How to Become a Freight Broker in Idaho

If you are looking to make a career move, or a move into a proper and sustainable career, becoming a freight broker is an option you should consider.

When a company needs to move goods from one place to another, they involve a shipping company.

The latter must then employ carriers that can actually transport the items in a timely way.

A freight broker helps connect shipping companies to carriers.

Duties and Responsibilities of a Freight Broker in Idaho

Communication, coordination, and organization are the primary skills required of a freight broker.

The vendors—that, is the shipping companies—will depend on you to hook them up with carriers that can deliver goods at the right place and time.

To deliver the services and solutions your clients need, you must become intimately familiar with the carrier industry.

You must master the transportation assets, capacities, and capabilities of each company and develop insight into what each one can and cannot do.

It is also important to establish good working relationships with both shipping companies and carrier companies.

Boise, Meridian, and Nampa are the largest cities in Idaho.

They are also the primary commercial, transportation, and logistical hubs in the state.

These are the cities you are likely to work in if you pursue a career as a freight broker.

If you decide to enter this field with no experience, then it is best to work for an established freight brokerage company.

This is the best way to learn the business.

It is also the easiest way to cultivate the contacts and business relationships you will need if you ever decide to start your own brokerage firm or become an independent broker.

What is Required to Become a Freight Broker in Idaho?

The industry is largely unregulated in the state.

However, federal law requires that you have, at a minimum, a high school diploma or GED and a government-issued license.

The best way to get hired by an established freight broker firm is to enroll in a training program.

Here are some of the better programs in the state of Idaho:

Freight Broker Boot Camp

This program has had success in getting students jobs in the industry.

The course of training is entirely online.

It costs $98.

Paying this fee gives you access to six months of workflow diagrams, training articles, negotiating methods, financial strategies, and other valuable bits of information.

One of the great advantages of this program is that you can go at your own pace.

It is perfect for people who must still work a full-time job while training for a future career in freight brokering.

Brooke Training

In this program, students learn basic and advanced freight broker techniques.

If you are a military veteran, you can attend for free.

All students receive job placement assistance after completing the course.

This is another program that can be done online.

There is also the option of attending in-person classes.

Freight Movers School

This program offers courses in the basics of freight brokering.

Idaho residents must take the course online, as in-person classes are only available in Texas and Georgia.

When You Are Ready to Become an Independent Freight Broker

The above programs will help you enter the field.

Once you have completed them and spent some time working with an established firm, you will have what it takes to become an independent broker.

When you reach this point, you will have to register your company as a business.

This can be highly profitable, but it does require you to go through a state-mandated certification process.

To register your freight broker company, you will need to obtain a U.S. Department of Transportation number.

You will then need to submit this to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

To do so, you will need to fill out and send in an application along with a $300 application fee.

It usually takes four to six weeks for the application to be approved.

This is all that you need to do to operate as an independent freight broker.

However, you may find some advantages in earning special credentials that distinguish you from competitors.

One of the most distinguished credentials you can earn is to become recognized as a Certified Transportation Broker.

To get this credential, you must take an exam administered by the Transportation Intermediaries Association.

Having this certification will give you access to higher-end clients who insist on working with the most highly qualified professionals.

Salary

The current salary range for freight broker agents in Idaho is between $31,441 and $35,517.

However, this is an estimate of the salaries of those working as agents for a larger firm.

If you decide to become an independent broker, you have the potential to earn much more money.

Your pay can go as high as $70,000.

As of 2016, there were 90 freight brokers in Idaho.

That number is expected to rise considerably over the next decade.

Regional Salary in Idaho

Freight Broker License by State