Are you trying to land a new job as a freight broker? Maybe you’re looking to get started as a freight agent with a company. In this blog, I’m going to break down the different ways you can go about applying for freight broker jobs and checking out the companies that offer them.
Job Boards
When I say job boards, I’m talking about the big companies like Indeed and Zip Recruiter. You can post your resume online and search for jobs by title, location, salary, and other filters. This is a great way to see what’s available in your area and even national-wide if the work is remote. You’ll want to search for job titles that are commonly used in freight brokering such as “freight broker”, “logistics account executive”, “logistics coordinator”, or “freight dispatcher” to name a few. If you are posting your resume, you can even list your desire to work for a freight brokerage in your objective statement. That’ll help you rank higher in a recruiter’s search results if they are targeting people with freight broker experience for example. This method works for both W2 freight brokers and freight agents. Keep in mind that W-2 freight brokers typically work in a company’s office, receive training, and earn a salary, while freight agents tend to work fully remote and only receive commission. A lot of the W-2 positions are entry-level while freight agents opportunities usually require some experience, so make sure you read the job titles and descriptions in detail and apply for roles that best fit your situation.
Company Websites
Next, there’s a company’s website. The bigger the company, the more likely they are to have a section of their website dedicated to recruiting new employees or independent agents depending on their business model. A company’s website will usually give you a really good idea of their culture and give you a bit of insight into what working with them is really like. In addition to job descriptions, you can typically find the company’s history, pictures of the work environment, and testimonials from others that are part of their organization. Take a look at how long they’ve been in business. You’re more likely to succeed with an organization that’s been around a decade or longer compared to a startup freight brokerage. You should be in control of your own destiny instead of wondering if their doors will be open or not in a year. If you’re interested in working as a W-2 employee for a brokerage, you can even get an idea of the upward mobility they offer to employees. Take a look at what jobs are posted. Is it just one job title, or do they have openings to sales, operations, team leaders, and managers? This will tell you if you have the ability to move up the ladder at their organization. For freight agents, it’s usually just one type of role since they build their own agency however they see fit. If you’re looking for freight agent opportunities with a company, do some in-depth research on what they offer their agents. You should be able to find out what kind of commission agents earn, what software and technology they provide, and what minimum requirements they are looking for in new agents such as experience and an existing book of business or customers they want you to bring with you. A reputable company should be very transparent in what they offer, and if they’re not, it might be a red flag as to why they aren’t upfront about their offering.
Traditional Networking
Finally, there’s always the traditional method of networking with others in your social community. This could be social media or simply the people you know in life. Maybe you know someone that owns a brokerage or you’re connected in a group online that’s dedicated to the freight community. You’ll often find business owners and recruiters sharing information online about their job openings and recruiting efforts for both W2 employees and 1099 independent agents. For someone that is newer and wants to get started as an agent, this might be your best bet. Since most of the larger agent-based companies want experience and a customer base before they will even consider you, old-school networking can be a game changer if you don’t meet those requirements. Get connected and engage with the brokers in your network. They might not have an established freight agent program yet, but maybe you're the right person to be their first agent. Every agent-based brokerage has to have its first agent, and it usually starts through traditional networking and taking a chance on a skilled salesperson that can learn quickly and has an entrepreneurial spirit.
Don’t forget to take your time and do your due diligence when looking at freight broker jobs. Ask lots of questions, and even consider asking to talk candidly with someone else that works for their company. Not all companies are created, managed, or led equally. It’s up to you to make sure you’re vetting your next employer as much as they’re vetting their next employee or agent.
