A cargo supervisor is a senior member of a cargo team who is in charge of calculating cargo load distribution on cargo planes, boats, and trucks. He or she will also coordinate the loading and unloading of that cargo to ensure that it is done safely and securely, and that all items are properly accounted for. The cargo supervisor may be required to travel with the goods being transported to ensure their safety and security while in transit. Any movement or changes to the load distribution that must be made during transport must be coordinated by the supervisor.
Typically, a cargo team will consist of several loaders and unloaders, as well as the cargo supervisor. This senior member is in charge of overseeing all cargo operations from beginning to end, including securing manifests, analyzing them to determine the best packing order, and noting any necessary safety precautions for hazardous or fragile cargo. Aside from loading and unloading cargo transport vehicles, the cargo supervisor must learn the various characteristics of each craft so that he or she can understand how weight must be distributed or transferred during transport. This maintains the craft’s stability while in operation and ensures the cargo’s safety.
Cargo teams must also adhere to weight restrictions and general cargo regulations, and the cargo supervisor is directly responsible for ensuring that these regulations are followed at all times. This means that the cargo supervisor must be well-versed in all of the items being loaded or unloaded. If hazardous materials are being transported, the supervisor is in charge of obtaining the necessary clearances from the appropriate authorities.
Cargo must first be transported to the cargo vehicle before it can be loaded or unloaded. This transportation will be overseen by the cargo supervisor, and the cargo will frequently be arranged or organized on land before being transferred to a cargo vehicle. The supervisor can then change the order in which the cargo is loaded, as well as take a complete inventory of all items. The inventory can then be compared to the shipping manifest that was given to the supervisor.
Basic math skills, communication skills, the ability to delegate responsibility, and the ability to manage multiple complex tasks at once are all skills that a supervisor must develop. A supervisor’s understanding of the industry in which he or she works is also critical; for example, an air cargo supervisor must have a thorough understanding of various cargo planes in order to load them safely and efficiently.