FAQ's

 

 

1. What is a Property Broker?

A Property Broker is the term established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a division of the United States Department of Transportation, to describe licensed individuals, or companies, who help make a shipper and an authorized carrier successful in the transporting of freight.

 

2. What are the requirements of an FMCSA Property Broker?

Each company or entity is required to obtain a "surety bond" with an approved bank or insurance company, and maintain "process service" agents in all 48 contiguous states.

 

3. What is a surety bond?

Each company or entity must prove they are capable of paying the various truck lines, airlines, railroads, or any other entity being used by the broker.

An individual's credit, and/or financial strength, is investigated with extreme thoroughness. Only then is a "bond" issued.

Accordingly, if for some reason the broker fails to pay the transportation company, the bonding company must pay. As you can imagine, the bonding company is very careful about who they insure.

 

4. Is this a growing sector of the transportation industry?

As of this writing, there are over 14,000 licensed transportation brokers in the United States of which only 50% are operating in a full time manner. Freight Brokers accounted for over 10%, around $60 billion, in revenues from the Transportation Industry. In a recent article, the Wall Street Journal reported "transportation brokerage, and logistics" as the fastest growing segment of the transportation industry.

 

5. Does a brokerage company carry cargo and liability insurance to protect its clients' interests?

By law, a broker is not required to carry cargo or liability insurance.

 

6. What do I need to get started?

If you want to become a Broker (start your own company), you will need a computer, telephone, and fax machine. In addition, you will need to obtain the 3 legal documents listed below:

•    Broker's Authority: through the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration) - $300. We teach our Freight Broker Training students to properly fill out the OP-1 and file for your authority.

•    Surety Bond or Trust Fund: obtained from a local bank or bonding company. As of 2013 brokers are required to carry a $75,000 surety bond. A bond works much like an insurance policy. The form to be filed is either the BMC 84 or 85 depending on whether you obtain a bond or trust. Several bonding companies have creative, aggressive ways to get a 75 bond. We teach those ways in our freight broker course.

•    Processing Agent: Approximately $50 so that in case you ever have a lawsuit filed against you, a lawyer from that state will call and inform you of the claim. The form to be filed is the BOC-3.

If you want to become an Agent, you will only need a computer, phone, and fax machine.

 

7. Can I work from home?

YES! It is a great place to start your small business and will keep your expenses down until you have enough financial resources to open up an office.

 

8. How long will it take for my business to become profitable?

This is a relationship business and relationships take time to develop. Typically it will take 2-6 months to show a profit, but it has been accomplished in less time and in more time. You can generate revenue as soon as you become licensed. Your success depends on many factors, including your level of determination, your attention to detail, and your genuine desire to help your CUSTOMERS succeed.

 

9. What is the difference between a Broker and an Agent?

A Broker owns his/her own company and must obtain all of his/her own legal documents to get started.

An Agent works for an established Broker under the Broker's legal documents. It is typically an all-commission position.

 

10. How long have you all been training?

 The curriculum for the basic course has been developed by transportation professionals with over 50 years of combined experience.

 

 

11. How much money can I expect to make?

As a full-time Broker or Agent, you can make anywhere from $40,000 to well over $150,000 after you have developed you client database. As time goes on, and you continue to secure customers, your revenue will also grow. You set your own limits.

 

12. How do I find customers?

During class we will show Freight Broker Training students a number of different resources for finding customers, including publications, associations, reference sources, internet resources, etc. FOR FREE!!!

 

13. What kind of licensing or bonds do I need to be a freight broker agent?

You absolutely do not need to buy a license or a bond to be a freight broker agent. Working as a freight broker agent is similar in many ways to being a realtor, insurance agent or hair stylist. The company you work under pays many of the costs needed to run the brokerage so you don't have to.

Others may convince you to spend 1000s on a freight broker license and bond that you don’t need as an agent. Other schools sell licenses and bonds, we do not.

 

14. How do I decide whether to start my own brokerage or be an agent for another?

There are many factors in making this decision. Money, experience and time are three major factors. You will need 3 - 6 months living expenses saved to live on while you get your business established. If you open your own brokerage you will need additional moneys for start up costs.

The support from working as an agent and learning from their experience is invaluable.

Establishing your own brokerage will take more time than becoming an agent. All of these issues are discussed more thoroughly in our training course.

 

15. Do I need a lawyer or other type of professional to file for motor carrier and/or property broker authority?

No. The Federal Motor Carrier Administration’s website has all the forms and instructions you need to file for motor carrier and/or property broker authority. They also accept questions by phone: 1-800-832-5660.

 

16. Can an expert speed up the process of getting my authority?

No. The process speed is the same no matter who applies. You will be given a temporary MC number instantly. That MC number will become permanent and active after a 10-day waiting period once you have met the bond and BOC-3 requirements.

 

17. How qualified are Brooke’s teachers?

Our instructors are experts in their fields and experienced teachers. They developed the curriculum; lesson plans and take home materials from the knowledge they learned as successful freight brokers.

 

18. Are there different levels of broker certification (i.e., Master Broker, Diamond, Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Journeyman Broker)?

