A Freight Broker is a professional who plays a crucial role in the logistics and transportation industry. Acting as the intermediary between shippers and carriers, a Freight Broker facilitates the efficient movement of goods from one point to another. In this blog post, we describe the primary responsibilities and the most in-demand hard and soft skills for Freight Brokers.

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Main Responsibilities of a Freight Broker

The following list describes the typical responsibilities of a Freight Broker:

Achieve

Achieve targeted cost efficiencies and savings on freight movements.

Adapt

Adapt to changes in the transportation landscape.

Analyze

• Analyze and interpret market data.

• Analyze market trends and pricing strategies.

Answer

Answer customers queries regarding the availability of trucks and the cost of haulage.

Assign

Assign pickup and delivery expedite and dedicated work to drivers.

Assist in

Assist in the resolution of transportation-related emergencies.

Book

• Book shipments and provide rate quotations based on established mileage rates.

• Book, track, trace update and problem solve all of your clients freight needs.

Build

• Build freight volume and ensure optimal revenue for the company.

• Build long-lasting relationships with clients so you're their go to freight broker.

Collaborate with

Collaborate with other logistics professionals.

Communicate

• Communicate load statuses, issues and concerns to sales representatives.

• Communicate with carriers and the customers to resolve any discrepancies.

Conduct

Conduct online research and utilize resources to identify new opportunities and prospect potential.

Coordinate

Coordinate the transportation of goods from origin to destination.

Develop

• Develop and execute marketing strategies.

• Develop and maintain relationships with shippers and carriers.

• Develop customer relationships to secure freight.

• Develop strong carrier relationships to ensure high levels of service and communication.

Direct

Direct Carrier Procurement team in both tactical and strategic activities.

Drive

Drive profit (margin) through effective negotiation.

Ensure

• Ensure all activities are compliant with industry laws and regulations.

• Ensure carrier compliance with company policies and procedures.

• Ensure compliance with environmental regulations.

• Ensure compliance with safety regulations.

• Ensure times of pickups and delivery times are accurately recorded.

Enter

Enter shipment information into the computer system accurately and efficiently.

Establish

Establish relationships with customers.

Evaluate

Evaluate carrier performance and reliability.

Exceed

Exceed all standards for prospecting calls, presentations, proposals and closes.

Extend

Extend credit to, invoice and collect from your customers.

Follow

Follow all company policies, ethics and company procedures.

Generate

• Generate and manage freight documentation.

• Generate weekly reports including business unit revenue, net, margin, and key performance indicators.

Handle

Handle claims and insurance processes.

Identify

• Identify and develop synergies for commodity movement.

• Identify new carrier opportunities.

• Identify technological strengths and weaknesses and work with IT on approved projects.

Implement

• Implement cost-saving strategies.

• Implement technology solutions for efficiency.

Input

Input pickup information into a computerized dispatch system and rate shipments.

Learn

Learn each team's key responsibilities and workflow.

Listen

Listen and communicate effectively with other non-driving staff.

Maintain

• Maintain an ongoing relationship with the customer.

• Maintain & develop your existing accounts, prospect for new ones.

• Maintain reliable communications with sales team and customer to support and resolve any problems.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of geography and routes.

Manage

• Manage a database of carriers and shippers.

• Manage and grow existing accounts to maximize margin abilities.

• Manage and resolve carrier payment discrepancies.

• Manage outbound and inbound freight.

• Manage your own book of business.

Monitor

Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs).

Negotiate

• Negotiate contracts and rate agreements.

• Negotiate pricing and prepare quotes for clients.

• Negotiate rates with carriers and customers.

• Negotiate rates with customers and carriers.

• Negotiate shipping rates with carriers.

• Negotiate transportation rates, issue rate confirmations and dispatch freight.

• Negotiate with the best carriers to provide the best service to our customers.

• Negotiate with trucking companies to select carriers.

Obtain

Obtain and enter carrier quotes and capacity into the system.

Optimize

Optimize routes for cost efficiency.

Perform

• Perform all other position related duties as assigned or requested.

• Perform track and trace functions to ensure on-time deliveries to customers.

Plan

• Plan, direct and redirect drivers as needed when a breakdown or other issues arise.

• Plan transportation of the loads and dispatch drivers accordingly.

Process

Process internal administration documents.

Prospect

Prospect for customers leads to build a customer sales pipeline.

Provide

• Provide access to Challenger carriers.

• Provide access to Load boards such as Loadlink, Internet Truck Stop, and DAT.

• Provide all insurance and liability requirements.

• Provide a solution based sales approach to drive new business across multiple lines of business.

• Provide documented activity reports of your sales efforts on a daily, weekly and monthly basis.

• Provide exceptional customer service.

• Provide friendly, positive and helpful service to all clients, customers, and drivers.

• Provide guidance on shipping options.

• Provide solutions to your customers' freight needs by sourcing assets and partner providers.

• Provide timely and accurate information to clients.

Receive

Receive incoming calls from customers.

Report

• Report and monitor all delays.

• Report business account activities.

Research

Research and stay updated on industry regulations.

Resolve

Resolve issues and discrepancies with shipments.

Secure

• Secure adequate capacity for company products.

• Secure and book freight with appropriate carriers.

Source

Source and match drivers with loads.

Stay informed about

Stay informed about industry innovations.

Support

Support of professional memberships and certifications.

Take

• Take ownership of assigned tasks finding ways to gain efficiencies.

• Take that first one by applying to be a Senior Freight Broker Carrier Sales Specialist.

Track

• Track shipments from origin to destination.

• Track shipments in real-time.

Understand

• Understand and support the goals, policies, and procedures of Velocity Transport.

• Understand current market conditions and business trends to opportunities to grow margins.

Update

Update relevant sales activities in the CRM.

Utilize

• Utilize the sales pipeline system (CRM) for tracking and maintaining all sales functions.

• Utilize transportation management systems (TMS).

Work with

• Work closely with the internal stakeholders to ensure best in class performance in the logistics.

• Work with Account Managers and the Customer Onboarding Team.

• Work with the Challenger operations team to provide solutions to your customers.

Most In-demand Hard Skills

The following list describes the most required technical skills of a Freight Broker:

1. Proficiency in transportation management systems (TMS).

2. Advanced data analysis skills.

3. Knowledge of logistics software.

4. Familiarity with industry regulations and compliance.

5. Expertise in route optimization software.

6. Strong mathematical and analytical skills.

7. Excellent communication and negotiation skills.

8. Ability to use GPS and tracking tools.

9. Competence in risk management.

10. Efficient use of freight management technology.

11. Understanding of supply chain management.

12. Geographic knowledge for efficient route planning.

13. Mastery of documentation software.

14. Familiarity with customs regulations.

15. Financial acumen for cost analysis.

16. Capacity to assess carrier reliability.

17. Time management skills for multitasking.

18. Fluency in relevant industry terminology.

19. Adaptability to emerging technologies.

20. Knowledge of warehousing and distribution processes.

Most In-demand Soft Skills

The following list describes the most required soft skills of a Freight Broker:

1. Effective communication and interpersonal skills.

2. Strong negotiation abilities.

3. Problem-solving and critical thinking.

4. Customer service orientation.

5. Adaptability to changing situations.

6. Time management and organizational skills.

7. Attention to detail.

8. Relationship-building and networking.

9. Stress management in high-pressure situations.

10. Team collaboration and leadership.

Conclusion

In the dynamic world of freight brokerage, possessing a blend of technical expertise and interpersonal skills is essential for success. Aspiring Freight Brokers can use this comprehensive guide to align themselves with the industry's expectations and enhance their capabilities for a thriving career.