Become a Freight Agent

If you want to become a freight agent, this is your chance. By knowing the options available for you, it will be easier to make the right decision.

This career can be very rewarding and you can make a lot of money especially if you’re willing to work hard. Read on and you can learn a lot of things.

The Choice

A freight broker is now known as a freight agent. As a freight agent, you will legally help shippers in transporting their freight successfully. Before you can start working, you will need to fulfill three requirements. This will include the agent’s authority through FMCSA or the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. You also need a trust fund or surety bond. You can obtain this from a bonding company or a local bank. For individuals having excellent credit records, you can get a bond by simply paying $500 - $700 a year but in most cases, you will need to maintain a bond of $10,000. The third requirement is the processing agent and this can cost your around $50 for the BOC-3 form.

This is still a new field but in the coming years, there will be a higher demand for freight agents. If you can’t get a license and a bond, there is still another alternative to become a freight agent – you can become an independent agent or open your own freight agency. This will involve fewer risks and in most cases, you will be working closely with another authorized broker. If you choose to open your own agency, you will need internet connection, computer, telephone, and fax machine. You will also need transportation software program or a broker software system.

The Earnings

The good thing about this profession is that you can work from home. In fact, most of today’s brokers and freight agents are working in an office or from home. Building a customer database can be hard at first and this is natural. Don’t get discouraged because in due time, you will have a long list of potential customers. Most of the shippers will do business with you over and over again especially if your services are great. Your success in this kind of profession will depend on your tenacity, determination, and your desire to be of service to others. As a freight agent, you can earn around $40,000 to more than $200,000 annually. Again, your earnings will depend greatly on your personal abilities, effort, and time. As a full time agent, you can earn more.

Finding customers is not as hard as you think. You can make use of the best tools online to look for potential clients. The internet is the surest way to gather relevant information. It’s up to you whether you will become an independent freight agent, put up your own brokerage, or get registered. As long as you’re willing to work hard, you can earn huge money.

1 Comment

  • michelle said on February 19, 2013
    chatman's transportation, dallas, tx ,, best contact via e-mail

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