What are the best freight agent broker qualifications and training to get ahead?

What is the best training for becoming a freight agent broker? What types of ongoing training or certifications are necessary to be an effective freight agent broker?

What do non-traditional career paths look like?

well,it is a very competitive market and if anyone gives away info on it,I would be very suprised....

Host said: What is the best training for becoming a freight agent broker? What types of ongoing training or certifications are necessary to be an effective freight agent broker?
What do non-traditional career paths look like?

I don't know what the "best" training is - but there is comprehensive training via telephone and internet. An agent needs a certificate of completed from any good freight broker school. Equally important in regard to agent training, an agent needs to display very disciplined and determined effort. This is a competitive business but an agent can make a good living with 10-15 good paying shippers. It's not necessary to work with 50-60 or more shippers - but an agent may need to go through that many to find the 10-15 good ones. This is where determination and discipline come into play.

On the job training is the best. Learn as much as you can from all sources,(internet,drivers,shippers,brokers,etc.)
Get yourself a position with a brokerage firm as an agent/dispatcher.
A certificate of training from a brokerage school is not necessary, but it will add to your resume.

Between Email and Telephone, which way is the best way to contact potential shippers? I know the answers are going to vary, but I am still interested in all of the opinions on this issue.

Also, what are some good scipts to use for phone calls and for emails?

both methods should be utilized, although phone is best.

Script? Need any trucks?

Never use a script. think about when someone calls you and you know they are using a scipt. The purpose of any sales call over the phone is to get in to see your prospect; however, you can do this business over the phone.

the best type of training is what is best for you. Some companies offer a one day seminar and some offer a full week. You can even take an on-line course.
The main reason for the school is to gt knowledge.
Knowledge is just knowledge unless you use it then it becomes wisdom.

Jeff

regardless of the school - be sure and ask for references
from three years ago and from three Months back. If a school is teaching the right stuff they will have plenty of available references. If they don't then run as fast as you can.

This business is not that hard and easy to get into if you can get on the phone and work all day every day until your business becomes residual.

Jeff Roach -

I agree with Atex. You will find your niche or it will find you. Focus n what you do best or what contacts you have or even the area you work out of.

Some broker only handle produce, some only heavy haul,...
Try to narrow your niche and go for 10 regular customers and try to use the same carriers.

If you can manage this you will prosper in this business.
My niche has always been expedited freight so that means I turn away a lot of freight. That's okay because I know how to manage my niche and who to call when I need service.

Jeff

the best training for becoming a freight agent is to have a wealthy relative or a contact in a big global corporation;if you don't have that welcome to the world of reverse auctions where the lowest bidder wins...good luck....hope you already have a subsidised income....

It doesn't take any formal training or certificates. It does however help to work with another agent to learn the ropes, even if it's for a lower percentage than you'd like. Eventually you'll be ready to do it on your own. The business is a great business, the only one I can think of that a person with no formal education or degree can make more than most doctors.

Freight broker agents need to be able to be on the phone prospecting for shippers or on the phone calling carriers and building those relationships.

You also be have to be trustworthy, organized, good on the computer and be able to convey your message over the phone in a way that helps both the carrier and the shipper, Your role has to become that of a consultant.

A school gives you knowledge, I am the president of www.brooketraining.com and I can for sure tell you that
it is not the trainng that will get you results - it's actually using the training.

Yes this as prosperous as a Doctor; however, your brokerage or agency will not work if you don't.

Jeff Roach
President
Brooke Transportation

don jipping said: On the job training is the best. Learn as much as you can from all sources,(internet,drivers,shippers,brokers,etc.)
Get yourself a position with a brokerage firm as an agent/dispatcher.
A certificate of training from a brokerage school is not necessary, but it will add to your resume.

ok tell me where to go then. i have 16 yrs of longhaul with a reefer all 48 states. i want or i should say i have to stop driving i had shoulder surgery in Dec. and i cant drive the big trucks anymore. i need a new job and want to stay in this field.being in the brokering field whould be a good change.so if u can help plz do and tks

A few of the training schools will train you and you can even get 100% FA through DARS or the VA if your disabled.

I think a combination of training and hands on with an exsisiting brokerage is a great mix after you graduate from class.

I am not promoting my school. You should research all schools off-line and on-line and check references.

