Guides for freight brokers
Practical, sourced guides on starting and running a brokerage: licensing, carrier onboarding, fraud prevention, EDI, tracking, billing and choosing a TMS.
9 min readAccessorial charges explained: detention, TONU, layover, lumper and moreDetention, layover, TONU, lumper and LTL fees: how each accessorial is triggered, how it is usually billed, what proof gets it paid, and how…
6 min readAI agents for freight brokers: what they automate and what still needs a personWhat AI agents actually do for freight brokers in 2026, what TMS vendors and agent companies are shipping, where a person stays in charge,…
6 min readCarrier onboarding: the carrier packet checklist brokers actually needWhat goes in a carrier setup packet, how to verify each document against FMCSA and the source, how to monitor carriers after setup, and…
7 min readCustom TMS development cost and timeline: build vs buyWhat drives the cost and timeline of a custom TMS, when buying is the better call, and what you should own when the build…
7 min readEDI for freight brokers: 204, 214, 210 and 990 explainedHow the EDI 204, 990, 214 and 210 move on a brokered load, how VAN, AS2 and API connections differ, what EDI integration costs,…
8 min readFreight broker TMS pricing in 2026: what 12 vendors chargeEvery published broker TMS tier from 12 vendors, the math for a 5-person and a 15-person brokerage, and a checklist of fees that show…
6 min readFreight fraud and double brokering: a prevention playbook for brokersHow stolen carrier identities, double brokering and fictitious pickups work, the verified numbers behind them, and the checks, payment controls and reporting steps that…
6 min readHow freight brokers find shippers (and loads)A practical prospecting playbook for freight brokers: niches, prospect lists, first calls, load boards, RFPs and bid platforms, government freight, and a follow-up cadence.
6 min readHow much do freight brokers make? Salary, commission and marginsWhat freight brokers earn, from BLS wage data to commission plans and agent splits, plus the per-load margin math behind every paycheck in a…
6 min readHow to become a freight broker: paths, timeline, pay, and a 90-day planThe honest path into freight brokerage: agent vs your own authority, the skills that matter, training options, federal pay data, and a 90-day plan…
7 min readHow to choose a freight broker TMS: a buyer’s checklistA buyer's checklist for freight brokers: what to write down first, what to make vendors show live, contract and data export questions, and migration…
7 min readHow to start a freight brokerage in 2026: license, bond, and first loadsThe 2026 path to broker authority: Motus registration, the $300 fee, BOC-3, the $75,000 bond or trust, UCR, insurance, carrier setup, software, and first…
8 min readLoad tracking and check calls: manual, app-based, ELD and AIManual check calls, driver app tracking, ELD feeds and AI voice check calls compared, with a tracking exception process built for brokers who can't…
6 min readLTL vs FTL: how to choose (with partial truckload)How LTL, partial truckload and FTL differ on handling, pricing and paperwork, what the July 2025 NMFC density change means, and when brokers use…
7 min readRate confirmation checklist: 15 things to check before you dispatchFifteen checks for every rate con before dispatch: rate and accessorials, stops and appointment times, time zones, references, payment terms, signatures and versions.