CERTIFICATE IN
FREIGHT FORWARDING MANAGEMENT
14-15-16 May 2025
12.00 – 15.00 UK Time
An Online Interactive Training Course
The three-day course is live and interactive, where learners can follow along with the tutor and ask questions.
Upcoming Dates:
14-15-16 May 2025 – 3 Days
10-11-12 June 2025 – 3 Days
- 3 Day Course: 12:00-15:00 UK Time
Flexible, on-demand program alternative:
Sign up when you want, study at your own pace, and complete when you’re able.
Study from the comfort of your own home with personal tutor support, no timetable. Please get in touch with us for the details.
Freight forwarding plays a vital role in global trade, acting as the connective tissue between shippers, carriers, and customers across international supply chains. Whether moving goods by sea, air, road, or rail, freight forwarders ensure that shipments flow efficiently, compliantly, and cost-effectively. As the industry becomes increasingly digital and competitive, professionals must combine strong operational know-how with commercial awareness and an understanding of global logistics dynamics.
This practical, instructor-led online course offers a comprehensive introduction to the freight forwarding business. Across three interactive days, participants will gain insights into the end-to-end shipment process, key documentation, risk and cash flow management, consolidation strategies, and the essentials of setting up or growing a forwarding company. Ideal for newcomers, career changers, and those seeking a solid industry refresher, the course blends theory with real-world examples, practical tools, and case studies to equip participants with job-ready knowledge and skills.
Course Details
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Day 1: Industry Landscape & Shipment Essentials
Understand the freight forwarder’s role in global trade, key transport modes, cargo planning, Incoterms 2020, essential documentation, and digital tools used in modern forwarding operations.Day 2: Operational Workflow & Cargo Management
Explore how freight forwarders operate from quote to delivery. Learn about booking processes, cargo consolidation, cost optimisation, issuing House B/L, and real-world shipment case studies.Day 3: Risk, Finance & Business Growth
Cover financial risk management, cargo insurance, legal and licensing requirements, and strategies for starting and scaling a freight forwarding business. Includes hands-on work with a business model canvas and insights into industry trends and career development.
Full Course Outline
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Day 1: Industry Landscape, Roles & Shipment Essentials
1. Introduction to Freight Forwarding & Industry Role
• What is a freight forwarder and what do they do?
• Freight forwarding vs. logistics vs. shipping lines
• The role of forwarders in global supply chains
• Key customers, stakeholders, and value creation2. Modal Transport & Cargo Planning Basics
• Sea, air, road, and rail freight: key characteristics
• FCL vs. LCL, container types and equipment selection
• Intermodal & multimodal transport models
• Volumetric weight vs. actual weight: when and why it matters3. INCOTERMS 2020 & Contract Responsibilities
• Overview of Incoterms 2020
• Freight forwarder’s indirect involvement
• Impact on cost, risk allocation, and documentation4. Essential Freight Documentation
• House B/L vs. Master B/L
• CMR, AWB, FIATA B/L, CIM, FCR, FCT
• Supporting documents: Invoice, Packing List, Certificate of Origin, Insurance, Letter of Credit5. Industry Tools, Technology & Visibility
• Online booking platforms (e.g. INTTRA, Freightos)
• TMS and visibility tools (e.g. Project44, FourKites)
• E-documents, digital signatures, and paperless trade
Day 2: Freight Forwarder Operations, Teams & Cargo Management
6. Freight Forwarder Business Units & Shipment Flow
• Typical company structure: sales, pricing, procurement, operations, documentation, finance
• Functional responsibilities and interdepartmental coordination
• End-to-end shipment flow: from quote to booking, execution, and billing
• Global vs. local operations and branch coordination7. Booking & Execution Processes
• Carrier booking: space allocation, deadlines, cut-offs
• Handling instructions, container stuffing, labelling
• Stages: pickup, main carriage, unloading, delivery8. Cargo Consolidation & Cost Optimisation
• LCL groupage and warehouse handling
• Benefits of consolidation and deconsolidation
• Reducing cost per shipment through effective planning9. Operational Documents: House B/L & Customer Responsibilities
• Issuing the House B/L correctly
• Shipper and consignee obligations
• Balancing compliance with service quality10. Case Studies & Process Mapping
• Interactive shipment case walkthroughs: ocean, air, and road
• Booking workflows and real-world examples
• Participants map out a simple shipment scenario
Day 3: Risk, Finance & Business Growth Strategies
11. Financial Risk & Cash Flow Management
• Freight forwarder financial model: prepayments, credit terms, DSO
• Managing collections, liabilities, and penalties
• Demurrage, detention, and chargebacks
• Common cash flow pitfalls for new forwarders12. Cargo Insurance & Liability Management
• Types of cargo insurance and when to recommend them
• Institute Cargo Clauses (A, B, C)
• Claims processes, exclusions, and required documentation13. Starting & Growing Your Freight Forwarding Business
• Company setup: registration, legal and licensing requirements (UK/international perspective)
• Agent networks (WCA, Pangea), associations (FIATA, IATA)
• Office setup, freight software, and team building
• Partner vetting and working with overseas agents14. Business Model Canvas for Freight Forwarders
Participants will build a basic model using the following blocks:
• Key Partners: Carriers, co-loaders, agents, digital platforms, banks
• Key Activities: Booking, documentation, customer service, rate sourcing
• Value Proposition: End-to-end logistics coordination, flexible routing, visibility
• Customer Relationships: Personalised service, long-term accounts
• Customer Segments: BCOs, importers/exporters, e-commerce, project cargo
• Key Resources: Skilled staff, TMS systems, contracts, trade knowledge
• Channels: Sales reps, online portals, agents, digital marketing
• Cost Structure: Staff, systems, liability insurance, office
• Revenue Streams: Freight margin, documentation and handling fees15. Forwarding Trends & Career Growth
• Sustainability and green forwarding initiatives
• Digital freight, automation, and AI
• Certifications and career pathways: from operations exec to branch director
* Please note that changes in the curriculum may occur due to scheduling and other factors.