Moving forward,

Jeff

Call Doug at GFirst logistics. A year ago he took the class.
now he works out of his house with 15 agents. Truck drivers have all my respect in the world. They do all the work and get the least amount of respect.

If you want to be a broker or an agent then be trained by a
broker so you can do it right and shorten your learning curve.
If you want to be trained to be a truck driver then be trained by a truck driver.

Douglas Dillon
G First Logistics
www.gfirstlogistics.com

JR Brooke
[Edited by Host] Contact info deleted

Please do not post Contact info in the forums.
If you would like to set up a profile please go here to log in
www.gfirstlogistics.com

john in ohio said: ok tell me where to go then. i have 16 yrs of longhaul with a reefer all 48 states. i want or i should say i have to stop driving i had shoulder surgery in Dec. and i cant drive the big trucks anymore. i need a new job and want to stay in this field.being in the brokering field whould be a good change.so if u can help plz do and tks

after 16 years in the business, surly you have made some contacts. Start calling and asking around, check the phone book for brokers and or carriers.

You never know when a relationship is going to make or break you.

I remember one year when General Motors called in 180 loads over Christmas. To find that many trucks on the spot would have been impossible. But, since we had developed a relationship with the best-equipped carrier in the business, had paid them quickly at a good rate, they gladly helped us out. We made a few calls and they took every one of the loads. When we had reached our credit limit with that carrier ($100,000), we wired money to them immediately. They increased our credit line and picked up every load. This particular deal simply took a few calls, but only because we had spent years nurturing that relationship.

Who do you think we called first for every load after that?

They never back-solicited us, and we sold the same type of expedited service that they provided. What could have been a Christmas nightmare for our customer actually brightened our everyone's Christmas.

Be thinking about startegic alliiance's. Start now building those
key relationships. Zig Ziglar always says it best.

"You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want". I love to listen to Zig because he always makes me laugh and his message is always dead on.

Have a great freight day.

JR

James in Orlando, Florida said: Forget being an agent, be a broker yourself and make the big money, up to $300.000!

Check out our one-day Intro to FB Training Workshop.

HI JAMES MY NAME IS ARNOLD AND AM INTERESTED IN THETRAINING WORKINGSHOP

Offered solely in partnership with major colleges and universities, the Freight Broker Training Course teaches the practical applications of building up a freight brokerage or agency, from licensing and operations to sales and marketing. Upon successfully finishing the course, students receive a certificate of completion and are ready to join the $400 billion-plus shipping industry. Freight brokers make up about 10% of the total transportation industry. Tansportation as a whole makes up about 5% of the gross national product.

Freight Brokering is currently one of the top home-based businesses as well as the largest growing sector of the transportation industry, according to Entrepreneur magazine and The Wall Street Journal. It is an ideal business for truck drivers who want to advance in the industry, entrepreneurs in search of a profitable home business and immobile and qualified military veterans, who are provided government subsidies to take the training.

Moving Forward,

My name is Francesca. I’m from El Salvador. My English is not as good as it could be but I was determined to find a better future for my family. I had to convince Jeff Roach to let me in his freight broker class. I guess he thought I wouldn’t understand the instructors since the class is all in English. He finally conceded. We enrolled with great anticipation of this opportunity given us.

My husband and I started school in February 2007. I must admit I was a little lost and confused. They used terms I didn’t understand, like “refer” (refrigerated truck). They told me I’d have to make a lot of phone calls. Well, that I can do. You see I have a dream. My dream is to put all my children through college. Nothing was going to keep me from learning this field then turning my knowledge to income for my family. As I listened and learned in Freight Broker School I became more and more excited to be a help to all those in the industry who are Spanish speakers. I found my niche, my little area of the business where I can stand out. Pursuing my dream, in my niche is a challenge I am ready to face.

More of the story tomorrow.

Moving forward

I am a true believer in always learning. All education has value beyond the obvious value of teaching you to do a specific thing. When we expand our minds we challenge ourselves. Training is empowering and inspiring.

Freight Broker Training has the obvious value of teaching the student how to be a freight broker, but that’s not all. Our training actually trains the student to perform any job within a freight brokerage. Upon graduation students are equipped to do dispatch, rate negotiation, accounting and more. In my story about Francesca I related how she and her husband attended school. She finds making multiple phone calls to track down loads invigorating. He enjoys finding trucks to haul the loads his wife finds. They each found an area in which they could shine and build a thriving business together.