There is only one level of broker certification, Property Broker, commonly called a Freight Broker. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) does not recognize any other title than Property Broker.

 

Additional Info....

 

In the field of freight logistics there are no limits...

 

The trucking industry in the U.S. employs around 9 million people, and of that number, 3.5 million are truckers. Two million tractor trailer trucks regularly operate on U.S. highways. These trucks are usually one of three categories: “flatbed,” “dry van” or a “refrigerated unit (reefers). It is estimated there are over 500,000 trucking companies. 

 

In 2008, there were about 45,000 people working as cargo and freight agents. In this decade, this figure is expected to increase by about 25%, which will be over 10,000 agents. This is far greater growth than the average for other occupations.

 

Freight that is being shipped from Point A to Point B needs a person who is known as a “freight agent” to arrange and coordinate the transportation of the freight.

 

Welcome to Freight Broker Training Inc. and to an 

industry where you set the limits!!! 

 

Our mission is to give you a thorough understanding of the motor freight industry by creating a foundation of knowledge in which to build on for years to come. Due to our Accelerated Training Program, you’ll embrace years of experience in a fraction of the time and expense. 

 

There are many elements of the transportation infrastructure including: air, sea, railways and motor freight. Our focus is to help you master one area of this industry... brokering “motor freight” transported via commercial trucks.

 

Entrepreneur magazine has rated the freight brokering business as one of the top home-based businesses to own. A recent Wall Street Journal article cited freight brokering and logistics as the largest growing sector of the transportation industry. 

 

Regardless of the state of our national economy, there will always be a need for the transportation of goods, products, and other related services. Transportation is critical to economic and social survival and will never subside. 

 

We believe the only way to truly succeed in the freight business is through honesty, integrity and customer-focused service. It is only through these ethical values that one can expect to be successful. Therefore, we are dedicated to teaching you a step-by-step process that is performed each and every time to ensure success.

 

A motivated and disciplined freight agent, who has received the proper training, can build up his or her business into a six-figure-earning potential. It is an ideal home business for a self-starter who enjoys fast-paced work.

 

At  Freight Broker Training Inc. we believe that the right decision is in allowing us to prepare you to take your place in the transportation industry. 

 

We all know that if we are going to be successful in any business, proper training is the key. Just having a license, an office, a computer, a cell phone, a good personality, sales experience and cash does not mean you will be successful in the freight industry.

 

It means knowing your chosen field inside and out. This is especially true in the Freight Brokering side of the transportation industry. 

 

A business where time is of the essence and a mistake could cost you dearly. You have to be a salesman, an accountant, and an intermediary all rolled into one. 

 

Just as you would not go to a hair stylist for a broken arm or to an accountant for a toothache so why trust your broker training to someone who hasn’t been there and done that? 

 

Your success depends on your knowledge. And your knowledge depends on your receiving the proper training. And your training needs to come from someone who knows the freight broker industry inside and out. This needs to be someone who has had the experience in dealing with carriers, building customer bases, and knows how to negotiate rates. 

 

If a company doesn’t have a person or persons on staff who is extremely experienced in every aspect of the freight industry, it is highly unlikely you could expect to receive proper training.

 

Nor do you have to spend thousands of dollars on a five-day class or a weekend seminar that once its over, its over. Most often that is exactly what it is for the student.... "over"! Because it takes far more than mere "classroom training" to become a successful freight broker.

 

Proper freight broker training should cover where, what, when, why, who, and how.

 

You can’t be a success if you don’t know where to start, what to say, whom to ask, when to listen, why it’s done a certain way, and how to do it that way.

 

There is not way to get around it! "Proper training" is imperative for "success" in "any" business.

 

We have a lot to offer here... "years of experience" in every aspect of the freight industry, teachers who know "how to teach," our Accelerated Modular Training Program" and much more!!!

 

Just as a journey begins with the first step... so it is with learning how to broker freight. The good news is A1 stands ready to assist you in every step of the way to acheiving your goal of becoming a successful freight broker.

 

Our goal is to couple yesterday’s integrity with modern cutting-edge technology. 

 

We hope you make the "right choice" and choose Freight Broker Training Inc. to help prepare you to take your place along side the many other professional freight brokers who are earning an excellent income in the freight industry.

 

It is also important for you to know that we are foremost a company of "integrity."  There is only one way to do things and that is the right way. We do not allow any kind of "compromise" or "grey areas."

 

The Bible records in Psalms 78:72 that King David took care of Israel according to the integrity in his heart and guided Israel by the skilfulness of his hands.

 

You can expect the same thing from our staff at Freight Broker Training Inc.. We will take care of you by the "integrity" of our hearts and we will teach you how to be one of the best freight agents/brokers in the business... from the "skills" we have acquired from our 30+ years of experience in the freight industry.

 

Now it is a good time to browse through our web pages... then please feel call us with any additional questions you may have.

 

NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO ALSO "CHECK OUT" 

FREIGHT BROKER TRAINING PROGRAM.

 

 

 

 

Also, Check out our special offer on the Curriculum Page!