Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Freight Assistant

💰 $45,000 - $60,000

LogisticsSupply ChainTransportationOperations

🎯 Role Definition

As a Freight Assistant, you are the operational backbone of our logistics department. You will be responsible for the day-to-day execution and monitoring of freight movements, acting as a critical link between our customers, carriers, and internal teams. Your primary objective is to ensure shipments are delivered on time, within budget, and in compliance with all regulations. This role requires a meticulous and communicative individual who can proactively solve problems and manage multiple tasks simultaneously to uphold our commitment to operational excellence and superior customer service.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Customer Service Representative
  • Warehouse Associate
  • Data Entry Clerk

Advancement To:

  • Freight Coordinator / Logistics Coordinator
  • Logistics Specialist
  • Account Manager (Logistics)

Lateral Moves:

  • Dispatch Coordinator
  • Supply Chain Analyst (Junior)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Proactively monitor and trace domestic and international shipments using Transportation Management Systems (TMS), carrier portals, and direct communication to ensure on-time delivery and provide real-time updates.
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for clients, providing timely and accurate status updates and professionally addressing inquiries regarding shipment location, delays, and estimated times of arrival (ETAs).
  • Accurately prepare, verify, and distribute essential freight documentation, including Bills of Lading (BOL), Proof of Delivery (POD), packing lists, and commercial invoices, ensuring full compliance.
  • Meticulously enter and maintain shipment data, customer profiles, and carrier details into our TMS and other operational databases with an exceptional degree of accuracy.
  • Coordinate and schedule freight pickups and delivery appointments with carriers, shippers, and consignees, optimizing timelines to meet and exceed customer requirements.
  • Obtain and compare freight quotes from multiple carriers for various modes of transport (LTL, FTL, Air, Ocean) to present cost-effective shipping solutions.
  • Investigate and resolve in-transit issues, such as delays, damages, or shortages, by collaborating with carriers and claims departments to facilitate swift and effective solutions.
  • Build and maintain strong professional relationships with carrier partners, communicating load requirements, confirming capacity, and ensuring service level agreements are consistently met.
  • Assist the accounting department by auditing and verifying carrier freight invoices against quoted rates and supporting documentation, identifying and disputing any discrepancies.
  • Provide crucial operational support to sales and account management teams by generating tracking reports, providing rate information, and assisting with new customer onboarding.
  • Organize and maintain comprehensive digital records of all shipment activities, communications, and documentation for auditing, compliance, and future reference.
  • Manage and confirm pickup and delivery appointments at warehouses and distribution centers, proactively working to prevent potential delays and avoid detention or demurrage charges.
  • Communicate load tender information and detailed dispatch instructions clearly and effectively to drivers and carrier dispatchers.
  • Deliver exceptional customer service by being responsive, empathetic, and solution-oriented in all interactions with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Initiate and manage the freight claims process for lost or damaged goods, meticulously gathering all required evidence and documentation to ensure a timely resolution for the customer.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist in the carrier onboarding process by collecting and verifying necessary documentation, such as proof of insurance, operating authority, and safety ratings.
  • Generate and compile data for daily, weekly, and monthly operational reports, tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) like on-time performance and cost per shipment.
  • Support senior logistics staff in rate negotiations by providing historical shipping data and preparing rate comparison analyses.
  • Identify, verify, and process accessorial charges (e.g., detention, layover, lumper fees), ensuring they are billed correctly to the appropriate party.
  • Participate in team meetings to review operational performance, discuss challenges, and contribute to process improvement initiatives.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • High proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel for data manipulation, VLOOKUPs, and pivot tables.
  • Hands-on experience with Transportation Management Systems (TMS) such as MercuryGate, McLeod, Turvo, or similar logistics software.
  • Strong and accurate data entry skills with a keen eye for detail.
  • Working knowledge of freight documentation, including Bill of Lading (BOL), Proof of Delivery (POD), and Air Waybill (AWB).
  • Understanding of different freight modes and services (e.g., LTL, FTL, Intermodal, Expedited).
  • Basic familiarity with transportation geography and major freight lanes.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for clear and professional interaction with clients, carriers, and colleagues.
  • Strong problem-solving abilities and the capacity to think critically under pressure.
  • Superior organizational and time-management skills, with a proven ability to prioritize tasks in a fast-paced environment.
  • A customer-centric mindset with a dedication to providing outstanding service.
  • Resilience and adaptability to handle unexpected shipment issues and changing priorities.
  • Collaborative team player who works effectively with others to achieve common goals.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High School Diploma or GED equivalent.

Preferred Education:

  • Associate's or Bachelor's Degree.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Logistics & Supply Chain Management
  • Business Administration
  • Operations Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1-3 years of experience in a logistics, transportation, or supply chain role.

Preferred: Direct experience in a freight brokerage (3PL), freight forwarding, or asset-based carrier environment is highly advantageous.

Explore More Careers