According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures. | 96% |
| Clear goods through customs and to their destinations for clients. | 96% |
| Pay, or arrange for payment of, taxes and duties on shipments. | 95% |
| Calculate duty and tariff payments owed on shipments. | 95% |
| Request or compile necessary import documentation, such as customs invoices, certificates of origin, and cargo-control documents. | 93% |
| Classify goods according to tariff coding system. | 91% |
| Stay abreast of changes in import or export laws or regulations by reading current literature, attending meetings or conferences, or conferring with colleagues. | 89% |
| Sign documents on behalf of clients, using powers of attorney. | 89% |
| Advise customers on import and export restrictions, tariff systems, insurance requirements, quotas, or other customs-related matters. | 85% |
| Post bonds for the products being imported or assist clients in obtaining bonds. | 83% |
| Quote duty and tax rates on goods to be imported, based on federal tariffs and excise taxes. | 81% |
| Arrange for transportation, warehousing, or product distribution of imported or exported products. | 81% |
| Monitor or trace the location of goods. | 81% |
| Confer with officials in various agencies to facilitate clearance of goods through customs and quarantine. | 80% |
| Inform importers and exporters of steps to reduce duties and taxes. | 75% |
| Obtain line releases for frequent shippers of low-risk commodities, high-volume entries, or multiple-container loads. | 69% |
| Provide advice on transportation options, types of carriers, or shipping routes. | 69% |
| Contract with freight forwarders for destination services. | 67% |
| Apply for tariff concessions or for duty drawbacks and other refunds. | 66% |
| Insure cargo against loss, damage, or pilferage. | 65% |
| Prepare papers for shippers to appeal duty charges. | 60% |
| Suggest best methods of packaging or labeling products. | 58% |
| Maintain relationships with customs brokers in other ports to expedite clearing of cargo. | 56% |
