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Customs, Ship and Other Brokers (1236)

Job titles

Nature of work

Customs brokers clear goods through customs and to their destination on behalf of importer and exporter clients. Ship brokers buy and sell cargo space on ships and buy and sell ships, yachts and other watercraft on behalf of clients. This unit group also includes other brokers, not elsewhere classified, who negotiate commercial transactions or other services between parties on behalf of clients. They are employed by customs, ship or other brokerage establishments or may be self-employed.

Fields of interest

  • Working in an office
  • Working in sales and customer service
  • Writing, working in communications and information

Main duties

  • Customs brokers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Prepare and process import/export documents and other forms on behalf of clients according to customs regulations, laws and procedures
  • - Sign import/export documents on behalf of client, using power of attorney
  • - Arrange for payment of duties, taxes, storage and transportation of imported goods and bonds to cover duty goods
  • - Quote duty and tax rates on commodities for clients
  • - Provide advice to clients on export and import restrictions, tariff systems, letters of credit, insurance requirements and other custom related matters
  • - May represent client before administrative tribunals or in other dealings with government officials.
  • Ship brokers perform some or all of the following duties:
  • - Buy and sell cargo space on ships on behalf of individuals, companies and governments
  • - Consult trade publications and other sources to provide information to clients on available cargo space, destinations, rates and departure locations and times, and arrange ship charters for clients
  • - Negotiate rates and terms and prepare contracts and other papers
  • - Buy and sell ships, yachts and other watercraft on behalf of clients
  • - Inspect vessels, explain features and negotiate price when purchasing or selling for clients
  • - Arrange for insurance coverage for cargo or for ships
  • - Arrange for registration and licensing of ships.

Main characteristics of the occupation

These headings are provided for the following occupation(s) :

Employment requirements

  • * Completion of secondary school is required.
  • * Some post-secondary education in commerce or a related field may be required.
  • * Customs brokers require several years of on-the-job training and completion of a customs brokers training program through the Canadian Institute of Customs Brokers.
  • * A customs broker licence, issued by the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, is required for an individual or company to operate a customs brokerage business.
  • * Ship brokers selling cargo space on ships usually require several years of on-the-job training or related experience such as shipping company scheduling experience. Ship brokers selling watercraft usually require in-depth experience with, and knowledge of, various watercraft.
  • * Correspondence courses from the Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers are available for ship brokers.

Skill type

  • Business, finance and administration

Skill level

  • Technical

More information

  • * There is no mobility between the different types of brokers in this unit group.

Job titles - Classified elsewhere