Freight Forwarding and Logistics Management Training Course

Duration 10 days 20 modules · 65 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Freight Forwarding Coordinators, Logistics Managers and others
Fee from USD 2,200 KSh 190,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 16 Nov 2026 Course code SD-LD-304

Before you join: Participants should have basic exposure to procurement, logistics, warehousing, transport coordination, imports, exports or supplier delivery.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Freight forwarders sit between shippers, carriers, customs authorities, warehouses, insurers and consignees. Small errors in Incoterms selection, cargo descriptions, routing, documentation or customs declarations can cause demurrage, cargo holds, denied claims, missed production dates and unplanned freight cost. Logistics managers also need to compare transport options without treating the lowest freight rate as the lowest landed cost. This course addresses the operational and commercial decisions that determine whether international shipments move legally, predictably and profitably.

Participants learn how freight forwarding services are structured, quoted, contracted, documented and controlled across air, ocean, road, rail and multimodal transport. They apply Incoterms 2020, cargo classification, routing analysis, landed-cost calculation, carrier selection, customs-document preparation and shipment milestone management. The course examines consolidation, dangerous goods, cargo insurance, claims handling, warehouse interfaces, transport procurement and freight performance reporting. Participants also assess supply-chain disruption risks, sanctions exposure and emissions reporting requirements relevant to cross-border freight movements.

Instruction combines short technical briefings with realistic shipment cases from manufacturing, retail, humanitarian operations, energy projects and financial-services procurement. Participants work with shipping instructions, bills of lading, air waybills, commercial invoices, packing lists, freight quotations, customs data and carrier scorecards. They progressively build a freight-forwarding operating pack for a selected trade lane, then complete a capstone shipment plan covering routing, cost, documents, controls and performance measures. Each participant receives a certificate of completion after attending the instructor-led 10-day programme.

The course suits professionals who already work with transport, imports, exports, purchasing, warehousing or supplier delivery and need stronger control of freight-forwarding decisions.

What you will be able to do

  • Apply Incoterms 2020 to allocate transport, insurance, customs and delivery responsibilities
  • Build landed-cost estimates using freight rates, surcharges, duties, taxes and handling charges
  • Prepare shipping-document packs for air, ocean, road and multimodal consignments
  • Select transport modes and routings using service, cost, capacity and risk criteria
  • Evaluate freight-forwarder quotations using rate structures, exclusions and operating assumptions
  • Control shipment execution through milestone plans, exception logs and escalation procedures
  • Assess dangerous-goods, customs, sanctions and cargo-insurance requirements before dispatch
  • Present a complete freight-forwarding plan for a defined international shipment

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Greater confidence reviewing freight quotations and identifying hidden cost exposure
  • Practical ability to prepare and check shipment-document packs before dispatch
  • Stronger judgement when choosing Incoterms, carriers, routes and delivery terms
  • A reusable method for investigating delays, damage, customs holds and invoice disputes
  • Evidence of applied freight-forwarding capability through a completed shipment plan

For your organisation

  • Fewer document errors causing customs delays, rework, storage charges and cargo holds
  • Better freight sourcing decisions through comparable rate, service and exclusion analysis
  • Lower avoidable transport costs through landed-cost visibility and consolidation planning
  • Improved shipment reliability through milestone control, escalation rules and carrier scorecards
  • Stronger trade-compliance controls for customs, sanctions, dangerous goods and insurance

Course modules

20 modules over 10 days

Participants can explain freight-forwarding roles, service models and accountability across an international shipment.

  • Freight forwarder, carrier, broker and NVOCC roles distinguished clearly
  • Principal and agent liability under standard forwarding service arrangements
  • Shipment lifecycle mapped from purchase order through final delivery
  • Stakeholder handovers between shipper, warehouse, carrier, consignee and customs
  • Forwarding revenue models, commissions, mark-ups and pass-through charges
  • Service-level agreements defining booking, documentation and exception responsibilities

Participants can select Incoterms and identify their operational consequences for shipment planning.

  • Incoterms 2020 rules matched to transport mode and delivery point
  • EXW, FCA and FOB risks compared for export collection
  • CPT, CIP, CFR and CIF carriage obligations examined
  • DAP, DPU and DDP import responsibilities allocated precisely
  • Transfer of risk separated from transfer of title
  • Sales contract clauses checked against stated Incoterms responsibilities

Participants can define shipment data and packaging requirements needed for correct transport planning.

  • Commodity descriptions written for carriers, customs authorities and insurers
  • HS code structure and tariff classification evidence reviewed
  • Gross weight, chargeable weight and volumetric weight calculated
  • Package dimensions captured using carrier measurement conventions
  • Packaging specifications matched to handling and transport risks
  • Marks, labels and consignee instructions verified before collection

Participants can compare transport modes against shipment requirements and trade-lane constraints.

  • Air freight service products compared by transit and handling
  • Ocean FCL and LCL services assessed for shipment profiles
  • Road haulage options matched to regional distribution requirements
  • Rail freight corridors evaluated for capacity and border dependencies
  • Multimodal routing identifies transfer points and liability interfaces
  • Mode selection matrix scores cost, speed, reliability and risk

Participants can create routing plans that account for transit time, cut-offs and capacity constraints.

