Many companies that ship their products are contracted with trucking companies but a significant number of them let their shipping be handled be managed by a freight agent. The freight agent becomes the intermediary between the shipper of cargo and a trucker or carrier who will move the freight to its destination.
Freight agents may work independently or employed by brokerage firms. The work of a freight agent is hard and challenging but it is also rewarding since most trucking companies depend on freight agents for their business.
Some of the benefits a freight agent enjoys are the following:
- More income – Freight agents work on commission. The more cargo they ship, the more money they can make. There is no limit to how much a freight agent can make. As long as they can bring in clients, their commission will keep on coming.
- Move more freight – Access to various software and the use of state-of-the-art computers and hand-held devices enable a freight agent to schedule simultaneous shipments to various destinations. They can handle multiple transactions at the same time through Internet communication, such as tracking of shipment and informing clients of expected time of delivery, and others.
- Freedom to work – Because of advancements in communication technology, a freight agent can work from the comfort of their home, from a restaurant, or any other place convenient to them. They can come and go as they please. They can look for new clients or just stay with the current clients.
- Start their own business – A freight broker can learn the ins and outs of the shipping business. Once they get enough experience and after learning the intricacies of the business, the commissions they have accumulated through the years might be used as their capital to start their own business.
There are a lot of opportunities in store for a hard-working freight agent. The industry is huge and there are so many avenues to explore.