Freight Broker Job Description, Salary, and Skills
Are you searching for a freight broker job description? Get to know about the duties, responsibilities, qualifications, and skills requirements of a freight broker. Feel free to use our freight broker job description template to produce your own freight broker job description. We also provide you with information about the salary you can earn as a freight broker.
Who is a Freight Broker?
A Freight broker is an individual who serves as a liaison between shippers and carriers to process the transportation of goods. Freight brokers perform the responsibility of marketing to attract new customers, attach customers with freight carriers, book orders, and also assemble carriers for the loading of goods.
Freight brokers are also referred to as intermediaries who organize the movement of goods from one location to another. They act as a link between shippers and carriers, they also assist in getting the best deals on shipping services while guaranteeing that all parties are treated fairly or as expected. Freight brokers work with different kinds of cargo- from cars to electronics to raw materials. They play a huge role when it comes to large or heavy items that demand specialized transportation mechanisms.
Freight brokers aid motor carriers by filling their vehicles and also providing help to the truck driver to deliver the goods on time. It is important to observe that not every carrier has a private sales force while working to secure loads for their fleet and they also need assistance to locate a network of shippers that will assist them. Freight brokers also provide other great financial services to truckers, providing fuel advances to help them with the flow of cash, and also services that quick p ment. Most often, the carrier is usually paid before the freight broker gets his payment from the shipper. A freight broker also helps the motor carrier relocate their equipment to a better freight market and sometimes to their home base.
Most companies acknowledge that the services freight brokers play in their supply chain are indispensable. The importance of a freight broker is to comprehend that freight brokers must ensure that shipments are well arranged to deliver on time at a standard price with reputable providers. Without freight brokers, shippers will find it very complicated to get the right motor carriers to convey their products, track the shipment, and also audit freight bills.
Freight brokers report to a manager or supervisor in the company where they are working. Brokers are usually subdivided into teams and it is a supervisor that is responsible for each one of them. There are many freight brokers in a company and they report to a particular supervisor in com company. The Supervisors may report to the senior manager or upper-level manager of the company.
Freight Broker Job Description
What is a freight broker job description? A freight broker job description is simply a list of duties and responsibilities of a freight broker in an organization. Below are the freight broker job description examples you can use to develop your resume or write a freight broker job description for your employee. Employers can also use it to sieve out job seekers when choosing candidates for interviews.
The following are the duties and responsibilities of a freight broker:
- Organizing relationships with freight forwarders, shipping companies, trucking companies, railroads, warehouses, and other partners in the supply chain
- Negotiating rates with carriers and collecting shipping quotes for clients
- Conveying with clients to ensure that shipments arrive on time and without damage
- Corresponding to buyers with sellers of commodities based on price, quantity, delivery dates, and other factors
- Surveying market trends and industry news to identify opportunities for profit
- Evaluating freight rates to identify where costs can be reduced or price rates can be achieved
- Organizing the logistics of transporting goods from one location to another
- Booking space on ships or planes, arranging insurance coverage, and preparing documentation for shipments
- Sustaining records of freight transactions such as contracts, invoices, and shipping notices
- Developing leads and attracting new prospects, and developing a sales pipeline
- Recognizing and selecting reputable and safe carriers for freight services
- Empowering customers with shipping quotes
- Helping to prepare carriers for loads
- Tracing the status of loads
- Working together with shippers, carriers, and dispatchers to manage scheduled collections and drop-offs
- Maintaining accurate records of relevant activities
- Revamping customers on the status of shipments, and assisting with other inquires
- Retaining current knowledge of market trends in the transportation marketplace
- Regulating the progress of shipments to ensure that goods arrived promptly and undamaged
- Revamping customer management software to keep client records accurate
- Settling freight discrepancies promptly
- Strengtheningstrong relationships with multiple carriers
- Guaranteeing that freight paperwork is completed and approved before transportation
- Reacting to customer concerns and queries professionally
- Notifying clients of potential supply chain issues
Qualifications
- A high school diploma or a suitable equivalent
- Two years or more working experience in a similar role
- Established book of business preferred
- Competent with Microsoft Office Suites
- Outstanding problem-solving abilities
- Outstanding communication skills both verbal and written
- Outstanding people skills
- Competent negotiating skills
- Indicated ability to meet sales target
- Comprehensive knowledge of supply chain management
- Knowledge of logistics software, customer relationship management software, and spreadsheet
- Well-horned negotiating skills to get the best apparent quotes for customers
- Networking skills to enhance relationships with prospective clients and carriers
- Verified sales skills to obtain new clients and carriers and close shipping deals
Essential Skills
- Industry Knowledge
- Negotiation Skills
- Communication Skills
- Administrative Skills
- Analytical Skills
- Customer-service Skills
- Technical Skills
- Industry Knowledge: Freight brokers need to possess extensive knowledge of industry trends and regulations. This can enable them to feed clients with the most accurate information about the freight industry. They can utilize their knowledge to assist clients to find the best shipping methods and freight rates. The knowledge of the industry is very paramount because it helps them know when they will generate profit and when they will lose in the market.
