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If you feel like it is time for a new challenge, perhaps you will consider a career as a freight broker.
Previous trucking, shipping, and receiving or dispatch experience would benefit you if you make this occupational move.
The outlook for this transportation job seems promising, and the percentage of career growth starts at a minimum of 2 percent.
Article Table of Contents
Freight Broker Duties in Florida
Florida freight brokers, also known as logistics coordinators or supply chain managers, typically work on the land.
However, you might also have duties that prepare for delivery to water shipping ports.
Then, a shipping forwarder would take over from there and send items across international waters.
For now, focus on what you would do if performing logistics broker duties in Florida:
- Delivery tracking – You would know where all shipments travel, and this includes all stopping points en route.
- Connection of services – As an expert in your field, you will understand your clients’ needs. This includes knowing how to offer exceptional delivery services to and from carriers for the least expensive rates.
- Client negotiation – Part of your job involves making deals with clients who want to secure your services for a rate that matches your service value. This requires some swift negotiation skills that you will learn when training for a logistic position.
- Freight service sales – When employed either as an independent contractor or direct-hire, you will take time recruiting new delivery clients. For every successful shipment, you will receive a commission.
- Security assurance – When offering your customers high-quality shipping solutions, you must know how to keep their merchandise safe and secure. Your training as a freight broker will educate you concerning all available theft, loss, and damage prevention. This includes knowing what to do if an unfortunate incident causing a delay does occur.
- Shipment scheduling – To provide the best possible service when your clients receive and send goods, you must have organizational skills. This includes advanced shipment scheduling expertise that could prevent incorrect deliveries and improve shipment efficiency.
- Logistics preparation – Responsibilities associated with preparing for deliveries fall on you as the freight broker. Make sure your carrier is ready for all shipments, including securing merchandise storage space.
- Overall management – Part of your role includes encouraging dispatchers, truck drivers, and carriers to operate in unity. Customer questions may also arise that you will have to answer, and this will require you to communicate with all involved parties.
Licensing Requirements to Become
In Florida, you will need to follow rules set by the Department of Transportation.
For instance, you will need to buy surety bonds and shipping insurance.
This will protect you against major financial loss if items become missing or damaged during shipment.
You will also need to complete the Federal Carrier Safety Administration registration forms and pay $300.
If you do not have the required Process Agent to represent you, you can become your own agent.
You will learn more about this when taking necessary or optional training courses before you become a broker.
For now, understand that it may take up to at least six weeks for the FCSA to process your freight broker application.
Once you have received the approval to perform broker duties, you must wait 10 days to start serving your customers.
However, there is no harm in securing your clients before you officially obtain your license.
Note that you will need to mail in your brokerage licensing forms.
No online services are provided as of January 2021.
Florida Freight Broker Programs
Several schools in Orlando, Miami, Pompano Beach, Middleburg, Tampa, and more do offer in-person or online training.
Check requirements for each track to see which one suits you the most.
Schools include the University of Central Florida, Remington College, and Hillsborough Community College.
If they do not have the exact program you want, a related transportation course might apply.
Programs you might consider if you want to become a freight broker include any involving business administration or accounting.
In addition, you could pursue marketing or management courses.
Any class that teaches about e-commerce, supply chain management, logistics, or customer service would also help you achieve your freight brokerage career goals.
Minimum program durations for certificates usually total about six months or less.
However, you can further your education and acquire an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, but that depends on your vocational goals.
Salary
Starting salaries range from approximately $31,000-$35,000 starting in 2021.
You will earn more as you gain the experience, which you might gain while already working.
Seeking continued education will also prepare you for new industry demands as technology changes.
You may end up making at least $56,000 or more per year eventually if you stay in the profession long enough.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Jacksonville | $49,994 |
| Miami | $51,350 |
| Tampa | $50,205 |
| St. Petersburg | $50,216 |
| Hialeah | $50,954 |
| Orlando | $50,179 |
| Fort Lauderdale | $51,223 |
| Tallahassee | $47,842 |
| Hollywood | $51,223 |
| Pembroke Pines | $50,891 |
Regional Salary in Florida
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL | 190 | $54,230 | $26.07 | $69,910 | $39,480 |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | 40 | $54,170 | $26.04 | $66,620 | $33,030 |
| Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL | 160 | $52,660 | $25.32 | $72,560 | $38,490 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 990 | $52,290 | $25.14 | $64,430 | $39,740 |
| Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL | 200 | $49,710 | $23.9 | $61,390 | $36,820 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 4,510 | $55,230 | $26.55 | $85,920 | $35,340 |
| Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL | ** | $65,050 | $31.27 | $88,380 | $45,410 |
| North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL | 150 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 780 | $55,610 | $26.74 | $75,860 | $36,410 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | 30 | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - | - NA - |
| Tallahassee, FL | 30 | $52,620 | $25.3 | $74,540 | $26,300 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 700 | $55,270 | $26.57 | $72,730 | $40,000 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do freight brokers work for?
You can either secure a position at the company you already are with if they have job openings.
They might even offer you funding for the training.
Otherwise, you would complete the process of becoming your own agent and secure your own clients.
How do I find customers who need my services?
Word of mouth will help you.
Ask everyone you know who might have access to information about transportation services.
Furthermore, you can interact with locals at places you stop when traveling.
Ask your instructor for information while still enrolled in school too.
Do I need a license if I am a direct-hire?
You will not need a license if you want to work for a company as a freight broker instead of venturing out on your own.
Even if you do want to become your own boss someday, experience as a direct employer will provide you with a stable income for now.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Freight Broker
Freight Broker License by State
You certainly captured my interest by saying that our freight broker must be properly insured and authorized to void any legal repercussions in the future. I’ll try to keep this information in mind when making further arrangements some time later. I have a few old furniture which I plan to donate to a soup kitchen at the other side of the country.