Challenge yourself to take a new course, read an educational book or magazine. Then teach another. The highest form of learning is teaching someone else.

Moving forward,

james in Smithtown, New York said: www.brokerauthority.com

I have agents who make that!

I would love some background information about being a freight broker. I would love to have training and some partnership into the field hoping to have a firm determined co-operation with a hardworking partner/partners into having the best business we can manage to make. Please feel much welcomed to give me as much information as you can for example, the challenges expected, the ways to go around the bumpy roads, the best region to project eyes at and many more. God bless you all.

send me your e-mail and i will trry to help you with it

well thank you for all the tips. I been in trucking for 18 years, I went to a course for brokering now i have a certificate but I wood like to start working with some one with experience who could give me the opportunity to learn.
Please tell me what are my best choices.

quintin in Blacklick, Ohio said: I would love some background information about being a freight broker. I would love to have training and some partnership into the field hoping to have a firm determined co-operation with a hardworking partner/partners into having the best business we can manage to make. Please feel much welcomed to give me as much information as you can for example, the challenges expected, the ways to go around the bumpy roads, the best region to project eyes at and many more. God bless you all.

quintin, call us at [Edited by Host] Contact info deleted

Please do not post Contact info in the forums.
If you would like to set up a profile please go here to log in
www.indeed.com/my/profile

How do you get started as an agent if all the brokers want you to have a client base before they will take you on?
I have been in the trucking business for a while and own a couple of dump trucks but want to get into the broker/agent part of it.

you attend our one day program on how to get your own broker license and we teach you how to find freight and set rates.

[Edited by Host] Contact info deleted

Please do not post Contact info in the forums.
If you would like to set up a profile please go here to log in
www.indeed.com/my/profile

ask for lori.

Hi, my name is Harry, I was driving truck for almost 4 years, now i lost my job, and i wish i can learn how to become a freight broker, i do not have money to pay for any class, i wish i can find someone who can teach me some practical skills. Thx.

if you need a job let me know i may b able to fine one for you with my co. we go to nj alot. do u have refer exp and west coast exp.

john in ohio in West Alexandria, Ohio said: if you need a job let me know i may b able to fine one for you with my co. we go to nj alot. do u have refer exp and west coast exp.

I dont think i would drive a truck and also i was driving in the city (NY) and had an accident.... so... i trying to get in freight broker sphere, thanks anyway if that job was about driving.

What is involved in getting a license? Do I need a certificate? Is it a test? Just started looking into this. Been in the transportation industry for 28 years. Airline, not trucking.

www.fmcsa.gov

Go to this web site and you can order a license on-line or
go to DOT Auth.com and they can do it for you

James in Orlando, Florida said: Forget being an agent, be a broker yourself and make the big money, up to $300.000!

Check out our one-day Intro to FB Training Workshop.

Hi, I'm Lily and I'm interested in the training workshop!!!!

Being a broker will mean you have to pay the carrier first before getting paid by your shipper. Being a new broker means you will often have to pay the carrier up to two weeks prior to receiving your money from the shipper. So yes you can easily make 3000K being a broker but you will first need a 10k bond, authority, training and substantial cash flow just to operate your business. Being a freight broker agent requires nothing more than knowledge and a broker that will put you on as an agent. You can do it from home. The secret is to keep your fixed cost as low aI say crawl, walk, run then run faster than everyone else.

I would never advise anyone to open a brokerage when so many brokers are willing to set you up and continue training you after you gain some type of initial training. Being an agent - you still own your own business, you do not need a license or a bond or cash flow. You just need to be able to work hard everyday.

This is not a get rich quick business and to make 300k a year will require years in business.
if your not careful and make wise decisions when your starting out, you will end up with a bond, a mc number and no business. If you have to use a factoring company - then it makes more sense to be a freight broker agent. Why?
Because not only does a broker assist the agent with cash flow, they assist with technology, a carrier base and often continued training.

A one day seminar is awesome to get information on the business and an overview.
Dot Authority has a great one day seminar on the industry.

The only thing worse than training your staff and they leave is not training and they stay.
Go to the one day seminar and then continue your training before investing your money.

it takes 3-6 months to get any small business going. Being a freight broker agent or freight broker is no different.

