LOGISTICS AND TRANSPORTATION TECHNICIAN (SHIPPING AND LOGISTICS)

Description of the occupation

The shipping and transport technician is able to plan, implement and monitor the transport and shipment of goods with unimodal / intermodal systems, on national and international territory, identifying suitable carriers, managing the related document and information flows and the obligations. He is able to offer advice on international transport and customs’ area management.

Personal traits and competences

Traffic technicians tend to be predominantly realistic individuals, which means that they often enjoy working outdoors or applying themselves to a hands-on project. They also tend to be investigative, which means that they are quite inquisitive and curious people that typically like to spend time alone with their thoughts. The technician has the following competences:

Characteristics and specificity of unimodal/intermodal transport systems and related carriers
Logistics cycle of unimodal/intermodal transport
Elements of international trade
Fundamentals of business organization: Structure, functions, work processes
Management functions for the drafting of load plans and goods shipments;
Rules and provisions to protect the safety of the working environment
Rules on the transport and storage of specific types of goods (dangerous goods, foodstuffs, etc.)
Types and characteristics of storage, transport, and shipping contracts Conventions for international transport: CMR, Warsaw Convention, Hamburg Convention, Montreal Convention, etc.
Notions relating to customs formalities and functionality of the related telematics systems
Main national and international regulations and conventions on transport and shipping.

Technical knowledge and skills

Upon graduating, the LTT is able to:

Processing of load plans and related units
Formulation of estimates for transport and shipping services, also with an intermodal system
Arranging carriers, equipment and related transportation activities
Preparation of national and international, unimodal/intermodal freight transport contracts
Drafting of the shipping, collection, warehouse and distribution program, even on single units
Identify and prepare the transport and shipping documentation, with respect to the type of carrier, the goods transported and the country of origin and destination
Identify and adopt procedures for the composition of transport and shipping practices in compliance with current standards and conventions
Identify and apply customs procedures and formalities for the import and export of goods (Intrasat fulfilments, intra-EU tax fulfilments, customs fulfilments and procedures relating to non-EU countries)
Prepare and draw up travel documents and unimodal/intermodal transport
Prepare the insurance procedures for import-export transport and shipment, identifying clauses and conditions
Use computer information systems to monitor compliance with customs procedures
Use computer information systems to monitor the goods in transit and the execution of the delivery to the consignee
Evaluate the terms and conditions of transport and shipment, identifying any anomalies with respect to the national and international standards and conventions in force
Adopt billing techniques for national and international transport and shipping services
Adopt techniques for carrying out documentary credit operations in national and international commercial transactions
Decode requirements for the fulfillment of national and international tax obligations
Identify irregularities and critical issues relating to payments, tax and customs aspects, evaluating interventions to remove them

Employment prospects

Overall employment in transportation and material moving occupations is projected to grow 6 percent from 2021 to 2031, and nearly every industry needs professionals with technical skills in logistics and transportation. The logistics and transport technician can work:

as a logistics technician
as a transportation technician
as a field inspector
as an assistant inspector
as a maintenance staff
as a laboratory materials tester

Working conditions

The logistics and transport technician tend to work outdoors —in a variety of settings— in a fast-paced and stressful environment. Sometimes s/he can also work in an office with a computer. Some positions related to this occupational profile have regular office hours, others instead may work at evenings, nights, and weekends. Some logistics and transport technicians may travel to visit suppliers.

PROFESSIONAL LICENCE

Not required.