Cargo and Freight Agents
Office and Administrative Support Occupations- O*NET-SOC code
- 43-5011.00
Expedite 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.
- Data source: BLSPublished: 2026-08
Very high· relative
LowFour relative bandsVery highGroup-level value
Scale, basis and source
Four relative bands (Low / Moderate / High / Very high)
831 detailed occupations in the BLS Employment Projections table. Assigned per National Employment Matrix (NEM) code, so occupations sharing a NEM code carry the same band
- Data source: AnthropicPublished: 2026-03
0.017
0.000Range of values carried here0.745Group-level value
Scale, basis and source
Observed exposure index, 0–1 as published
Mapped onto O*NET tasks
Published per SOC 2018 occupation; every O*NET occupation with the same SOC 2018 code carries this value
- Data source: ILOPublished: 2025
0.44–0.57· 2 ISCO-08 groups
Scale, basis and source
Generative AI exposure index, 0–1 as published
Published per ISCO-08 unit group. Linked to this occupation, wholly or in part, by applying U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (ISCO-08 to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to 2018 SOC) as published
What kind of figure this source publishes
The BLS category is a relative rank, not an absolute level, and it is not a first-hand measurement: it groups an occupation's percentile ranks across several published studies into four bands. It is not an employment or wage forecast, not a probability of adoption, and it does not separate automation from augmentation.
ILO value for each linked ISCO-08 group
- ISCO-08 3324Trade Brokers0.44
- ISCO-08 3331Clearing and Forwarding Aents0.57
Task-level exposure
Exposed tasks only24 rated tasks · 14 tasks with β ≥ 0.5 (58.3%)
β = direct exposure (E1) + 0.5 × exposure when tools are available (E2), per the source repository's definition.
- Source unit: O*NET 27.2 tasks → O*NET 31.0 occupation code
- All rated tasks are in the O*NET 31.0 task list.
- Source
- OpenAI "GPTs are GPTs" exposure rubric
- Release
- gh-main-0471612
- License
- MIT License, Copyright (c) 2024 OpenAI
| Task (O*NET 20.1) | Claude.aiRaw / share % | APIRaw / share % |
|---|---|---|
Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.43-5011.00 | 0.002857.1 | —0 |
Check import or export documentation to determine cargo contents and use tariff coding system to classify goods according to fee or tariff group.43-5011.00 | 0.002142.9 | 0.003422.5 |
Track delivery progress of shipments. | —0 | 0.007650.3 |
Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies. | —0 | 0.004127.2 |
| Not observed on any surface — 20 task(s) — These tasks have no row in the source for this release. The 0 in the share row is a display-stage composition ratio; absence is what the — in the raw row states. | ||
Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents. | —0 | —0 |
Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery. | —0 | —0 |
Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights. | —0 | —0 |
Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods. | —0 | —0 |
Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary. | —0 | —0 |
Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers. | —0 | —0 |
Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshaling areas and help load and unload goods safely. | —0 | —0 |
Inspect and count items received and check them against invoices or other documents, recording shortages and rejecting damaged goods. | —0 | —0 |
Install straps, braces, and padding to loads to prevent shifting or damage during shipment. | —0 | —0 |
Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored. | —0 | —0 |
Coordinate and supervise activities of workers engaged in packing and shipping merchandise. | —0 | —0 |
Arrange insurance coverage for goods. | —0 | —0 |
Direct or participate in cargo loading to ensure completeness of load and even distribution of weight. | —0 | —0 |
Open cargo containers and unwrap contents, using steel cutters, crowbars, or other hand tools. | —0 | —0 |
Attach address labels, identification codes, and shipping instructions to containers. | —0 | —0 |
Route received goods to first available flight or to appropriate storage areas or departments, using forklifts, hand trucks, or other equipment. | —0 | —0 |
Maintain a supply of packing materials. | —0 | —0 |
Assemble containers and crates used to transport items such as machines or vehicles. | —0 | —0 |
Prepare manifests showing numbers of airplane passengers and baggage, mail, and freight weights, transmitting data to destinations. | —0 | —0 |
Contact vendors or claims adjustment departments to resolve shipment problems or contact service depots to arrange for repairs. | —0 | —0 |
Values in this tab are predicted labels, not observations. Eloundou et al. (2023) published two rating regimes — human raters and GPT-4 — and the β shown here is derived from the GPT-4 rater basis alone; the same task can take a different value under the other regime. The unit and the meaning differ from the observed shares (%) in the other tabs, so do not place them on the same axis.