  • Trade-lane maps identify origins, gateways, hubs and final destinations
  • Carrier schedules checked against cargo-ready dates and delivery commitments
  • Port cut-offs, documentation cut-offs and loading windows sequenced
  • Buffer time allocated using route variability and criticality
  • Capacity constraints assessed during peak seasons and disruption periods
  • Contingency routings prepared for missed connections and port congestion

Participants can analyse freight quotations and calculate end-to-end landed cost.

  • Freight rate structures separated into base rates and surcharges
  • Fuel, security, peak-season and currency adjustments calculated
  • Accessorial charges identified for detention, storage and delivery services
  • Landed-cost model combines transport, duty, tax and handling
  • Quotation assumptions tested against cargo, route and service requirements
  • Rate comparison normalises units, currencies, validity dates and exclusions

Participants can prepare and verify the principal documents used in international freight movements.

  • Commercial invoices align values, terms, origin and commodity descriptions
  • Packing lists reconcile package counts, weights and dimensions
  • Shipping instructions provide carrier-ready booking and cargo information
  • Bills of lading distinguish straight, order and sea waybill forms
  • Air waybills capture routing, chargeable weight and handling instructions
  • Document-control checklist confirms consistency before cargo release

Participants can identify customs data, clearance stages and controls affecting cross-border shipments.

  • Customs declaration data drawn from commercial and transport documents
  • Tariff classification, customs value and origin determine duty treatment
  • Import licences and permits identified for controlled commodities
  • Temporary admission, bonded storage and transit procedures compared
  • Customs broker instructions specify clearance authority and delivery release
  • Post-clearance audit records retained under applicable retention requirements

Participants can build practical pre-dispatch controls for trade compliance and sanctions risk.

  • Restricted-party screening checks parties against applicable sanctions lists
  • End-use and end-user reviews identify diversion concerns
  • Export-control classifications assessed before quoting or booking transport
  • Country-of-origin evidence supports preferential duty claims and declarations
  • Red flags escalated through documented compliance decision routes
  • Recordkeeping schedules preserve screening evidence and shipment approvals

Participants can plan, book and control air freight shipments from collection through arrival.

  • IATA chargeable-weight rules applied to air freight quotations
  • Airport acceptance requirements checked before cargo delivery
  • Master and house air waybill functions distinguished
  • ULD planning considers dimensions, build-up and airline restrictions
  • Flight connections monitored through departure, arrival and transfer milestones
  • Air freight exceptions managed for offloads, delays and misrouted cargo

Participants can manage FCL and LCL shipments through booking, port handling and delivery.

  • Container types selected for cargo dimensions, weight and protection
  • FCL booking requests specify equipment, loading date and port pair
  • LCL consolidation schedules assessed for cut-offs and handling exposure
  • Bill of lading release methods control cargo collection authority
  • Demurrage, detention and storage charges distinguished and monitored
  • Port-to-door milestones track vessel departure, discharge and delivery

Participants can organise surface and multimodal transport with clear handovers and delivery controls.

  • Road consignment notes capture collection, delivery and proof requirements
  • Rail service schedules tested against terminal and border operations
  • Cross-border trucking plans account for driver hours and permits
  • Intermodal transfer risks identified at terminals, depots and warehouses
  • Proof-of-delivery controls verify quantity, condition and consignee acceptance
  • Carrier handovers documented through custody and seal-control records

Participants can coordinate freight-forwarding activities with warehouse and distribution operations.

  • Inbound appointment plans coordinate warehouse capacity and carrier arrivals
  • Consolidation decisions compare handling costs, transit and shipment frequency
  • Cross-docking processes reduce storage time for onward distribution
  • Pick, pack and dispatch controls protect shipment-document accuracy
  • Inventory status messages trigger booking and collection instructions
  • Delivery scheduling aligns consignee availability with transport service windows

Participants can identify special-cargo requirements and escalate regulated shipment risks correctly.

  • Dangerous goods classifications verified against transport regulations and declarations
  • IATA DGR requirements checked for air cargo acceptance
  • IMDG Code segregation rules applied to ocean container loading
  • Temperature-controlled shipments specify setpoints, packaging and monitoring devices
  • Oversize and project cargo plans address permits, lifting and routing
  • Special-cargo acceptance checklist confirms approvals before carrier booking

Participants can assess cargo-risk exposure and manage evidence for transport claims.

  • Cargo insurance clauses compared for covered perils and exclusions
  • Insurable value calculated from invoice, freight and contingency amounts
  • Damage inspections preserve evidence through photographs, surveys and records
  • Carrier liability limits distinguished from cargo insurance protection
  • Claims files assemble notices, invoices, packing records and correspondence
  • Root-cause reviews identify corrective actions after loss events

Participants can define data controls and visibility requirements for freight operations.

