What IS a Freight Broker? What Do They Do?
How Can You Become One?

A freight broker, also known as a “property” broker or a “truck” broker, is a third party intermediary between shippers and carriers. Brokers find shippers that have cargo to move; they then find carriers that are ready, willing and able to move that cargo. To complete the cycle, the freight broker derives a commission for his or her match-making skills.

Government regulation (49 CFR 371) explains that freight brokers “arrange” for the transport of cargo. Brokers themselves do not move the cargo but may approach shippers as a “freight broker” and then give loads to a separate trucking company that they own (or to any other qualified motor carrier).

Smart truckers get their broker authority and go directly to shippers to get loads. Maybe they’ve been ripped-off too many times by other brokers and are left with nothing but disdain for brokers. Is there a solution?

Yes, owner operators need to get their own broker authority and cut out the middle man.

To become a freight broker, one must apply to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to obtain their broker authority. There are no exams and there are no background checks.

The broker authority consists of three items:

• A Motor Carrier number,

• Evidence of a $75K surety bond or trust fund,

• BOC-3 or Process Permit,

More recently, the FMCSA also requires a UCR registration. This is easy and inexpensive to get. You can expect to get started on your broker authority for as low as $1,400.

In addition to the legal authority a broker needs to know, or get properly trained in more than just the details of how to broker freight. They need to learn ALL the aspects of running a business including marketing, acquiring customers, cash management, planning, operations and perhaps personnel.

After getting properly trained, finding good paying customers and recruiting reliable carriers are the FIRST items of importance in freight brokering. Customer acquisition is like any other service-oriented business. There are various traditional shipper directories. However, in the Atex training programs, we teach you to go where no one else is going. You DON’T want to follow the herd when looking for customers. By NOT following the herd, you will find receptive customers who are not being called on by a lot of other brokers.

Plus the broker uses whatever marketing skills he or she possess. The Internet and telephone are probably the primary tools to conduct business with. This, in a nutshell, is what a freight broker is, what they do and how to become one.

Couple of final comments: 1) A few but not ALL freight brokers are rip-offs. In fact, some come out of trucking and it would be like stabbing a brother in the back. 2) Many truckers would like to get their broker authority but they don’t know where or how to start. I’ve been training for almost 18 years and have built a reputation for sticking with clients for as long as they need me.

If you want more information or are ready to sign up now to train, go to:
>>> Telephone & Internet Freight Broker Training with Unlimited Support <<<

If you prefer live training in El Paso, Texas, go to:
>>> Live Freight Broker Training in El Paso, Texas with Unlimited Support <<<

Lastly for the Home Study option, go to:
>>> Home Study with 3 Months’ Support <<<

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