Freight Forwarders
Machines can already do 51% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 76%. Most of the work is changing now.
Share of the work machines can do
Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050
Freight Forwarders in 2026: the short answer
- Today: machines can do 51% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 2% of them.
- Forecast: machines can already do half of its tasks, and 76% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
- Size: 97,670 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $52,260 a year.
- Contact with people: it scores 79% for contact with people.
- Also called: Air Export Agent, Air Export Coordinator, Export Coordinator, Freight Forwarder.
Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.
How the work changes, task by task
The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.
| Task | Share of the day | Machines can do | 2026 to 2035 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare shipping documentation, such as bills of lading, packing lists, dock receipts, or certificates of origin | 10% | 70% to 95% | |
| Inform clients of factors such as shipping options, timelines, transfers, or regulations affecting shipments | 8% | 40% to 68% | |
| Complete customs paperwork | 6% | 70% to 95% | |
| Prepare invoices or cost quotations for freight transportation | 6% | 70% to 95% | |
| Negotiate shipping rates with freight carriers | 5% | 10% to 27% | |
| Monitor or record locations of goods in transit | 5% | 85% to 97% | |
| Reserve necessary space on ships, aircraft, trains, or trucks | 5% | 10% to 27% | |
| Provide shipment status notification to exporters, consignees, or insurers | 5% | 10% to 27% |
The skills this job runs on
The skills freight forwarders use most, most used first.
Safer jobs nearby
Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.
- Purchasing Managers66% of tasks by 2035 · US median $148,080
- Chief Procurement Officers56% of tasks by 2035
- Farm Labor Contractors49% of tasks by 2035 · US median $58,460
- First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators61% of tasks by 2035
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Questions
When will machines do half of the tasks of Freight Forwarders?
Machines can already do half of its tasks. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.
Will AI take the job of freight forwarders?
Machines can do 51% of the tasks of freight forwarders today and 76% by 2035. Most of the routine work moves to machines, and the people in the job move to oversight, judgement and client work.
Sources and citing
Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 43-5011.01 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.
Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Freight Forwarders: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/freight-forwarders/