  • Transport-management system master data supports accurate bookings and billing
  • Electronic data interchange messages track shipment status and document exchange
  • Milestone definitions standardise planned, actual and estimated event times
  • Exception dashboards prioritise late, held and cost-exposed shipments
  • Data-quality checks identify duplicate references and missing shipment fields
  • Customer updates use agreed event triggers and communication standards

Participants can structure freight-service sourcing and manage forwarder performance against agreed terms.

  • Request-for-quotation packs specify lanes, volumes, service and equipment
  • Bid evaluation matrices compare commercial, operational and compliance criteria
  • Forwarder contracts define liability, billing, claims and escalation terms
  • Carrier scorecards measure on-time performance, cost accuracy and damages
  • Quarterly business reviews address recurring failures and improvement actions
  • Rate-card governance controls validity, approvals and surcharge changes

Participants can monitor freight performance and target recurring operational failures with data.

  • OTIF measures delivery performance against confirmed customer commitments
  • Cost-per-shipment analysis separates rate movements from volume effects
  • Exception logs classify delays by carrier, customs, warehouse and shipper
  • Pareto analysis prioritises recurring causes of freight service failure
  • Corrective-action registers assign owners, deadlines and verification measures
  • Weekly control-tower routines review urgent shipments and ageing exceptions

Participants can assess transport risks and incorporate resilience and emissions criteria into freight plans.

  • Risk registers assess disruption likelihood, impact, ownership and response
  • Single-carrier dependencies identified across critical lanes and commodities
  • Business-continuity plans define alternate routes, suppliers and communication actions
  • Transport emissions estimated using distance, mode, weight and load factors
  • Modal-shift options evaluated against service, cost and carbon trade-offs
  • Security controls address cargo theft, tampering and route exposure

Participants can build, review and present a complete freight-forwarding operating plan for an international shipment.

  • Shipment brief defines cargo, trade lane, delivery date and responsibilities
  • Incoterms choice allocates transport, insurance, customs and delivery obligations
  • Route plan compares selected mode, carrier, schedule and contingencies
  • Landed-cost sheet calculates freight, duties, taxes and accessorial charges
  • Document pack specifies invoices, transport documents, permits and declarations
  • Control plan sets milestones, KPIs, exceptions, risks and escalation actions

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Freight-forwarding operating plan template
  2. Landed-cost calculation model
  3. Shipping-document verification checklist
  4. Carrier quotation comparison matrix
  5. Shipment milestone and exception log
  6. Freight-provider performance scorecard

Who should attend

  • Freight Forwarding Coordinators — need consistent control of bookings, documents and shipment exceptions
  • Logistics Managers — need to manage transport cost, service performance and provider accountability
  • Import and Export Officers — need accurate customs, trade and shipping-document processes
  • Procurement Specialists — need to source freight services and evaluate carrier proposals
  • Warehouse and Distribution Supervisors — need stronger handovers between storage, loading and carriers
  • Supply Chain Analysts — need practical freight data, landed-cost and performance measurement methods

Skills and tools covered

Freight cost analysisTransport routingCustoms documentationCarrier performance managementShipment exception controlCargo risk management

Tools and standards

Incoterms 2020, IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations, IMDG Code, FIATA Model Rules

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course uses short instructor briefings to establish forwarding rules, followed by case work using realistic shipment data and documents. Small groups compare routes, calculate landed cost, assess quotations, prepare document packs and respond to transport exceptions. Simulations cover carrier booking, customs holds, damaged cargo and service failures. Participants apply each method to a selected product, supplier route or customer delivery requirement, building an operating pack throughout the programme. Facilitated reviews identify assumptions, control gaps and practical actions for workplace use.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should have basic exposure to procurement, logistics, warehousing, transport coordination, imports, exports or supplier delivery. They should be comfortable reading invoices, purchase orders, shipment details and simple cost calculations. Familiarity with common trade terms or customs processes is helpful but not essential. The course does not require prior freight-forwarding employment, a customs licence, dangerous-goods certification, advanced spreadsheet skills or knowledge of a specific transport-management system. Participants should bring examples of shipment issues or trade lanes they want to improve, where organisational policy permits.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

Participants need basic familiarity with logistics, purchasing, warehousing, transport coordination or import-export work. No customs licence, dangerous-goods qualification or previous forwarding role is required.

Bring examples of trade lanes, shipment problems, freight invoices, carrier quotations or delivery requirements where internal policy permits. A laptop is useful for working with the course templates, although course materials are provided.

It is designed for professionals who coordinate, buy, analyse or supervise international freight services. It is particularly useful for staff moving from general logistics into freight-forwarding responsibility.

This course focuses on the mechanics of moving international freight: forwarding roles, transport documents, customs interfaces, carrier quotations, routing and shipment control. General supply chain courses usually give more attention to planning, inventory, demand and network strategy.

Participants build a shipment operating pack using methods that can be adapted to their own suppliers, customers and trade lanes. The templates support quotation reviews, document checks, milestone control and provider-performance discussions.

Each training day runs from 08:30 to 16:30 and provides about 6.5 contact hours. The first week establishes forwarding, trade, transport, pricing and documentation methods; the second week applies them to operations, risk, performance management and the capstone plan.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.