Course Modules:

Module 1: Fundamentals of International Freight Forwarding

• Role of freight forwarders in global supply chains

• Modes of transport: air, sea, road, rail, and multimodal integration

• Freight forwarding process lifecycle

• Activity: Mapping a multimodal supply chain for an export shipment

Module 2: Understanding Shipping Terms and Incoterms 2020

• Overview of Incoterms and responsibilities of buyers and sellers

• Risk transfer, cost allocation, and documentation under Incoterms

• Selecting the appropriate Incoterms for shipments

• Exercise: Case scenarios for applying Incoterms

Module 3: Cargo Documentation in Freight Forwarding

• Bills of Lading, AWB, CMR, FIATA documents

• Cargo manifests, packing lists, and commercial invoices

• Preparation of Certificates of Origin and inspection certificates

• Practical: Preparing complete document sets for sample shipments

Module 4: Export and Import Customs Procedures

• Customs declarations, HS codes, and tariff schedules

• Import/export permits, quotas, and licenses

• Customs clearance workflows in key trading regions

• Simulation: Completing a customs entry for a selected product

Module 5: Freight Rate Calculation and Quotation Preparation

• Freight charges for FCL, LCL, air freight, and project cargo

• Surcharges, demurrage, detention, and ancillary costs

• Preparing quotations and rate sheets for customers

• Workshop: Creating a comprehensive freight forwarding quotation

Module 6: Cargo Insurance and Liability Management

• Principles of cargo insurance and coverage types

• Preparing certificates of insurance and claim documentation

• Limitation of liability conventions: Hague-Visby, Hamburg, Montreal

• Case Study: Handling a cargo damage claim scenario

Module 7: Multimodal Transport Planning and Coordination

• Route optimization and selection of carriers

• Coordinating schedules between different transport modes

• Handling transshipments and bonded warehousing

• Exercise: Planning a multimodal shipment with multiple carriers

Module 8: International Trade Compliance and Risk Management

• Trade restrictions, sanctions, and embargo compliance

• Anti-money laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC)

• Trade compliance audits and corrective actions

• Case Study: Compliance review of a complex trade transaction

Module 9: Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Digital Documentation

• EDI standards: Cargo-IMP, Cargo-XML, and UN/EDIFACT

• Integration with freight management and customs systems

• Digital platforms and blockchain in freight forwarding

• Activity: Simulating an EDI transaction for a freight booking

Module 10: Freight Forwarding Best Practices and Global Case Studies

• Success stories from leading global freight forwarders

• Common pitfalls in international shipping documentation

• Strategies for improving operational efficiency in freight forwarding

• Final Activity: Develop a freight forwarding and documentation plan for a complex international shipment