What To Know About Being A Freight Broker
You see trucks on the road and behind stores at loading docks all the time, but did you know that these truck drivers aren't always directly employed by the company they're making a delivery to? Many are independent, and they accept shipments from whoever has them. They find these shipments through freight brokers, people who work to connect those who need to ship items with those who have room on their trucks. Training to be a freight broker can let you enter a field where you have long-term options and more job security.
The Work Is Basically Solving a Giant Puzzle
The duties of a freight broker sound complicated and busy at first, but really, all you're doing is solving a giant puzzle that involves connection. Connecting new clients with your company and connecting freight and transportation are all essentially puzzles. When you look at it that way, the work becomes a lot simpler and easier to complete. And, if you like solving puzzles, that means that training to be a freight broker could be a great career path.
Technology Can't Replace a Good Freight Broker
Freight brokers are traditionally human, but a technology called digital freight networks is making itself known. This is essentially an automated freight brokerage system that cuts out the middleman, a.k.a. the freight broker. However, technology like this can't replace freight brokers because there are so many exceptions that occur when trying to fit freight on trucks. Human freight brokers can also respond more quickly and with more customized help when there is a last-minute complication. And, some companies just aren't going to chance it with an automated network; they want a human to talk to and discuss options with when placing freight on transportation.
You Can Be an Employee or Work on Your Own
Freight brokering is one of those professions where you can go work for another brokerage as an employee or set up your own independent operation. Each of these options has advantages, and which is better will differ for everyone. However, the fact that you can choose between the two means that, if you're working for another company and decide that you want to be independent, you don't have to leave the field to do so. Running your own brokerage operation, even if you're an independent contractor and don't have employees of your own, is very different from being an employee, but at least you won't have to retrain in a new field.
For more information on freight broker training, contact a professional near you.
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