer8%
How they worked with Claude
68% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for cargo and freight agents specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 18,259 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 8%
- 2 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 4%
- 3 Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Moderate +3.8% 4%
- 4 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 3%
- 5 Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products Very high -0.9% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 15,815 moves in
- 1 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 8%
- 2 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 4%
- 3 Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products Very high -0.9% 3%
- 4 Retail Salespersons Very high -0.3% 3%
- 5 General and Operations Managers High +5.0% 3%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 2% less than high school
- 12% high school
- 18% postsecondary certificate
- 19% some college
- 18% associate's
- 31% bachelor's
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 16 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 4% less than high school
- 32% high school
- 31% some college
- 13% associate's
- 17% bachelor's
- 2% master's
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation · 213 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in this occupation
2 programs: General Office Occupations and Clerical Services and Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/Technician.
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
4.8% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| an educational certificate | <0.5% | 2.8% |
| a certification | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeship Finder ↗ DOL lists 3 registered apprenticeships in this occupation (Cargo and Freight Agent (NOF); Freight Broker; TRANSPORTATION CLERK (Alternate Title: Transportation Management Coordinator)). Apprenticeship.gov can't be linked to one occupation, so search for “Cargo and Freight Agents” there.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS · Brynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford (Aug 2026)
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