| Task (O*NET 27.2) | βE1 + 0.5 × E2 |
|---|---|
Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents.O*NET Task ID 8192 | 1.0 |
Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights.O*NET Task ID 8194 | 1.0 |
Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods.O*NET Task ID 8195 | 1.0 |
Check import or export documentation to determine cargo contents and use tariff coding system to classify goods according to fee or tariff group.O*NET Task ID 20273 | 1.0 |
Prepare manifests showing numbers of airplane passengers and baggage, mail, and freight weights, transmitting data to destinations.O*NET Task ID 20274 | 1.0 |
Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies.O*NET Task ID 8188 | 0.5 |
Advise clients on transportation and payment methods.O*NET Task ID 8190 | 0.5 |
Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary.O*NET Task ID 8196 | 0.5 |
Inspect and count items received and check them against invoices or other documents, recording shortages and rejecting damaged goods.O*NET Task ID 8199 | 0.5 |
Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored.O*NET Task ID 8201 | 0.5 |
Arrange insurance coverage for goods.O*NET Task ID 8203 | 0.5 |
Track delivery progress of shipments.O*NET Task ID 20271 | 0.5 |
Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery.O*NET Task ID 20272 | 0.5 |
Contact vendors or claims adjustment departments to resolve shipment problems or contact service depots to arrange for repairs.O*NET Task ID 20275 | 0.5 |
Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers.O*NET Task ID 8197 | 0.0 |
Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshaling areas and help load and unload goods safely.O*NET Task ID 8198 | 0.0 |
Install straps, braces, and padding to loads to prevent shifting or damage during shipment.O*NET Task ID 8200 | 0.0 |
Coordinate and supervise activities of workers engaged in packing and shipping merchandise.O*NET Task ID 8202 | 0.0 |
Direct or participate in cargo loading to ensure completeness of load and even distribution of weight.O*NET Task ID 8204 | 0.0 |
Open cargo containers and unwrap contents, using steel cutters, crowbars, or other hand tools.O*NET Task ID 8205 | 0.0 |
Attach address labels, identification codes, and shipping instructions to containers.O*NET Task ID 8206 | 0.0 |
Route received goods to first available flight or to appropriate storage areas or departments, using forklifts, hand trucks, or other equipment.O*NET Task ID 8208 | 0.0 |
Maintain a supply of packing materials.O*NET Task ID 8209 | 0.0 |
Assemble containers and crates used to transport items, such as machines or vehicles.O*NET Task ID 8210 | 0.0 |
β = E1 + 0.5 × E2 · E1 = tasks where direct LLM access alone cuts time by at least 50%, E2 = tasks where software built on top of an LLM cuts time by at least 50%. Values take only 0 / 0.5 / 1.0.
Data sources & licenses — O*NET®, Anthropic Economic Index, Eloundou et al. (2023): see full notices on the Credits page
All O*NET 31.0 task statements (24)
All O*NET 31.0 task statements for this occupation (English, as published; task type core or supplemental). Exposure values are not listed here; they are in the table above, next to each task statement as worded in the O*NET version each source used.
| Task (O*NET 31.0) | Type |
|---|---|
| Negotiate and arrange transport of goods with shipping or freight companies. | Core |
| Advise clients on transportation and payment methods. | Core |
| Determine method of shipment and prepare bills of lading, invoices, and other shipping documents. | Core |
| Estimate freight or postal rates and record shipment costs and weights. | Core |
| Enter shipping information into a computer by hand or by a hand-held scanner that reads bar codes on goods. | Core |
| Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary. | Core |
| Keep records of all goods shipped, received, and stored. | Core |
| Track delivery progress of shipments. | Core |
| Notify consignees, passengers, or customers of freight or baggage arrival and arrange for delivery. | Core |
| Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers. | Supplemental |
| Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshaling areas and help load and unload goods safely. | Supplemental |
| Inspect and count items received and check them against invoices or other documents, recording shortages and rejecting damaged goods. | Supplemental |
| Install straps, braces, and padding to loads to prevent shifting or damage during shipment. | Supplemental |
| Coordinate and supervise activities of workers engaged in packing and shipping merchandise. | Supplemental |
| Arrange insurance coverage for goods. | Supplemental |
| Direct or participate in cargo loading to ensure completeness of load and even distribution of weight. | Supplemental |
| Open cargo containers and unwrap contents, using steel cutters, crowbars, or other hand tools. | Supplemental |
| Attach address labels, identification codes, and shipping instructions to containers. | Supplemental |
| Route received goods to first available flight or to appropriate storage areas or departments, using forklifts, hand trucks, or other equipment. | Supplemental |
| Maintain a supply of packing materials. | Supplemental |
| Assemble containers and crates used to transport items, such as machines or vehicles. | Supplemental |
| Check import or export documentation to determine cargo contents and use tariff coding system to classify goods according to fee or tariff group. | Supplemental |
| Prepare manifests showing numbers of airplane passengers and baggage, mail, and freight weights, transmitting data to destinations. | Supplemental |
| Contact vendors or claims adjustment departments to resolve shipment problems or contact service depots to arrange for repairs. | Supplemental |
0.28/ 3· Robot exposure index
Scale, basis and source
Each physical task is graded 0–3 by the setting in which robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated could do it (0 none · 1 purpose-built robot settings such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line · 2 structured facilities such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port · 3 unstructured settings such as a private home or a construction site), and the grades are averaged by share of working time
Physical tasks among this occupation's O*NET 29.3 tasks
Anthropic estimated the grades and time shares with Claude Opus 5 using web search, as of 2026.
