Freight Broker Training in North Dakota – Get Your License
What do freight brokers do? Freight brokers are responsible for helping their clients arrange the safest, most cost-effective and most efficient transportation for the goods they need to ship.
On a day-to-day basis, this responsibility means freight brokers need a great deal of knowledge about interstate and intrastate transport laws for the various materials with which they work. In fact, freight brokers are involved with every aspect of the process, from loading to unloading, and even deciding the order in which the shipment will be packed and unpacked.
Freight brokers perform numerous duties, including:
- Negotiating contracts between manufacturers and shipping companies
- Advising clients on shipping costs and methods
- Preparing invoices and collecting payments
- Tracking shipments
- Estimating shipping costs and weights
Meeting Freight Broker Regulations in North Dakota
Freight brokers are not required to have a college-level education, but they must have a high school diploma or equivalent at a minimum. Once completed, they may apply for a Motor Carrier (MC) number and a USDOT number through theFederal Motor Carrier Safety Administration(FMCSA).
These numbers are required for anyone who wishes to work as a freight broker. To obtain them, you must fill outanapplicationon the FMCSA website. The application fee is $300, and the application will take four to six weeks to process.
Your application will not be approved without at least $75,000 worth of insurance coverage and a designated process agent for each state in which you plan to do business. Designated process agents are people who can be served with legal papers in the event of legal action against the agency. Each of your agents will need to be named on form BOC-3here.
Training for Freight Brokers in North Dakota
Freight brokers can acquire training on-the-job, and many choose that route to learn the ropes of the trade. However, working for a freight broker may not be ideal, especially if you hope to open a competing business once you have completed your training. Fortunately, there are training options available through local schools in and around North Dakota. A few of these include:
- The University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND
- Miles Community College in Miles City, MT
- North Dakota State College of Science in Fargo, ND
- Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, ND
- Dakota College at Bottineau in Bottineau, ND
Salary Expectations and Career Growth Projections
According to theBureau of Labor Statistics(BLS), freight brokers in North Dakota made annual wages between $27,410 and $65,180 in 2020. The average yearly salary for the career was $44,490. This rate is slightly below the national average of $44,490. However, this disparity may reflect the regional cost of living in various areas of the country rather than a lower quality of life for freight brokers in the state.
Projections Central predicts a 7.5 percent increase in jobs for freight brokers between the years 2018 and 2028. This data adds up to an additional 7,200 more jobs for brokers over the 10-year-period, meaning new freight brokers can expect significant opportunities throughout their careers.
Career Opportunities for Freight Brokers Located in North Dakota
Freight brokers in North Dakota have myriad opportunities for employment with companies like DAL Global Services, Envoy Air, Inc., Slumberland, SYSCO and Amazon. For more enterprising brokers, owning and running a business of your own is also a possibility and could lead to increased opportunities for wealth. Whichever path you choose, a career as a freight broker has many options for a secure and fruitful future.