Any brokers here? What is a broker?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by curtis50, May 24, 2008.

  1. curtis50

    curtis50 Bobtail Member

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    May 24, 2008
    Mora, NM
    0
    Intro: Hello, from New Mexico. A friend and I have a trucking business. We run it by ourselves. My friend is more of the person who does the trucking work and has the mechanic skills...etc etc... I am more of the student and computer guy and paperwork...

    Now my question is what subjects should I research in order to become a "broker" which my friend wants me to cover. From what he explained he said we have different types of loads, and a couple drivers ready. He said basically I need to find people who need loads and people who needs drivers, this was the gist of what a "broker" in trucking does. If I am wrong correct me.

    Now with that said, so far I have checked out sites like (Moderator removed dead link). Is this pretty much the standard way of doing this? What other ways are there? Any advice will be really appreciated! Thanks
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 24, 2008
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  3. Radman56

    Radman56 Bobtail Member

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    May 2, 2008
    Vancouver, WA
    0
    A broker is an intermediary between a trucking company and a company that needs a truck. A broker will put the two together for a fee. The fee is usually based on what the company is willing to pay for the load and what the trucker will haul the load for. The difference being the profit that the broker gets.

    A broker is required to hold a bond and an MC number, or they may be able to operate as a Freight Forwarder. You can research all of this on google by using some keywords such as Freight Broker or Freight Forwarder.

    HOWEVER......
    It seems that you already have the basics set up for you. From what I am reading...... Your friend has trucks and needs someone to find him freight. There is no reason to go to a "brokers school" It is the old supply and demand situation here. What you need to do is research what companies are paying to have freight hauled and what truckers are charging to haul freight. You will have to do a BUNCH of cold calling to establish new customers. Advertise that you have trucks available on loadboards.


    I hope I have answered some of your questions in my ramblings here. It is a complex, dawg-eat-dawg business but you have ONE resource that "brokers" normally DON'T have.......your own trucks.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 26, 2008
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