Customs Brokers
Official O*NET title: Customs Brokers (13-1041.08)
Also called: broker, ccs, corporate licensed broker, lcb
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Provide advice on transportation options, types of carriers, or shipping routes
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing customs brokers work
6 of 22 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 27%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Provide advice on transportation options, types of carriers, or shipping routes (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Stay abreast of changes in import or export laws or regulations by reading current literature, attending meetings or conferences, or conferring with colleagues (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Monitor or trace the location of goods (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Classify goods according to tariff coding system (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Suggest best methods of packaging or labeling products (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Pay, or arrange for payment of, taxes and duties on shipments (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Clear goods through customs and to their destinations for clients (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Calculate duty and tariff payments owed on shipments (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Talk with officials in various agencies to help with clearance of goods through customs and quarantine (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Obtain line releases for frequent shippers of low-risk commodities, high-volume entries, or multiple-container loads (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Request or compile necessary import documentation (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Advise customers on import and export restrictions, tariff systems, insurance requirements, quotas, or other customs-related matters (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Sign documents on behalf of clients, using powers of attorney (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Post bonds for the products being imported or assist clients in obtaining bonds (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare papers for shippers to appeal duty charges (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Quote duty and tax rates on goods to be imported, based on federal tariffs and excise taxes (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Inform importers and exporters of steps to reduce duties and taxes (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Arrange for transportation, warehousing, or product distribution of imported or exported products (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Apply for tariff concessions or for duty drawbacks and other refunds (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Contract with freight forwarders for destination services (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Insure cargo against loss, damage, or pilferage (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Maintain relationships with customs brokers in other ports to expedite clearing of cargo — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Provide advice on transportation options, types of carriers, or shipping routes”. Try the prompt for: “Stay abreast of changes in import or export laws or regulations by reading current literature, attending meetings or conferences, or conferring with colleagues”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and customs brokers
Will AI replace customs brokers?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 6 of the 22 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Amber rating (some AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 17 of the 23 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which customs broker tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: provide advice on transportation options, types of carriers, or shipping routes; stay abreast of changes in import or export laws or regulations by reading current literature, attending meetings or conferences, or conferring with colleagues; prepare and process import and export documentation according to customs regulations, laws, or procedures.
Which customs broker tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: pay, or arrange for payment of, taxes and duties on shipments; clear goods through customs and to their destinations for clients; calculate duty and tariff payments owed on shipments. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 69% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a customs broker start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Customs Brokers ranks #291 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #25 of 31 in Finance.
Related jobs
- Will AI change talent agents and managers?
- Will AI change insurance claims adjusters?
- Will AI change car insurance appraisers?
- Will AI change compliance officers?
- Will AI change cost estimators?
- Will AI change hr specialists?
- Will AI change freight forwarders?
- Will AI change brokerage clerks?
- Will AI change logistics and warehouse managers?
- Will AI change procurement clerks?
- Will AI change regulatory affairs specialists?
- See all jobs