The robot exposure index is a different measure from the AI exposure figures on this site and cannot be added to or compared with them. It does not measure actual adoption or cost, and 0 also covers occupations with no physical tasks.
Tier of each physical task
Robot environment tiers (E0–E3)
E0 noneDetails
Rated not doable by robots that have been deployed, sold or demonstrated, even in a purpose-built setting
E1 purpose-built robot settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting built around the machine, such as a fenced machine cell or a bottling line
E2 structured facilitiesDetails
Rated doable in a human work facility that an institution keeps to a working standard, such as a hospital pharmacy or a container port
E3 unstructured settingsDetails
Rated doable in a setting that no institution keeps to a working standard, such as a private home or a construction site
Only tasks classified as physical are listed; other tasks have no tier in the source.
| Task (O*NET 29.3) | Robot environment tier |
|---|---|
| Retrieve stored items and trace lost shipments as necessary. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Pack goods for shipping, using tools such as staplers, strapping machines, and hammers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Direct delivery trucks to shipping doors or designated marshaling areas and help load and unload goods safely. | E2 structured facilities |
| Inspect and count items received and check them against invoices or other documents, recording shortages and rejecting damaged goods. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Install straps, braces, and padding to loads to prevent shifting or damage during shipment. | E0 none |
| Direct or participate in cargo loading to ensure completeness of load and even distribution of weight. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Open cargo containers and unwrap contents, using steel cutters, crowbars, or other hand tools. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Attach address labels, identification codes, and shipping instructions to containers. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
| Route received goods to first available flight or to appropriate storage areas or departments, using forklifts, hand trucks, or other equipment. | E2 structured facilities |
| Maintain a supply of packing materials. | E2 structured facilities |
| Assemble containers and crates used to transport items, such as machines or vehicles. | E1 purpose-built robot settings |
Occupation information
Employment outlook (BLS)
Values for the whole SOC 43-5011 group (Cargo and freight agents), not for this O*NET occupation alone.
- Employment, 2025
- 100K
- Projected employment, 2035
- 106K
- Change (2025–35)
- +6.2%
- Median annual wage, 2025
- $52,260
- Typical education needed for entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
Korea classification links (KSCO)
Links from the current release of the Korea Occupation Direct Crosswalk v1.1, made by AI Changing Work. Relation values are read from the O*NET-SOC occupation side.
| KSCO code | KSCO title | Relation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32211 | 도로운송 사무원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 32221 | 수상운송 사무원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 32222 | 항공운송 사무원 | This occupation is broader | confirmed |
| 32290 | 그 외 운송 및 무역 사무원 | Overlapping, not the same | reviewed |
Relation and status definitions(kr-direct v1.1)
ILO occupational description
AI Changing Work links the ISCO-08 unit groups below to this occupation by applying the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics crosswalks (2018 SOC to 2010 SOC, 2010 SOC to ISCO-08) as published, without case-by-case selection; each link may be whole or partial.
- ISCO-08 3324Trade Brokers
- ISCO-08 3331Clearing and Forwarding Aents
Sources: ILO ISCO-08 — details: Credits
ESCO occupational vocabulary
Each entry below is matched to this occupation in the published ESCO-O*NET Crosswalk (version 1, 2022). The match types are that crosswalk's; the wording is AI Changing Work's.
