What does Freight Broker mean?

A freight broker is an intermediary that connects shippers who need goods moved with carriers that have the capacity to move them. The broker arranges and coordinates the transport but does not take physical control of the freight itself.

What a freight broker does

Brokers match loads to carriers, negotiate rates, and keep the handoff between shipper and carrier running smoothly so freight arrives safely and on time. By pooling the volume of many shippers, they can negotiate better rates and pass savings on. They also save shippers the time of sourcing, vetting and tracking a carrier for every load.

Freight broker vs freight forwarder

A broker only arranges the connection between shipper and carrier. A freight forwarder goes further, often handling documentation, customs and consolidation, and sometimes issuing its own transport documents. Both organise transport rather than performing it.

Whether you broker loads or run your own fleet, the planning is the same: matching loads to vehicles and costing each tour. In the Planner Module from IMPARGO the route, per-country toll and tour cost are calculated before a load is accepted.