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AccountancyISCO 3359

Freight inspector

A freight inspector is a person who determines whether freight is secure and arrives with the proper documentation. The inspector inspects, manages and documents freight shipments, verifying that the contents comply with the local, national and international regulations.

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Rate 5 of the 23 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

observe freight shipment loaders

inspect hazardous freight in accordance with regulations

supervise unloading of cargo

supervise loading of cargo

inspect freight

About freight inspector

Two questions are being answered on every consignment. The first is physical: is the load secured so that it will not shift, fall or damage itself in transit. The inspector supervises the loading and the unloading, places cargo in the transport vehicle, and works from a knowledge of transport methods.

The second question is documentary. A shipment that is physically sound and incorrectly papered does not move, and one that is correctly papered and badly loaded should not. The inspector ensures compliance with the carriage regulations, which differ between a local journey, a national one and a crossing into another jurisdiction.

Establishing what happened is the third part. The inspector establishes the facts, analyses the written work reports, and documents the shipments, which is what a claim for damage or a regulatory question is later settled from. Rail freight monitoring technologies are used where a consignment has to be followed rather than inspected at a point.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (23)

transportation methodstransportation methodsKnowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and optimal work strategies.freight transport methodsfreight transport methodsThe different modalities of freight transport such as air, sea, or intermodal freight transport, including the details and procedures specific to them.hazardous freight regulationshazardous freight regulationsThe regulatory schemes applicable to the transportation of dangerous materials, such as IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) for air transport, or International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code ("IMDG ...principles of cargo stowageprinciples of cargo stowageThe principles of cargo stowage. The procedures by which containers should be efficiently loaded and unloaded, taking into account gravitational forces that are exerted during transportation.observe freight shipment loadersobserve freight shipment loadersObserve process of freight loading; ensure that crew complies with all applicable regulations and procedures; stow heavy and potentially dangerous cargo.inspect hazardous freight in accordance with regulationsinspect hazardous freight in accordance with regulationsInspect and take into account regulations on hazardous or delicate freight such as biomedical waste, transplant organs, and blood. Freight may have to cross national borders on its journey to its dest...supervise unloading of cargosupervise unloading of cargoSupervise unloading processes for equipment, cargo, goods and other items. Ensure that everything is handled and stored correctly in accordance with regulations and standards.supervise loading of cargosupervise loading of cargoSupervise the process of loading equipment, cargo, goods and other Items. Ensure that all cargo is handled and stored properly in accordance with regulations and standards.keep task recordskeep task recordsOrganise and classify records of prepared reports and correspondence related to the performed work and progress records of tasks.inspect freightinspect freightInspect, document, and manage freight shipments; verify that all content complies with national, international and local regulations.use rigging toolsuse rigging toolsEmploy rigging tools such as cables, ropes, pulleys and winches to safely secure high structures.adjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehiclesadjust weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehiclesAdapt weight of cargo to capacity of freight transport vehicles. Oversee the maximum load capacity of the vehicle in question and the weight of each individual crate in the shipment.accommodate cargo in freight transport vehicleaccommodate cargo in freight transport vehicleProperly position, cushion, restrain and balance cargo.conduct fact findingconduct fact findingDetermine relevant facts in order to conduct audits.operate railway freight monitoring technologiesoperate railway freight monitoring technologiesOperate monitoring and inspection technologies that can be used to check crucial parameters of freight transportation conditions or vehicle-track systems. Identify and warn of the potential threats po...ensure compliance with shipment regulationsensure compliance with shipment regulationsEnsure compliance with shipment laws, regulations and policies; keep shipments secure and damage free; ensure the safety of staff members handling the cargo.handle freight inspection equipmenthandle freight inspection equipmentHandle freight inspection equipment and tools such as bench top centrifuges, depth indicators, notebook computers, tape measures, and water samplers.provide advice on breaches of regulationprovide advice on breaches of regulationAdvise on preventive and corrective actions; correct any breaches of or non-compliance with legal regulations.perform inspections required by international conventionsperform inspections required by international conventionsPerform inspections as required by international conventions. Understand procedures and regulations to ensure compliance.monitor temperature in manufacturing process of food and beveragesmonitor temperature in manufacturing process of food and beveragesMonitor and control required temperatures in the different phases of production until the product reaches suitable properties according to specifications.prepare freight shipment reportsprepare freight shipment reportsCompose and submit freight shipment reports. Include detailed information on freight conditions and freight handling; report problems if necessary.check for defects in railcarscheck for defects in railcarsEnsure that freight cars are free of all safety defects that could lead to derailing or loss of freight while in transit. Ensure that freight cars meet transportation requirements.analyse work-related written reportsanalyse work-related written reportsRead and comprehend job-related reports, analyse the content of reports and apply findings to daily work operations.
Optional (4) — show
use different communication channelsuse different communication channelsMake use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.make independent operating decisionsmake independent operating decisionsMake immediate operating decisions as necessary without reference to others, taking into account the circumstances and any relevant procedures and legislation. Determine alone which option is the best...address problems criticallyaddress problems criticallyIdentify the strengths and weaknesses of various abstract, rational concepts, such as issues, opinions, and approaches related to a specific problematic situation in order to formulate solutions and a...have computer literacyhave computer literacyUtilise computers, IT equipment and modern day technology in an efficient way.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a freight inspector do?

Freight inspectors determine if freight is secure and comes with the proper documentation. They inspect, manage and document freight shipments while verifying that the content comply with local, national and international regulations.

What skills does a freight inspector need?

A freight inspector needs 23 essential skills, including transportation methods, freight transport methods, hazardous freight regulations, principles of cargo stowage, observe freight shipment loaders.

Will AI replace freight inspector jobs?

The AI disruption score for freight inspector is 48/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: keep task records, monitor temperature in manufacturing process of food and beverages, prepare freight shipment reports. Most resilient: use rigging tools, supervise unloading of cargo, handle freight inspection equipment.

Quick Facts

SectorAccountancy
ISCO GroupBusiness and administration associate professionals
Essential Skills23

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