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Glite Dictionary
freight agent

freight agent

1 5.0
A person who organizes and checks the arrival and delivery of goods for a shipping company
  • noun
  • /freɪt ˈeɪdʒənt/
translation icon : agente de carga
  • To secure the best rates, he frequently consulted with the freight agent about shipping options.

Examples

  • I've thrown more business their way than any other freight agent in town, and I ain't gonna send them any money.

    They Drive by Night (1940)

  • The freight agent coordinated the transportation of goods from the warehouse to the shipping dock.

  • You should search freight agents or whatever title they would use.

  • We were always loaning from Mr. Whitley, the freight agent for the N&W. Mr. Whitley

    Fiction book (1996)

  • As the freight agent, she ensured all packages were properly labeled and ready for delivery.

Synonyms

shipping clerk
vsfreight agent
1 3.1

A person who checks and prepares goods to send or receive at a warehouse

works for a carrier, focusing on organizing delivery and receipt
forwarder
vsfreight agent
  • Specialized
1 4.3

A person or company that arranges the transport of goods for others

works directly for a carrier rather than arranging transport for clients
shipping agent
vsfreight agent
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A person or company that arranges cargo, customs, and port services for a ship

is an employee for a carrier rather than an external representative
router
vsfreight agent
  • US
1 7.1

A person who plans and directs deliveries so packages reach the correct place

focuses on organizing and overseeing receipt and delivery rather than just routing

Surface Forms

freight agent singular
freight agents plural

Morphology

freight + agent

The meaning 'an employee responsible for organizing and overseeing the receipt and delivery of goods' is directly and compositionally derived from 'freight' (cargo) + 'agent' (a person who acts on behalf of or handles something). This straightforward noun+noun combination follows common cross‑linguistic patterns and uses transparent, frequent words, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Freight agent is a compound noun that is literal: picture a person handling boxes and paperwork for freight, meaning 'goods', and acting as the agent for the carrier. That's why the term means 'an employee who organizes and oversees shipments'.