Freight Broker/Agent Training

Learn the skills you need to be a successful Freight Broker/Agent. This is a growing industry of licensed individuals or corporations that help make a shipper and an authorized motor carrier successful in the transporting of freight. This online certificate program is offered in partnership with major colleges, universities, and other accredited education providers.

Job Opportunity and Resource Friday!

Placement Opportunity: All Brooke graduates have the opportunity to meet and discuss agent positions with freight brokerages.

Each Friday of the program, Brooke Transportation Training Solutions hosts Resource Friday exclusively for their graduates. BTTS is the only broker training school offering this excellent resource.

Graduates will be inspired, meet potential employers, and network with complementary businesses. Inspirational speakers motivate you to start your new career strong. The best businesses and brokers in the industry talk with graduates about the choice of starting their own brokerage, working as an agent for another firm, and other job opportunities. Complementary businesses also come to Resource Friday to meet the new graduates and talk through how each can benefit the other in business success.

"The course main focus is on the strong points of the subject and makes it so convenient for my schedule. The course was perfect, thank you."- A.G., California State University, Los Angeles

"Honestly, my experience was straight down the line perfect. I enjoyed every second of it."
- A.M., Ivy Tech Community College, Fort Wayne

"The course was extremely detailed; very organized and flowed smoothly which allowed it to be easy to understand and comprehend."
- E.C., Columbus Technical College

Become a part of the exciting trucking, freight logistics, and transportation industries as a licensed freight broker or as a freight broker agent. From licensing to operations, to sales and marketing, you'll learn the basics of how to run a domestic freight brokerage or agency in the United States. Entrepreneur magazine has rated the freight brokerage business as one of the top home-based businesses to own, and a recent Wall Street Journal article cited freight brokering and logistics as the largest growing sector of the transportation industry. Written by freight brokerage specialists, the Freight Broker/Agent Online Training Program will provide you with the knowledge and resources needed to break into the $400 billion-plus shipping industry. Freight broker professionals are in demand. No matter the state of the economy, goods will always need to be shipped. A motivated and disciplined freight broker or freight agent who has received the proper training can build up his or her business into a six-figure earning potential. It's an ideal home business for a self-starter who enjoys fast-paced work. Upon registering, you're given an initial six months to complete the program. Should you need more time, you may request a six-month extension at no additional charge.

Objectives:

Upon successful completion of the Freight Broker/Freight Agent Training Program, you'll: Understand the process of freight brokering from start to finish Have the tools needed to be successful as a freight broker or freight agent Learn the basics of day-to-day operations of a brokerage or agency Use techniques such as prospecting, sales and marketing, rating, and negotiations Be able to manage a shipment from origin to destination Gain valuable industry resources

Outline:

Freight Broker Basics Overview of the Job What is a Freight Broker? Requirements to Become a Freight Broker What is a Freight Broker Agent? Requirements of Becoming a Freight Agent Why do Shippers Use Freight Brokers/Agents? Industry Overview Overview of the Transportation Industry Brief History of Surface Transportation and Freight Brokering Industry Potential and Trends Broker Laws and Requirements by the FMCSA Legalities of Broker/Brokerage Services Non-brokerage Services Laws Regarding Record Keeping for Brokers Laws Regarding Misrepresentation Broker Advertising Liability Rebating and Compensation Duties Double Brokering Legalities Laws Regarding Accounting Expenses Marketing and Sales More on Marketing Market Niches Market Trends Competition Networking Promotions Your Marketing Dollars Customer Relations and Customer Profile Qualifying the Prospect Determining Needs Features and Benefits Managing Objections Personality Types Building Trust Sales Process and Growth Overcoming Challenges Shipper Situations Carrier Situations Consignee Situations Success and the Broker/Agent Why Become a Broker or Agent? Benefits and Opportunities Traits of a Successful Broker/Agent Goal Setting Developing a Plan Qualities of Success Getting Started Starting Your Business Your Business Name Setting Up Your Business Filing for Your Broker Operating Authority Filing for Your Surety Bond Obtaining Your Process Agents The Next Steps Ensure Cash Flow Resources Business Bank Account Setting Up Your Office IT Specs Office Basics Transportation Software and Other Software Considerations Preparing Your Initial Marketing Materials Determining Your Business Identity Decide on Initial Niche Target Markets Formulate Initial Web Site Examples of Initial Marketing Materials Shipper/Carrier Marketing and Dynamics Setting Up Your Shipper Packet Setting Up Your Carrier Packet Setting Your Rates Determining Competitive Rates Resources for Rating Rate Variables Types of Rate Matrices Fuel and Surcharges Accessorial Fees Finding Your Shippers Load Dynamics and Operations Building the Load Load Data Special Instructions Rate Verification With Customer Matching the Carrier Load Posting When to Post and What to Post Checking Authority and Safety Insurance Verification Carrier Contracts The Process Continued Rate Confirmation Carrier Pick-up and Delivery Dispatching Tracking and Verification Carrier Relations (Your Carrier Profile) Conclusion and Appendices Conclusion Financial Management Staffing Cash Flow Auditing and Billing Setting Up Invoices for Payment Other Brokerage Accounting Insurance Claims Types of Freight Claims Claim Forms Claim Procedures Claims Laws

Prerequisites:

There are no specific prerequisites for this program. Because the program focuses solely on U.S. domestic freight brokering, it is recommended for students who are interested in doing business in the United States.