Who should attend:
This course is ideal for:
- Freight Forwarders
- Shippers, Beneficiary Cargo Owners, Traders, Exporters, Importers
- Those who want to better understand the process of moving goods internationally and potentially save on forwarding services
- Inland transport providers and Logistics companies
- Container Shipping lines and agents
- Experienced Freight Forwarders: Those seeking to expand their knowledge and stay updated on industry best practices
- Individuals looking to enter the logistics and supply chain field.
- Those who want to enhance their skills and knowledge within the Logistics and Freight Forwarding industry.
- Consultants
- Prospective managers in the Logistics and Supply Chain Management industry
- Anyone involved in international trade: Whether as a shipper, receiver, or an intermediary, understanding freight forwarding principles is beneficial.
Course Directors:
Our course directors bring a wealth of experience from across the freight forwarding sector, including backgrounds in container shipping lines, container terminals, 3PL service providers, and shippers.
Registration Information
Join our Live Online ‘Certificate in Freight Forwarding Management’ Course via Zoom.
3 days of training
US$700 per delegate
The Course fee includes;
- Course notes
- A digital PDF copy of your “Certificate of Completion” sent via email
Optional Hard Copy “Certificate of Completion” printed on high-quality paper, delivered by post is available at US$29 if you wish to have one.
Early Bird Discount:
Book in advance with our ‘Early Bird Rate – US$499.
The offer is valid on registrations made at least 15 days in advance. Full payment is needed at the time of registration.
Kindly complete your registration and submit the course enrollment payment through the provided links below.
Early Bird + Multi Delegate Discount
You can combine the Multi Delegate and Early Bird discount programs, and receive a bigger discount for training courses!
The Early Bird Discount Program is applicable for bookings taken and payment received more than 2 weeks before the commencement of the training!
- For 2 Delegates, we offer an additional 20% Discount each Delegate (US$399)
Mix & Match Corporate Bundle:
Our Mix & Match Bundle enables you to select any of our training courses in line with your organisation’s needs.
You get 10 courses in this money-saving flexible bundle.
You are able to allocate the courses within the bundle to different individuals.
You have 1 year from initial enrolment to complete the courses in your bundle.
Please get in touch with us for the details.
Self-Funding & Educational Discounts
We appreciate that funding a training course yourself can represent a significant financial burden. As a result, we offer a discount structure for certificate courses to make your private booking more affordable.
If you are a student, private individual, or self-employed and are funding the course booking yourself, you can claim a self-funding discount with any qualifying Certificate course. Please fill the registration form below and get in touch with us for the details.
Flexible, on-demand program alternative:
Sign up when you want, study at your own pace, and complete when you’re able.
Study from the comfort of your own home, with no timetable. Please get in touch with us for the details.
Registration:
Should You Wish to Register Multiple Course Delegates, Please Fill in the Information For Each Delegate
Payment:
Please get in touch with us for payment by bank transfer, or you can use the below link for online payments.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Feel free to explore our detailed FAQ section for additional questions or assistance you may require.
Comments and Testimonials:
“ The course was very well prepared. I have found useful the interaction with the other participants, who were able to share their own work experiences. I would suggest the course to a colleague. The experience was good, especially for me in order to refresh and add some knowledge. ”
“ I really loved the methodology, practicality and experience of the instructors. Congratulations to everyone and the Academy. ”
“ The tutors’ background knowledge within the industry was valuable. I would suggest, A lot of knowledge learnt and reinforced.”
Renato Campodonico, Italy
Certificate in Container Logistics
Nicolau António, Angola
Certificate in Container Logistics
Owen Collister, Isle of Man
Certificate in Container Logistics
“ Really nice and interesting experience. Definitely, would recommend it ”
“ It was very profitable for my career to take this course.”
“I was familiar with many core aspects of the Logistics course before, but the scope was so extensive to know many many details that I was unaware. Also, the open discussions about popular and modern innovations in the field were quite insightful.. ”
Fernando Ferreira, Portugal
Certificate in Container Logistics
Luis Mondragao, Spain
Certificate in Container Logistics
Linus Brüll, Netherlands
Certificate in Container Logistics
You can find further comments and testimonials here:
