It should be defined as the art of being able to BS the best in the transportation business. Think about it. They are the people who talk you into taking loads you really do not want, going somewhere you really do not want to, for an amount of money you are not really happy with. In other words - nothing less than a telemarketer YOU call up. Brokers have the skill of talking you into going to the East Coast, in the middle of a blizzard, with no FSC, all by the sweetness of knowing how to talk to you. Plus flirting does not hurt either right?

It is like stepping onto a car lot and dealing with a sales person. You know the minute you decide you want a specific model of vehicle how much it is going to cost you. But yet you shop around looking for the best bargain to get the most for your money. Much is the same with brokering. You know what loads you want before you place the call or click on a link on the internet and you know exactly how much money you NEED in order to make a decent living.

We both know that in either scenario, 99% of the time you do not get what you want!

So how much of a percentage do brokers go for? 10%, 20%, or even 30%? Maybe even whatever they feel they can get away with! Only those who have served as brokers really know. How much do brokers pay when you are Power Only? And is there any room for giving someone FSC?

I am curious to know, what do you think a broker does get? Take this quick survey and I will post the results in about a week or so along with some facts that you may or may not know about the brokerage side of the business!

Until then I wanted to share a website with you that helps you identify problems with brokers:

Problems include companies and individuals posing as motor carriers who have engaged in unauthorized re-brokering of shipments; not showing and not calling; canceling after accepting load; holding loads hostage, back-soliciting shippers; making in-transit agreement modifications; theft of or unjustified loss of freight; and persistent canceling. TIA members will also be able to report on 3PLs that did one or more of the following: unauthorized brokering of shipment; payment issues; brokering freight without brokering or freight forwarding authority; operating without bond or trust fund; and operating under an unregistered alias.

This website is called: The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA).

Hopefully this will help you make an educated decision about a broker before you use them.