Freight Broker/Agent Training

Join the fast-growing and exciting trucking and transportation industries as a freight broker or agent with Mississippi State University's self-paced, online program designed for busy professionals. Written by freight brokerage specialists, this freight broker course will provide you with the knowledge and resources needed to break into the shipping industry. From transportation law, contracts, and insurance, to setting up and running your own business, this is the best online freight broker training available.

Program At a Glance

Career Area: Transportation Industry

Ideal for: Ambitious, disciplined, personable individuals seeing to enter a fast-paced and rewarding field

Average Salary in Mississippi: $45,000+ annually

Average Salary in U.S.: $45,000+ annually

Job Outlook: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the freight broker/agent profession is a “Bright Outlook” career area, with over 30% job growth expected in the next five years! Entrepreneur magazine has rated the freight brokerage business as one of the top home-based businesses to own, and a Wall Street Journal article cited freight brokering and logistics as the largest growing sector of the transportation industry.

Program Format: Online via partnership with ed2go

Program Length: Self-paced; students have 6-months to complete the course after enrolling

Tuition Cost: $1,895 - Financial assistance is available

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What Does a Freight Broker/Agent Do?

As a freight broker, your job is to manage shipments on behalf of your clients. This involves arranging for transportation, helping to negotiate better rates, and getting information so your clients can track each shipment. Most shippers do not have the time to find and monitor hauling companies, so freight brokers manage this work on their behalf. One of the most important roles of this job is generating "spread," which is the difference between what the client is willing to pay for shipping the product and what you can convince a hauling company to accept. Freight brokers get to keep the spread, so bigger discounts offer you better pay.

About the Freight Broker/Agent Training Program

When you complete Mississippi State University's online Freight Broker/Agent Training Program you'll be qualified to become a part of the exciting trucking, freight logistics, and transportation industries as a licensed freight broker or as a freight broker agent. From licensing and operations to sales and marketing, you'll learn the basics of how to run a domestic freight brokerage or agency in the United States. Written by freight brokerage specialists, this freight broker course will provide you with the knowledge and resources needed to break into the shipping industry. From transportation law, contracts, and insurance, to setting up and running your own business, this is the best online freight broker training available.

Build Your Own Business

Upon completion of the program, graduates have opened their own successful freight agencies and others have chosen to become freight broker agents operating under the umbrella of a licensed broker. Regardless of which career path you choose, Mississippi State University will provide you with the support and guidance you need to succeed in your profession.

What You Will Learn

The basics of freight brokering.
How to use the documents and software common to the industry.
All about transportation law, insurance, and agreements and contracts.
How to set up and run your business, including recordkeeping, determining quotes, and negotiation and marketing techniques.

How You Will Benefit

Freight broker school can provide you with the resources you need to obtain your brokerage licensing/authority from the federal government.
You will gain the knowledge and resources you need to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), get a surety bond and break into the shipping industry.
Graduates will be able to participate in our weekly job opportunity event called Resource Friday. Resource Friday is a virtual event that is held every Friday, exclusively for Freight Broker/Agent Training program graduates. During this virtual event, all graduates have the opportunity to meet and discuss agent positions with participating freight brokerages. Additionally, the best businesses and brokers in the industry talk with graduates about starting their own brokerage, working as an agent for another firm, and other career opportunities.

“This course used real life examples and

different learning materials that still help us operate a business,”

Kay P., United Tribe Logistics

Freight Broker/Agent Training Certificate Requirements

Freight Broker Basics

Overview of the Job

Industry Overview

Broker Laws and Requirements by the FMCSA

Marketing and Sales

Market Trends and Strategies

Customer Relations and Customer Profile

Overcoming Challenges

Success and the Broker/Agent

Getting Started

Starting Your Business

The Next Steps

Preparing Your Initial Marketing Materials

Shipper/Carrier Marketing and Dynamics

Setting Up Your Shipper Packet

Setting Up Your Carrier Packet

Setting Your Rates

Finding Your Shippers

Load Dynamics and Operations

Building the Load

Matching the Carrier

The Process Continued

Carrier Relations (Your Carrier Profile)

Conclusion and Appendices

Conclusion

Financial Management

Insurance Claims

What You Receive When You Complete the Program?