- aircraft cargo operations coordinatorESCO 4323.1This occupation is broader
Aircraft cargo operations coordinators direct and coordinate air transport terminal cargo and ramp activities. They review data on incoming flights as to plan the working activities. They direct preparation of loading plans for each departing flight and confer with supervisory personnel to ensure workers and equipment are available for air cargo and baggage loading, unloading, and handling activities.
- freight transport dispatcherESCO 4323.6This occupation is broader
Freight transport dispatchers receive and transmit reliable messages, track vehicles and equipment, and record other important information. They oversee the planning operations of dispatching by coordinating different modes of transport. Freight transport dispatchers structure routes or services and determine the appropriate mode of transport. They are also responsible for equipment and vehicle maintenance and workers dispatching. The freight transport dispatchers provide the legal and contractual documentation for the transporting parties.
- forwarding managerESCO 3331.2Overlapping, not the same
Forwarding managers plan and organise cargo shipments within national and international areas. They communicate with carriers and negotiate the best way to send the cargo to its destination which can be a single customer or a point of distribution. Forwarding managers act as experts in supply chain management. They know and apply the rules and regulations for each specific type of cargo and communicate the conditions and costs to the clients.
Source: European Commission, DG EMPL — ESCO API 2026-08-08 (bridge v1.2.1)
License: CC BY 4.0 (EU Reuse Notice)
ESCO reuse terms and the modification notice are in Credits.
France classification links (ROME)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and ROME 4.0 job profiles, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side. Links marked “provisional” were adopted on the judgments of two judges from the same model family (Claude) alone, or by an operator rule applied to their judgments, so they rest on weaker evidence than confirmed links.
| ROME code | ROME title (French) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| N1206 | Courtier / Courtière affrètement maritime | This occupation is broader |
| N3206 | Assistant / Assistante d'exploitation de terminal portuaire | This occupation is broader |
| N3210 | Assistant / Assistante d'exploitation transport maritime | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| N1202 | Agent / Agente de transit | Overlapping, not the sameprovisional |
| N3205 | Assistant / Assistante d'exploitation du transport fluvial | Related, not a match |
| N1201 | Affréteur / Affréteuse | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| N1207 | Chef / Cheffe de groupe affrètement | Related, not a matchprovisional |
| N4203 | Agent / Agente d'exploitation en transport routier de marchandises | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: France Travail — Répertoire Opérationnel des Métiers et des Emplois (ROME 4.0), version 61, last updated 15 June 2026 (https://www.data.gouv.fr/datasets/repertoire-operationnel-des-metiers-et-des-emplois-rome). Licence Ouverte 2.0.
ROME codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET-SOC occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a France Travail correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: fr-direct v1)
Spain classification links (CNO-11)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and CNO-11 occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| CNO-11 code | CNO-11 title (Spanish) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 4123 | Empleados de logística y transporte de pasajeros y mercancías | This occupation is narrowerprovisional |
| 3523 | Consignatarios | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE), National Classification of Occupations 2011 (CNO-11, Royal Decree 1591/2010) — www.ine.es · Licensed CC BY 4.0. CNO-11 codes and Spanish titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not an INE correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: es-direct v1)
Germany classification links (KldB)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and KldB occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| KldB code | KldB title (German) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 51622 | Speditions- und Logistikkaufleute - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is narrower |
| 51652 | Schifffahrtskaufleute - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | This occupation is broaderprovisional |
| 51642 | Luftverkehrskaufleute - fachlich ausgerichtete Tätigkeiten | Related, not a match |
| 51643 | Luftverkehrskaufleute - komplexe Spezialistentätigkeiten | Related, not a matchprovisional |
Source: © Statistik der Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Klassifikation der Berufe 2010 – überarbeitete Fassung 2020, https://statistik.arbeitsagentur.de. KldB codes and titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own mapping (eigene Zuordnung) and are not a Bundesagentur für Arbeit correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: de-direct v1)
Japan classification links (JSCO)
AI Changing Work's links between this occupation and JSCO occupations, judged with AI models. Relations are read from this occupation's side.
| JSCO code | JSCO title (Japanese) | Relation |
|---|---|---|
| 301 | 旅客・貨物係事務員 | This occupation is narrower |
| 272 | 出荷・受荷事務員 | Related, not a match |
Source: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), Japan Standard Occupational Classification (Dec. 2009, MIC Notification No. 555). JSCO codes and Japanese titles are reproduced unchanged; the links to O*NET occupations are AI Changing Work's own judgment and are not a MIC correspondence.
(AI Changing Work link release: jp-direct v1)
Sources, licenses and AI Changing Work's modification and translation notices for this page: Credits & sources