Becoming a Freight Broker in Hawaii – Get Your License
Freight brokering is a promising career path for you if you are goal-oriented and an excellent communicator. With the ever-growing need to get freights from one place to another, shippers are always on the outlook for freight brokers who can take care of their needs without any problem.
As a freight broker, you will serve as an intermediary between a shipper and a carrier. It is your duty to make sure that freights are transported to the desired location using efficient and appropriate carriers. Brokering is an excellent avenue for you to tap into this high-demand business and use your problem-solving and communication skills.
What Skills Do You Need as a Freight Broker?
Freight brokering is not a career for just anyone. To succeed in this business, there are fundamental skills you must possess. These skills will help boost your chance of employment and give you a better opportunity to grow as a freight broker.
To become a successful freight broker, skills you must have include:
- Communication skills
- Networking skills
- Management skills
- Negotiation skills
- Marketing skills
- Time management skills
- Decision-making skills
You must be goal-oriented and trustworthy as well. This will help you earn and keep happy customers who believe in your efficiency and refer you to others.
Requirements and Licensing for Becoming a Freight Broker in Hawaii
Once you have turned 18 and acquired your high school diploma or GED, you can work as a freight broker in Hawaii. Hawaii has no specific requirement you must meet to begin a freight brokering career. However, learning about the business will help enlighten you on the fundamentals of the business. As a result, you will as well have a strong chance of employment compared to your peers.
Although Hawaii has no specific license for freight brokers, you must obtain a license from theFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)to be a registered professional.
To obtain this license, here are a few steps you must take:
- Identify your business or the business you are employed with.
- Pay a registration fee and apply for a USDOT number and a Motor Carrier (MC) number.
- You’ll also have to obtain liability and carrier insurance and have a surety bond of at least $75,000.
It takes about four to six weeks to complete the registration process, after which you can start your career as a registered professional freight broker.
Where to Get Relevant Education in Hawaii
Although Hawaii has no educational requirement for freight brokers, getting formally trained is a good idea. While you can acquire knowledge through on-the-job training, it will be easier to advance your career by completing a freight brokering program.
Most institutions in Hawaii offer online-based training and courses to freight brokers.
With these courses, you’ll learn business skills such as management, bookkeeping, and marketing. Also, you will be exposed to the fundamentals of freight brokering, such as:
- Laws and regulations of shipping
- Ensuring that your business is insured and complies with the laws
- How to write up contracts and invoice clients.
To acquire formal training at your own pace and convenience, here are a couple of choices for you:
Career Outlook and Salary of Freight Brokers
Growth in the freight brokering career is promising. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are about 95,600 employed freight brokers with an impending increase of about 10percent nationwide.
The average annual pay for a freight broker in Hawaii is about $43,470 in a year. So, you can look to approximately earning $20.90 an hour and $3,622 in a month.However, your pay also varies as a freight broker in Hawaii, depending on several factors. This means that there is a chance for advancement based on your skill level, location and years of experience.
Freight brokers, on top of their game, earn about $64,697 in a year. However, as a beginner, you can earn $37,044 in a year and even more in subsequent years.
Freight Broker Opportunities in Hawaii
Hawaii is made up of several islands. Freight brokers in Hawaii rely on air and ocean transportation carriers due to its extremely limited railway and highway transportation.
You can make use of this opportunity by carving a niche for yourself! Choose a particular kind of freight and carrier you wish to focus on and build your career in line with it.
Freight brokerage can be a sustainable business from the start. However, it may take time to build your reputation and establish a solid relationship with your clients.
Consider cities like Waipahu, East Honolulu, Kahului, and Pearl City if you’re looking to join an existing freight brokering company. These cities have a highly active Freight Broker job market due to the several companies currently hiring for this type of role.