New Zealand freight courses
Get started in the industry or upskill
We have a range of New Zealand freight courses for every level, whether you’ve been in the industry for years or are wanting to get started.
- I want to be a Customs Officer
Customs officers control, monitor and administer the entry and departure of goods, vessels and people to and from New Zealand.
They may do some or all of the following:
- inspect mail and imported and exported goods for illegal items
- patrol wharves and search ships and aircraft for prohibited and restricted goods
- check passengers’ passports and travel documents
- check passengers for prohibited and restricted goods
- assess and collect taxes on goods coming into the country, and on alcohol and tobacco made in New Zealand
- gather import and export data
- gather intelligence and assess security risks
- carry out drug and commercial investigations
- administer computer-based customs declarations and enquiries.
Training for this role is done by The New Zealand Customs Service with all trainee officers required to attend a five-week residential induction training program in Wellington and an additional 18 weeks of on-the-job training, mostly based in Auckland.
For more information on becoming a Customs Officer check out the links below
- I want to be a Customs Broker
A Customs/Freight Broker advises on and arranges the movement of goods both nationally and internationally. Their main role is the ‘clearing’ of goods through customs barriers for importers and exporters (usually businesses).
This involves the preparation of documents and/or electronic submissions, the calculation and payment of taxes, duties and excises, and facilitating communication between government authorities and importers and exporters. Custom brokers may be employed by or affiliated with freight forwarders, independent businesses, or shipping lines, importers, exporters, trade authorities, and customs brokerage firms.
Customs/Freight Brokers need to have:
- knowledge of customs regulations and procedures knowledge of carriage of goods laws, including dangerous goods regulations
- knowledge of transport systems knowledge of methods of packing and stowing goods
- knowledge of international laws and standards regarding the transport of goods such as those set down by the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
- knowledge of shipping terms and United Nations port codes.
Customs/Freight Brokers need to be:
- accurate and well organized
- inquiring and willing to learn while they are working
- able to work well under pressure and make decisions quickly
- good communicators and able to gain people’s trust and keep information private.
- I want to be a Freight Forwarder
A freight forwarder is a person or company that organizes shipments for individuals or corporations to market or final point of distribution. A typical day for a freight forwarder would primarily consist of talking with clients and warehouses around the world, taking this information and passing it along to the appropriate party to action.
Along with making sure that the freight the client is importing or exporting gains entry into the country of destination, a freight forwarder will (depending on the contract arranged), arrange for said freight to be picked up and delivered to the final consignee’s place of business. This requires contacting airlines/shipping lines, rail lines and even sometimes moving the goods to a different country for final delivery.
International freight forwarders have the expertise that allows them to prepare and process the documentation and perform related activities pertaining to international shipments. Some of the typical information reviewed by a freight forwarder is the commercial invoice, shipper’s export declaration, bill of lading, and other documents required by the carrier or country of export, import, or transshipment.
- I want to do an IATA course
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is an international industry trade group of airlines whose mission is to represent, lead, and serve the airline industry.
IATA represents some 240 airlines comprising 84% of scheduled international air traffic.
IATA regulates the shipping of dangerous goods and publishes the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations manual (DGR) yearly, a globally accepted (de facto) field source reference for airlines’ shipping of hazardous materials.
Any person involved in international airfreight and complying with appropriate license and legal requirements may apply for registration as an IATA cargo agent. Affording benefits to both airlines and agents, IATA accreditation provides agents with industry recognition of their financial and professional competence and airlines with a worldwide distribution network of approved agents to sell their product.
If you would like more information on becoming an IATA agent or gaining IATA accreditation for your business, click here to visit the IATA website.
- I want to do a Dangerous Goods course
A wide range of requirements apply when transporting dangerous goods and a surprisingly large number of products fall into the DG category.
Explosives, Gases, Flammable Liquids, Flammable Solids, Oxidising Substances, Toxic and Infectious Substances, Radioactive Material, Corrosives and Miscellaneous Dangerous Substances are all classified as Dangerous Goods and additional care is required when transporting them either by land, sea or air.
The courses listed below will provide you with a greater understanding of the expectations in DG transport and the requirements of IATA and other governing bodies in this area.
- I want to be a Regulated Air Cargo Agent
The New Zealand Government requires that air cargo is to be security cleared before it can be loaded on an aircraft. These security measures place specific requirements on businesses that handle or make arrangements for the transport of air cargo. Under the Aviation Security Act 2007, businesses that security clear, handle or make arrangements for the transport of air cargo must be a Regulated Air Cargo Agent (RACA).
The CBAFF Regulated Air Cargo Agent (RACA) course has been designed for all personnel who have access to air cargo within a RACA's access-controlled area or those who are involved in the application of security controls (excluding screening).
This training has been designed to meet the syllabus and content requirements outlined in the CAA Advisory Circular AC 109-1 Appendix A. The nature and scale of the RACA’s operation, and the scope of the services that they provide will dictate what additional (in-house) training is required to fulfil RACA authorisation procedures.
RACA personnel must be assessed as competent to carry out the functions for which the authorisation is intended, this is completed within the RACA itself based on the RACA's CAA-approved exposition (and applicable SOPs). The Part 109 requirement builds upon the knowledge developed in this training.
- I want to do BioSecurity Training Courses
CBAFF’s training partner Independent Verification Services (IVS) is an approved operator training provider and can facilitate your initial or refresher training at their venues throughout New Zealand.
The workshops are provided by experienced, passionate tutors who have a working biosecurity background and take place in a friendly, supportive environment where group participation and input is encouraged.
A basic understanding of written and spoken English is required but if you have any concerns about this, please contact us to discuss the available options. Refreshments are provided on courses.
- I want to do further study
In this section you will find an array of courses that offer a more in-depth look at a number of topics briefly covered in the introduction courses. If you are new to the industry or need to brush up on skills you have previously learnt, these courses run by our training partners IVS and MIT are a great place to start.
In-house Courses
CBAFF offers in-house corporate training for companies whose applicants can’t attend on the scheduled course days, or for companies that require specific training. This option is also available for courses that are offered, but not scheduled for Wellington or Christchurch. Minimum attendance is required. Enquiries are handled on a case by case basis contact us for more information.
CBAFF Membership
If you’re intending on enrolling in several courses, it’s recommended that you become a CBAFF member. Along with other benefits, you will also receive significant discounts on the courses price. However, you don’t have to be a member to attend the courses.
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