Requirements for Becoming a Freight Broker

Another requirement that is relatively new is called the Unified Carrier Registration (UCR)

For those applicants who have good credit, the total costs on these registrations run about $1,366 to get started.

For those applicants who do NOT have good credit, other programs are available but will involve paying in more money to build their own $10,000 trust fund.

Office Set Up
To operate smoothly, each freight broker will need at least:
1. A reliable computer with preferably a high speed connection
2. Preferably two telephone lines - can be either land based, cell or Internet phone
3. Faxing capability - can be either land based or Internet fax
4. A filing cabinet

Personal skills
1. Telephone skills
2. Research skills - Internet and other
3. Negotiating skills
4. Organizational skills
5. Basic computer skills
6. Working knowledge of MSWord and MSExcel
7. Ability to sit for hours making phone calls
8. Enough capital to carry personal living expenses for a year or more

Here is more .....
1. A background in trucking is NOT required. Learning and applying good, fundamental business skills IS required,
2. No background check is required,
3. There is no age limit to get your broker authority,
4. You can work off of your kitchen table - no one cares,
5. Your broker authority is issued by the Federal Dept of Transportation - there are no state licensing requirements