What Does a Freight Broker Do?
Freight brokers match cargoes with carriers. Below, you'll find information about the career duties of freight broker and the types of training courses available to people interested in becoming freight brokers.
Job Description
A freight broker can be an individual or company that matches shippers with transportation services in order to transport goods. Freight brokers are responsible for matching authorized and reliable transportation carriers to the shippers and coordinating all of the shipping needs for many companies. Such brokers must be licensed from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA, www.fmcsa.dot.gov).
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisOccupation">Important Facts About This Occupation</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td><b>Entry-level Education</b></td><td>High school diploma or equivalent</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>On-the-Job Training </b></td><td>Short-term on-the-job training is common</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Projected Job Growth (2021-2031)</b></td><td>4% growth <i>(for material moving workers, all other)</i>*</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Key Skills</b></td><td>Listening skills, clear speech, critical thinking</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
</p><h3 id="section---DutiesAndResponsibilities">Duties and Responsibilities</h3><p>When a manufacturer has a truckload of goods to get to market, freight brokers find a transportation service that can get that cargo to a specific location via a motor carrier. Freight brokers work with shippers and transportation carriers to help them make a profit in moving cargo and, in return, receive a commission for their services. Freight brokers negotiate the prices between the shipper and the carrier and make any necessary adjustments to the shipping service in order to get the job done.
</p><h3 id="section---EducationAndTraining">Education and Training</h3><p>Freight broker training courses can be valuable to people interested in pursuing this career. These courses can help freight brokers learn about contract negotiations, sales techniques, marketing methods, calculating freight rates, broker software, dispatching and tracking loads, factoring, and finding the proper freight and trucks. Some schools offer a week-long course in freight broker training and other agencies offer training courses online. These courses can be expensive but offer a lot of information for individuals interested in starting their own freight broker businesses. Freight brokers also must have knowledge in the shipping industry and technological resources to help carriers and shippers meet their demands.
</p><h3 id="section---EmploymentOutlookAndSalaryInformation">Employment Outlook and Salary Information</h3><p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were about 88,600 jobs held by cargo and freight agents in 2021 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). The BLS reported in May 2021 that the mean annual wage for cargo and freight agents was $48,420.</p>