For our team we are looking for an apprentice as a
clerk for shipping and logistics services with core competence of “Sea freight – Import/Export” for 01 August 2024.
Tasks and responsibilities
clerk for shipping and logistics services are responsible for organising the dispatch of goods, the handling of goods and their storage as well as for other logistics services. They control and monitor the interaction of the persons and facilities involved in the respective logistics chain. To ensure a smooth process, they select suitable routes and means of transport, work out schedules and take care of formalities. They advise and look after the customers, for example in questions of packaging, they prepare offers, prepare contracts and take care of insurance cover. They are also the contact persons for customer complaints, damage reports and settlements. In addition, they calculate prices, help determine costs and revenues, handle payment transactions and accounting processes. They obtain the necessary information to be able to determine and evaluate service offers on the transport and logistics market. They correspond and communicate with foreign business partners and customers in English, process English-language documents and move confidently on the terrain of customs and foreign trade regulations. They also carry out administrative and clerical work.
What is it about?
Freight forwarding and logistics services clerks organise the shipping, handling and storage of goods and sell transport and logistics services.
Tropical fruits in winter: a logistical challenge
Importing exotic fruits in winter, shipping refrigerated medicines, delivering sensitive computer components: freight forwarding and logistics services clerks are experts in transport of all kinds. There is more to planning the transport of goods than just loading, driving and unloading. Freight forwarding and logistics services clerks accept orders, advise customers and prepare offers for transport conditions. They select means of transport such as rail, truck, plane or ship according to the specifications of the order and determine transport routes. They take into account how fast the goods have to be transported, how much space they need, where the transport starts and where the destination is. They often organize transport chains from truck to ship and then back to the next truck. They reliably find out the cheapest and most time-efficient transport route and also take into account possible stops at national borders and possible truck driving bans at home and abroad when calculating the transport times. It goes without saying that they are aware of the fastest transshipment points and problematic border crossings. Since the customer contacts are mostly across national borders, the merchants in this service profession need foreign language skills, especially English.
With the variety of tasks: always keep an overview
During freight handling and transport processing, they inform the principal and the consignee about the transport route as well as the transshipment points and expected arrival times of the consignments. If an enquiry arrives by e-mail from an agent based in India as to whether the goods ordered by the customer have already set off for their destination, this must be ascertained and passed on, for example, by telephoning the airline responsible. Thanks to modern freight and fleet management systems, freight forwarders and logistics service providers can obtain an overview of the location of individual vehicles in “their” truck fleet within Europe in a matter of seconds via GPS. Customers can thus receive constant status-quo feedback on how far their order has progressed.
Freight forwarding and logistics services clerks also prepare cost calculations and take on office and administrative work. In addition, they issue transport certificates and obtain official permits for special transports, for example. To protect the transported goods, they arrange for their packaging if necessary, select suitable storage rooms and organise storage and interim storage in their own or rented warehouses. In the case of perishable goods, they arrange for adequate refrigeration. They also insure and declare the goods and prepare freight documents and customs documents. Of course, they need relevant knowledge for this, for example about dangerous goods transport, customs and transport insurance regulations.
When consignments arrive at the warehouse, they use collection orders to check whether they have arrived intact and undamaged. Forwarding and logistics services clerks then work outside the office, for example on loading ramps. They settle accounts with the drivers and carriers and process any complaints. In the event of transport damage, they prepare a damage report, investigate the cause and notify the insurance company and the client.
For their work, it is increasingly important to have an overview of various logistical areas of responsibility and to gain a comprehensive understanding of overall logistical processes.
Since goods logistics can no longer do without the use of modern technologies and e-commerce is playing an increasingly important role when it comes to the competitiveness of forwarding companies, forwarding and logistics services clerks can no longer do without the use of web portals, transport and freight exchanges and shipment tracking systems. So in addition to passively retrieving information, they also use the possibility of communication via the internet.
Training requirements
For the recognised training occupations, no specific school education is prescribed by law as an entry requirement. In any case, it is advisable to find out about this in good time and to apply at the latest with the final school report of the penultimate school year, i.e. about one year before the start of training. Most of the training takes place in Monheim.
Career prospects
The prospects of being taken on by the training company or moving to another company after successful completion of vocational training are extremely good. Skilled workers who are willing to work are in demand everywhere. The term “unemployment” is a foreign word. However, the market system of supply and demand also applies here. As already mentioned at the beginning, this market is not limited to the domestic market and the shipping industry, but offers a wide range of employment opportunities for forwarding and logistics services clerks worldwide.
Further training
A rolling stone gathers no moss. To avoid this, forwarding and logistics services clerks can not only gain practical experience as a junior employee after completing their commercial training, but also take advantage of various external training opportunities.
Contact
Do you have any further questions or would you like to send us your documents? Please send them by e-mail or call us in advance.
Susanne Spieth-Fengels
E-Mail: susanne.spieth-fengels@wcl-shipping.com
Telefon: +49 2173 9852 0
