WHAT IS A FREIGHT BROKER?
A freight broker is a bonded and DOT- (Department of Transportation) licensed agency that secures freight shipping services from freight carriers on behalf of businesses and individuals. Typical freight broker tasks include:
- Developing a network of top carriers that provide discounted rates for the freight broker’s customers
- Finding the carrier for each shipment that provides the best combination of freight rates and services
- Booking the shipment on behalf of the customer (shipper)
- Paying the carrier for the booking
- Receiving the shipper’s payment directly
- Addressing all of the shipper’s questions and concerns
- Preparing all the paperwork—Terms & Conditions, Bill of Lading (BOL) and shipping labels—and emailing it to the shipper
- Providing a way for the shipper to track their shipment
- Addressing the shipper’s issues if there are any problems with the shipment
