Be Your Own Boss

Would you like to be your own boss?  You can work from home or anywhere with a computer, phone and internet access as a freight broker or freight broker agent.  Being a freight broker agent is similar to being a real estate agent or an insurance broker.  As a freight broker agent you have the support of a larger agency while maintaining your own business. 

Freight brokers are required by law to have a $75,000 bond so that if any of the loads you are brokering get lost or damaged you will have the money to cover the damages.  That bond money is one of the reasons many brokers work as agents rather than independents.  The "parent" freight brokerage will carry the bond for their independent broker agents.  Many of our students start out thinking they will open their own agency then during training change their mind.  We have many freight brokers who recruit from our school.  On resource Friday, the last day of class, several freight brokers come and present to our graduates.  Networking on Friday is always a highlight of the training.

A freight broker or freight broker agent works hard to land their first customers or shippers.  We teach our students a proven process for finding clients.  After an agent gains the trust of a few shippers they are set up to make an excellent income.  Shippers will continue to call on the freight broker with future shipments.  So a satisfied customer is the goal of each freight broker negotiation. 

Transportation is an industry that is fast paced and exciting.  There is always a need for freight brokers because of our vibrant marketplace.  Come join us and learn the ins and outs of freight brokering.

Moving forward,

Jeff Roach
214-206-1169
www.transportationtraining.com

Kinds of Trucks

As a freight broker I have learned the various types of trucks used to move various types of products.  Trucks carry 94% of all furniture, fixtures and appliances for the American home.  Look around your house, most of the stuff in there was moved by a truck or several trucks before it reached your home. 

Here are some of the kinds of trucks used to move cargo:

Refrigerated semitrailers (or reefers)
Ragtops (canvas-covered, boxlike trailers)
Dry vans (nonrefrigerated semitrailers)
Liquid tankers (trailers designed to carry liquid or fine bulk materials
Containers (shipping containers used for freight carried on ships or trains)
Air-ride (trailers built to reduce road shock and designed to carry fragile items)

Freight brokers often specialize in a certain type of cargo which will often require a certain type of truck.  One of our graduates focus is cars.  Cars are moved on transporters.  This freight broker has learned the carriers that drive transporters.  She also has built a relationship with car dealers, auctions and manufacturers that need their cars moved. 

The world of transportation is quite fascinating.  Enjoy learning all you can about trucks, various cargo loads and what is required to handle each.

Moving forward,

Jeff Roach
www.transportationtraining.com

Freight Broker Compliance Deadline

Here's an article from Trucking Info about the compliance deadline for the $75,000 bond requirement for brokers and freight forwarders.

FMCSA Posts Guidance on New Broker, Freight Forwarder Requirements

September 5, 2013

By Truckinginfo Staff

 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is setting an Oct. 1 deadline for compliance with new requirements for brokers and freight forwarders.
In a Federal Register notice Thursday, the agency laid out its plan for implementing the terms of last year’s highway law, including a $75,000 bond requirement.
By Oct. 1, all regulated brokers and freight forwarders will have to have a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund agreement, the agency said.
The law requires brokers, freight forwarders and carriers that provide these services to register with the agency, which also has to be done by Oct. 1.
A broker or freight forwarder that operates without registering could be fined as much as $10,000.
The agency said it still is considering the possibility of allowing group surety bonds or trust funds to meet the $75,000 requirement, but for the time being they will not be allowed.
The agency set a 60-day grace period starting Oct. 1 for implementing the new requirements. It said that on Nov. 1 it will start mailing notices to companies that have not met the bond requirement.
The agency acknowledged that it does not know how many motor carriers engage in occasional brokerage that now must register as brokers. For that reason it will phase-in registration for carriers that also offer brokerage, using its consumer complaint line to gather information about these carriers.
“FMCSA strongly encourages all motor carriers not to accept loads from unregistered brokers or freight forwarders,” the agency said.

I will try to stay on top of the latest news as it pertains to our industry.  I, like many, are frustrated with the strain this legislation puts on the "little guy".  

Stay positive, stay focused and keep moving.

Moving forward,

Jeff

www.transportationtraining.com