- Negotiation Skills: Freight brokers employ this skill to negotiate contracts with shipping companies and clients. They negotiate with shipping companies to get the best rates for their customers and they also negotiate with clients to get the best shipping methods for their clients. Freight brokers may also negotiate contracts with shipping companies to guarantee their clients gets the best rates.
- Communication Skills: Freight brokers communicate with diverse people cut across different locations. These people communicate with our clients, truck drivers, shipping companies, and also other freight brokers. They need to employ their communication skills to communicate vividly and concisely and to ensure that everyone comprehends each other. They need to also communicate with people from diverse cultural settings and backgrounds; for them to achieve this, they must be proficient in more than one language. For instance, a freight broker who works for a company whose shipping companies are Spanish; or must learn Spanish to communicate effectively.
- Administrative Skills: Freight Brokers also perform administrative responsibilities such as entry of data, record keeping, and also updating clients on any latest development. Administrative skills can help you with different responsibilities such as storing client contact information, managing the information of a client, and also tracking a client to get his financial record. Administrative skills can also be employed to ensure that the freight broker is utilizing the best shipping method.
- Analytical Skills: freight brokers utilize analytical skills to evaluate the necessity of their clients and the best shipping alternative for them. They may need to enroll for thorough research in the shipping methods to discover the best one their client will utilize. They may need to also research the shipping route to discover which one is the best one that their client will utilize.
- Customer Service: this is the ability to give customers exceptional services to retain them. Freight brokers must know how to put their client’s interests before their interests to give their clients one of the most exceptional services. Communication is also another way of building customer service and creating a bond between the freight broker and the client.
To be successful, freight brokers need to be able to comprehend the needs of customers and provide solutions to these diverse needs. This demands that freight brokers understand the needs of the customer, especially what they face daily. To achieve this, freight brokers must be able to communicate efficiently with customers to solve problems quickly. This will guarantee that customers are happy and that they continue to do business with the broker.
- Technical Skills: freight brokers need to be more technical to remain relevant. They are usually responsible for performing a wide range of tasks such as sourcing, negotiating of funds, choosing the best shipment method, and managing paperwork. for them to be successful, they must know how to utilize technology to streamline these procedures to make them more effective. This can be utilizing software, tracking shipments, managing data, and automating tasks.
How to Become a Freight Broker
The minimum qualification to become a freight broker is to obtain a high school diploma and you should focus on subjects such as commerce, mathematics, and economics. Some freight brokers can enroll for their bachelor’s degree to be more qualified. They can enroll for a bachelor’s degree in logistics and supply chain management, business management, accounting, statistics, or any other field. This degree will give you knowledge about how to become a freight broker and it can help you harness some salient skills that will make you an excellent freight broker.
The next step is to acquire experience, you can get experience by enrolling in a particular company or organization for internship placement. This experience will expose you to learn about the company’s specific software and procedure. Freight brokers can also receive rain about rules and regulations in the industry, particularly the one that deals with the shipping of goods. A freight broker can also master the art of getting contacts and reaching out to them because this is one aspect employers checkmate when they are looking for candidates for freight brokerage jobs. Employees will consider a job candidate that has worked in another industry and has built contacts more than someone who has years of experience but no network. They can also pick up low-entry jobs that are similar to the job of a freight broker such as salesperson, logistics consultant, and any relevant role that is similar to the role of a freight broker to get experience.
To become a freight broker, you may need to earn some certification and licenses. You may need to earn a broker freight and each state has different procedures for earning a license. Most of these licenses require that you write an exam and pass it. The exams will be administered in such a way that they will test your knowledge with regard to freight brokering. You can also consider acquiring certification; you can get certified as a Certified Transportation Broker designation from the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA). Eligibility for certification mostly requires that you have working experience and education. Brokers are also mandated to complete a TIA training course and pass the exams.
Where to Work as a Freight Broker
Freight broker typically works in the transportation sector fulfilling the needs of clients with the available carriers and they negotiate effectively to get the best rates for their clients and also the best shipping method. Their work setting is an office environment, although they might be mandated to travel to meet with clients or to attend an important industry event. They usually work during regular business hours but they can be called upon at any time if the need arises. Their job can sometimes be stressful.
Freight Broker Salary Scale
The salary of a Freight Broker varies across countries and locations. Here are some countries below:
- In the United States, The average freight broker salary in the USA is $70,000 per year or $35.90 per hour. Entry-level positions start their career at $45,000 per year while most experienced workers make up to $107,500 per year. The average freight broker salary in Texas is $107,500 per year or $55.13 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $51,750 per year while most professional workers make up to $107,500 per year. The average freight broker salary in California is $107,500 per year or $55.13 per hour. Entry-level positions start their career at $102,500 per year while most experienced workers make up to $107,500 per year.
- In the United Kingdom, The average customs broker salary in the United Kingdom is £26,750 per year or £13.72 per hour. Entry-level positions start their career at £23,000 per year while most experienced workers make up to £30,000 per year.
- In Canada, The average freight broker salary in Canada is $107,500 per year or $55.13 per hour. Entry-level positions start their career at $50,000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $107,500 per year.
- In Australia, The average broker salary in Australia is $85,000 per year or $43.59 per hour. Entry-level positions start their career at $70,000 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $118,351 per year.