Freight Brokerage

Freight brokers act as intermediaries between companies needing to ship goods and trucking carriers with capacity, earning commissions on freight transactions.

With the U.S.

freight market worth $875+ billion annually and freight brokers handling 18% of truckload shipments, successful brokers generate revenue of $150,000-$500,000+ annually with profit margins of 15-25% on gross revenue (commissions typically 10-20% of freight costs).

The business requires freight broker authority from FMCSA, $75,000 surety bond, and understanding of transportation logistics.

Brokers build relationships with both shippers (manufacturers, distributors, retailers) and carriers (trucking companies, owner-operators).

Technology platforms help match loads with carriers, track shipments, and manage documentation.

Initial focus typically on specific lanes or freight types helps build expertise.

Success factors include strong negotiation skills, reliability, and ability to solve logistics problems quickly.

Most brokers specialize in specific types of freight (dry van, flatbed, refrigerated) or industries.

The business can start as a solo broker and scale to multiple brokers with support staff.

Marketing focuses on networking with shippers, providing excellent service to build repeat business, and developing carrier relationships.

With e-commerce driving freight volume and capacity challenges creating opportunities in 2025, freight brokerage offers excellent potential for entrepreneurs with sales skills and logistics knowledge willing to build a relationship-based business.