Freight forwarding runs New Zealand’s trade, and it has its own language. This course assumes you are starting from zero and takes you from the factory door to final delivery: how goods move, the paperwork, borders and biosecurity, dangerous goods and payment methods. It is built to cover five registered NZQA unit standards worth 20 credits, with an optional assessment pathway.
Who is this course for?
It is made for people new to freight: school leavers exploring a career in logistics, career changers moving into shipping or supply chain, and operations, customer service or sales staff who want to understand how shipping really works.
No experience is needed. Every term is explained in plain language the first time it appears, so you can walk into a freight office already speaking the language.
What you’ll learn
Factory door to final delivery
The whole journey a shipment takes. Tap each card to see what it covers.
Tap or select a card to flip it.
Seven chapters, factory door to final delivery
Each chapter builds on the last and finishes with a short knowledge check.
- The big pictureWhat a freight forwarder actually does
- How goods moveSea, air, road, rail and coastal freight
- What moves and how it is packedCargo types, containers and unit loads
- The paperworkTrade documents, Incoterms and payment
- Borders and complianceCustoms, biosecurity, MPI and security
- Managing riskInsurance and dangerous goods
- Putting it togetherThe full shipment, door to door
The qualification
Built to cover five registered NZQA unit standards.
Every chapter is mapped to the outcomes of five unit standards worth 20 credits. The lessons give you the knowledge, and an optional assessment pathway lets you gather the evidence for a moderated result.
About the credits: this course is built to cover five registered NZQA unit standards from the freight forwarding domain (US 21803, 21804, 27305, 13230 and 13252), worth 20 credits in total. The lessons teach the content; credits are awarded through a separate, moderated assessment pathway. Talk to Capability Solutions about the assessment option.
Start your freight forwarding career
Enrol online self-paced
Enrol through the training store and take your first confident step into one of New Zealand’s most important industries. Beginner friendly, aligned to five NZQA unit standards, 20 credits covered.
Self-paced · beginner friendly · no experience required
Common questions
Do I need any experience to start?
No. The course assumes you are starting from zero and every term is explained in plain language the first time it appears.
Which unit standards does it cover?
It is built to cover five registered NZQA unit standards from the freight forwarding domain: US 21803, 21804, 27305, 13230 and 13252.
Do I earn the credits automatically?
No. The lessons give you the knowledge. Credits are awarded through a separate, moderated assessment pathway.
Is it specific to New Zealand?
Yes. The compliance content covers New Zealand Customs, biosecurity and MPI, so it is directly useful here.