Guides for new freight brokers.
Authority, carriers, rates and paperwork, in plain English.
Getting started
From authority to your first shipper.
Get your freight broker authority
The filings, the $75,000 bond and what happens before you can book.
Read the guideFreight broker bond explained
BMC-84 or BMC-85, what the $75,000 covers and what can suspend you.
Read the guideBroker, forwarder or dispatcher?
Three roles that get mixed up, and which ones need authority.
Read the guideFind your first shippers
Pick a niche, build a target list and make the first calls count.
Read the guideChoosing a TMS for a small brokerage
When you need one, what to look for, and questions to ask before paying.
Read the guideCarriers
Know who is hauling your freight.
Vet your first carrier
What to check before a truck you’ve never used picks up your freight.
Read the guideWhat double brokering is and how to stop it
How it happens, the warning signs and what to do if you suspect it.
Read the guideWhat goes in a broker-carrier agreement
The clauses that protect you, before any single load is booked.
Read the guideMoney
Rates, extras and getting paid.
Price a load and set your margin
Work back from the shipper’s rate, and know your floor before you call.
Read the guideFreight accessorial charges explained
Detention, layover, lumper, TONU and more, and who should pay.
Read the guideShipper credit checks and payment terms
How to check a shipper, set a limit and choose terms you can afford.
Read the guidePaperwork
The documents behind every load.
What goes on a rate confirmation
The fields and terms that keep a rate con from turning into a dispute.
Read the guideBill of lading vs POD vs rate con
Three documents, three jobs, and what to check on each.
Read the guideFreight broker record-keeping rules
What 49 CFR 371.3 requires you to keep, and for how long.
Read the guideDoing the math on a load?
Margin, detention and cash flow calculators, free and without an account.
Open the free toolsReady for your first TMS?
One-time setup fee, no monthly bill while you’re getting started.