Freight Trucking Brokers
How to Choose A Freight Broker
A freight broker's job is all about logistics. The broker liaises between manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors to ensure safe and punctual transportation of goods to the designated destination point of resale. Profit on the transactions is known as freight brokerage.
As a profession, it has its origins at the early part of the last century.Licensed brokers are either companies or individuals, and the companies which contract them may rely wholly on them for their shipping needs, thus doing away with the need for a department of their own. There are currently about four thousand licensed freight brokers in the U.S., although only about half work as such full time.Formal qualifications are not a legal necessity, although there are institutions offering training in the speciality and issue diplomas. Licenses are issued by Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)and they must prove adequate insurance coverage to cover client losses in order to be able to operate.
When choosing a freight broker, bear this point in mind.Check carefully, because for-hire motor carrier authority is not the same thing. Multiple transportation modes are a must. Three should be alternatives available if anything goes wrong during the operation. How does the broker choose its carriers? Their selection criteria are very important. Not all carriers are equally trustworthy or reliable. The lines of communication are vital in this industry. Ask brokers how they match loads to carriers, how they confirm correct pick-up and even view a selection of correspondence.
Information on freight companies is freely available on website directories, such as American Freight Companies at FreightCenter.com. This useful resource lists freight companies according to twelve categories: companies are listed in up to twelve different categories: Freight Companies, Common Carriers, Shipping Companies, Trucking Companies, Motor Freight, Freight Services,Truck Load Freight, Furniture Shipping,Rail Freight and Special Freight Services. All the listed freight carriers have negotiated some kind of discount with American Freight Companies. How long has the company been operating? The first couple of years of any new business are fraught with problems and cash flow difficulties. An established company has proved its worth. If you do not know much about a freight broker, use this as your basic criterion.
Membership of the industry trade group Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) voluntarily abide by a strict code of ethics, so you are on to a safe bet if you opt for one of these companies. For all transactions with a freight broker, make sure you have a written contract. This will avoid problems later on about establishing responsibilities. You can visit http://www.best-freight-brokers.com to find more information about dealing with freight brokers.
Find out if they have ancillary services, and if so, what they cover. Ask them to explain processes ? the more communicative they are about their procedures, the higher chance it is a reliable firm. You should also always ask up front for an estimate of the costs of your operation and compare this to other freight brokers'.
Kelly Hunter operates http://www.best-freight-brokers.com and writes about Freight Brokers.
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