You better know what your doing or the carrier or the shipper will not do business with you.

moving forward

I have been in the trucking business for several years but two years ago was involved in an accident and can no longer drive. I am interested in the brokerage part of the business but want to start as an agent. I am unemployed right now and feel this is a good time to start can anyone send me some information or something I dont have a lot of money for classes and such. My wife and I are now living solely on her income so money is tight any help is appreciated.

I now of at least three schools that offer full assistance if your disabled.

Google

freight broker school - do your research

Does anyonr know of any classes that will accept reasonable downpayments and monthly payments? Don't have 500-700/month to use at this time due to circumstances not worth going into. Not looking for a handout or "free lunch", just a reasonable alternative.

Tatiana from Canada please contact me.I need to talk to you regarding freight agent training ,but I can't find the information about you,or your website.We talked over the phone.I am Marina from Florida.Thank you

Host said: What is the best training for becoming a freight agent broker? What types of ongoing training or certifications are necessary to be an effective freight agent broker?

What do non-traditional career paths look like?

i am amazed that there is a school for agents. i guess i have given away free training to the people that i have trained and then they went on to "try" the agency business. it is tough. #1 rule. don't trust anybody. keep your stuff to yourself. i've done this for a lot of years. long long before deregulation. gosh, if you don't know about trucking deregulation, then i guess you should go to school.....wonder how much it would cost me a mile to send my knowledge across the land to another mind. shades of star trek. good luck to you all

Schools and seminars are great for increasing the learning curve.
You never graduate from learning.
Trust and you will be trusted
Live
Laugh
Love

Google Freight broker school and you will find several
great schools.

This business is great if you know what your doing. If you don't then you will lose money for sure. I am not saying you need to pay for education. Find a mentor or go to a school.

That is my advice and I have been doing this for 20 years and I know for sure I know what I am talking about.

I'm interested in becoming a freight broker agent. I've checked out some schools online and I really don't have the money to attend school right now, but i'm eager to learn this part of the transportation industry. If anyone could point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

BigMACK in Cornelius, North Carolina said: Between Email and Telephone, which way is the best way to contact potential shippers? I know the answers are going to vary, but I am still interested in all of the opinions on this issue.

Also, what are some good scipts to use for phone calls and for emails?

what some good scripts? i'd like to know myself.

everyone is always stating that being a freight broker is a low startup business, but if u have to have a substantial cash flow to pay carriers then how is that possible? my husband has been a truck driver for 15 years. I have always been interested in the business because i know there is alot of money to be made. I am so amped about being a freight broker i cant stand it. I know it will take awhile to get started but what is wrong with working with a factor at the beginning of starting business? I think that is what they are there for.also, should u start calling shippers before u get your authority or after? i am not interested in signing up for any school but any answers are welcomed.oh, and why do u have to wait so long for the shipper to send u the payment for services? do they all take the same amount of time?

need more info reply to this message and i will give you my phone number.

This information has been great, what are the top schools for training that you would recommend? My Husband and I are starting as an agent first, but we are always interested in learning more. What are the keys to obtaining your clients? I have always worked for Accounting Firms and that is completly differnt cliental. Is most of it sales?

I own a freight brokerage with the main office based in Ames, Iowa. We are willing to work with inexperienced agents around the country if they have the drive and focus that it takes to be successful. Training programs can be helpful for someone who hasn't worked in the transportation industry, but we are often willing to work with people who don't have experience. We use very intuitive web-based software to manage our business and offer the top loadboards for our agents to use. We don't charge our agents for their software access, we pay our agents twice per month and offer a competitive commission structure. Please click on my profile link and contact us through the information you find on our website if you are interested in learning more. Thank you.

Best regards,
Ryan

Hello, I am a 22 yr old college student majoring Accounting and very much interested in the Freight Broker Trucking industry. My boyfriend and I own a Truck (largest one, forgot the measurement), but I would like to obtain a position in this business so that I can further pursue myself in this industry. Currently, the truck is not on the road and we are in search of a ethical Broker who knows the ins and outs of the business and if possible a vacant position related to this field, so that I further myself.

Thanks
Josanne Huggins

This sounds like the perfect opportunity for me b/c I would very much like to learn about the industry mainly b/c I know someone who owns their own truck, but is not too sure about the industry. Being that I young, ambitious and agressive and I know that will master it once given the opportunity. I learned a little about the trucking industry in my Accounting Class (ACCT 101) so I have a little idea, not much, but still have a whole lot to learn. I am very much interested in this offer if still available.