Materials:

This program is compatible with Windows XP and later operating systems, with the exception of recently released Windows 8. It is also compatible with IE 7 and later browsers. Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Acrobat Reader are required for this program. Click here to download the Acrobat Reader. Click here to download the Flash Player. This program can be taken on either a Mac or a PC. All materials for this program are available online.

FAQ

1. What is a Freight Broker? A freight broker is legally a property broker, which is the term established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a division of the United States Department of Transportation. It describes licensed individuals or corporations that help make a shipper and an authorized motor carrier successful in the transporting of freight. 2. What are the requirements to be a Freight Broker? There are three legal documents needed to operate as a freight broker. They are: 1. A Broker's Authority, available through the FMCSA for a $300 fee. You fill out Form OP-1 and file for your authority to operate as a broker. 2. A Surety Bond or Trust Fund, which you can obtain from a bank or bonding company. The cost varies depending on your personal credit. You're required to carry a $10,000 bond or trust, but if your credit is good, some companies will put up your bond for you for a fee (normally $500 to $700 per year). The form filed with this is BMC-84 or BMC-85. 3. Processing Agent, which runs approximately $50, with form BOC-3. 3. Is this a growing field? Is it in demand? As of this writing, there are approximately 15,000 licensed transportation brokers in the nation, but a large number are inactive. This is still a relatively new industry, as there were only around 70 brokers in 1970. It's estimated that freight brokers accounted for over 10% of the shipping industry, or roughly $40 billion out of $400 billion, in revenues. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal cited freight brokerage and logistics as the fastest- growing sector of the transportation industry. 4. Is there another way to get into the industry without having to get a bond and license? Yes. You can open a freight agency or become a freight broker agent with little risk and without obtaining your own licensing. In that case, you'd operate as an agent, under the umbrella of another broker's authority, and you would do a split with the broker on your profits. 5. What equipment will I need to get started? If you want to open a freight brokerage or agency, you'll need a computer with high-speed Internet, a fax machine, a telephone, and phone service with inexpensive unlimited long distance. If you're opening a brokerage, you'll also most likely want to purchase a transportation software program. If you're an agent, you'll use your broker's software system. 6. Is this a job that I can do from home? Absolutely. Most agents and many brokers work out of their home office. 7. How long will it take for my business to become profitable? It will take some time to build up your customer database, just as with any business that you start. Typically it can take three to six months of disciplined work to show a substantial profit. Sometimes it takes much less time, sometimes more. But once you begin securing customers, they normally have residual shipping, so the sale repeats itself over and over. Your level of success depends on many factors, such as your level of determination, your tenacity, and your genuine desire to help your customers succeed. 8. How much money can I make as a freight broker or agent? Again, your individual earnings will depend on your personal abilities and how determined you are to succeed. As a full-time broker or agent, you can make from $40,000 to well over $200,000 or more. The potential is virtually unlimited as you grow. 9. How do I find customers? In the program, we go into detail on this subject, showing you many different tools for locating your shippers, such as publications, reference sources, and Internet sources. 10. How do I decide whether to start my own brokerage or become an agent? There are many factors in making this decision, which we go over in detail during the program. Three major factors are money, time, and experience, among others. Either way, you’ll need three to six months worth of living expenses or a supplemental income while you establish your business. If you open your own brokerage, you’ll also need additional start-up money for cash flow and start-up costs. 11. Can I register for programs if I am an international student? Yes, because ed2go programs are online you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration. 12. How long does it take to complete a program? All of our programs are self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start them when you want and finish them at your own pace. Upon registering, you're given an initial six months to complete this program. Should you need more time beyond the six months, an extension of six months is available at no additional cost. 13. Do I have to buy additional materials? All the materials you'll need are included, and their cost will be covered by your tuition. ed2go will ship all materials ground service upon enrollment. 14. Can I get financial assistance? ed2go courses are non-credit courses, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. 15. What happens when I complete the program? Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a certificate of completion. 16. Am I guaranteed a job? ed2go programs will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We don't provide direct job placement services, but our facilitators and career counselors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Facilitators will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the program. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering. 17. Who will be my instructor? Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (via e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach. 18. What software or hardware do I need in order to take online programs and what are the system requirements? In order to take our online programs, you must have access to a computer and the Internet. You can access the program contents from any Web-enabled computer. You don't have to use the same computer to log-in to the program every time. We recommend that you have a word-processing program (Microsoft Word is best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer. 19. Can I use a Mac? Yes, you can use a Mac for this program. 20. How can I get more information about the program? If you have questions that are not answered on our website, please feel free to contact us via LIVE chat (click the button below). If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please feel free to send us a question using the "Ask a question" button below. You may also call us at 1-877-221-5151. We will answer your questions promptly. 21. When can I start the program? Our programs are all open enrollment. You can register and start the program as soon as you are ready.