What's the Difference Between a
Freight Broker and a Broker Agent?
This is a common question ..... here's how we answer it:
1. A freight broker is fully self-employed and is required to obtain his or her broker authority. A
fully self-employed freight broker will do his or her own invoicing to customers and will pay the motor carriers.
Essentially, the freight broker is running the entire business.
2. A broker agent works for another freight broker and does not need to obtain a broker authority.
The agent works under the authority of his or her freight broker and is not responsible for invoicing or paying the
trucks. The agent then splits his or her commission with the freight broker.
There are pros and cons to each option.
First, a fully self-employed freight broker is required to get their broker authority but they retain 100% of the
profit on each load. Further, the freight broker is totally responsible for invoicing the customer and making collections
as well as paying the motor carriers. Cash management skills are an absolute necessity.
Since time and effort are required to run an entire business, the freight broker has somewhat less time to search for new customers
and find trucks as compared to a broker agent.
Second, a broker agent is not required to get his or her broker authority and, therefore, this option is less
costly. But the broker agent splits his or her commission on each load with their freight broker.
Most of the agent's time is spent searching for new customers and finding trucks. They generally have more time
compared to the freight broker because the agent is usually not responsible for the "backroom" office work.
To learn more about what topics are covered for the comprehensive freight broker training for those wanting to be
fully self-employed, click here at
Freight Broker Topics
To learn more about what topics are covered for the comprehensive broker agent training for those wanting to work
for another freight broker, click here at Broker Agent Topics
If you have other questions about what is required by each of these options, please call us at 888-526-ATEX (2839) or
send us an email at
info@atexfreightbrokertraining.com
Atex Freight Broker Training, Inc.
7101 N. Mesa St. #219
El Paso, TX 79912
888-526-ATEX (2839)
info@atexfreightbrokertraining.com
www.atexfreightbrokertraining.com
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