Upon successfully completing the Freight Broker/Agent Training program, you'll be awarded a certificate of completion from Mississippi State University.

Upon completion of the freight broker/agent training program, graduates have
opened their own successful freight agencies and other have chosen to become
freight broker agents operating under the umbrella of a licensed broker.

Ready to Enroll

Admission to the Freight Broker/Agent Training Certificate Program is open to any interested student. There are no prerequisites for this program. Since the program focuses solely on U.S. domestic freight brokering, it is recommended you be interested in doing business in the United States.

Mississippi State University's Freight Broker/Agent Training program is an open enrollment program. You can enroll and start the program at any time.

Enroll Now

Common Questions

WHAT IS A FREIGHT BROKER?

A freight broker arranges and makes provision for the transportation of shipments, but he or she doesn't actually provide the transportation. They help the shipper and the motor carrier company, negotiate on both sides, and earn a fee for their work. Freight brokers use their expertise to set up the shipment, negotiate the terms of the transaction, and manage the shipment from its origin to its destination.

WHAT DOES A FREIGHT BROKER DO?

The freight broker works within the company to manage the day-to-day tasks required to move goods from place to place. They hire carriers and monitor financial aspects such as invoicing, paying agents, and monitoring credit. The government may require additional fees and paperwork for a brokerage license, but not for becoming a freight agent.

HOW DO I BECOME A FREIGHT BROKER?

You will need to gain some industry knowledge either with a freight broker or freight broker agent and/or through an in depth training that not only teaches the industry but also how to set up and market yourself as a freight broker. After you gain the industry knowledge, you will need to obtain a fright broker license.

WHAT IS A FREIGHT BROKER COMPANY?

Freight brokerage companies act as a liaison between a "shipper," or a business with goods to move, and a "carrier," or the business that has the ability to move those goods. They help the shipping industry run efficiently and smoothly.

HOW DO YOU GET YOUR FREIGHT BROKER LICENSE?

First, it is recommended that you enroll in a freight broker course to fully prepare for the position. Then there are very few steps required to get your freight broker license. You will need to establish a business structure, submit an application for motor carrier and broker authority (OP-1 Form), obtain a surety bond, select a process agent, and finally register the brokerage. A license is granted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, FMCSA. You will fill out an application and pay a one-time fee. Once your application is approved, there is a 10-day waiting period before you are granted full license.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BECOME A FREIGHT BROKER?

It does not take long to set up your business as freight broker. The longer time is actually building up your business. As with almost any new startup business, it'll take time to build your client database before your income starts to increase. When you're just starting out, it can take an average of three to six months or longer to establish relationships and start building your client database.

WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT WILL I RECEIVE?

You will be assigned a team of instructors and receive one-on-one course interaction. You can reach out to your team of instructors by email for answers to questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our instructors are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach. You will also be assigned to an Advisor for academic support.

DO I HAVE TO BE ADMITTED TO MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY TO ENROLL IN THIS PROGRAM?

No, you do not have to be an admitted student to Mississippi State University to enroll in this program. Our online non-credit advanced career training programs are open to all.

WHEN CAN I START THE PROGRAM?

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

CAN I GET FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?

This course is non-credit, so it does not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA or Pell Grant. Financing is available through other private, military, and government funding options. Learn more about financial assistance.

HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS PROGRAM?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, You can call us at 1-662-325-5002 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the "Contact Us" form.

Freight Broker/Agent Training

Freight Broker/Agent Training

Program At a Glance

What Does a Freight Broker/Agent Do?

About the Freight Broker/Agent Training Program

Build Your Own Business

What You Will Learn

How You Will Benefit

“This course used real life examples and

different learning materials that still help us operate a business,”

Kay P., United Tribe Logistics