Freight Broker/Agent Training Schools in Pennsylvania

Freight brokers are professionals with an extensive understanding of the shipping industry. They leverage their knowledge to help clients (usually shippers of goods) find the best shipping arrangements and carriers for their products.

In turn, brokers earn money by charging a fee or commission for their services, usually a percentage of the shipping cost. Candidates in Pennsylvania with an affinity for logistics would do well to consider a career in this field.

Thankfully, the guide on this page explores all the key considerations they must know to start their careers properly. We outline the steps involved in the process, the top programs in the state for comprehensive education, and the possible licensure/certificate requirements, among other key requirements.

How to Become a Freight Broker in Pennsylvania

These are the steps involved in becoming a freight broker in Pennsylvania.

Step 1: Education

Since no law mandates a specific kind of education or postsecondary education for aspiring freight brokers in Pennsylvania, candidates are usually free to pursue their alternatives.

They may enroll for diploma, certificate, or degree programs via an online or on-campus learning arrangement.

Step 2: Starting a Business

Naturally, freight brokers in Pennsylvania are expected to register their business with the state and receive an Employer Identification Number before they can start operating legally.

Businesses may also be expected to purchase insurance coverage, including workers’ compensation and others, which we discuss later in the guide.

Step 3: Licensure

As with most states nationwide, Pennsylvania freight brokers are expected to start their careers with a surety bond of at least $75,000. Most importantly, however, they are expected to receive a broker authority license from the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) by filling out an OP-1 form.

In the next section, we dive deeper into Pennsylvania’s licensure requirements for freight brokers.

Step 4: Marketing

Once a freight broker begins to work professionally, marketing becomes a priority. Candidates may leverage industry events to build connections and use social media to network and find prospective clients.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• Learn how to become a truck driver in Pennsylvania

Licensure & Certification Requirements

The Motor Carrier Operating Authority License, also known as the broker authority license, is the major licensure requirement for freight brokers in Pennsylvania. All freight brokers in the state are expected to have one, and acquiring it begins with registering a legitimate freight brokerage business.

From there, candidates can submit their applications to the FMCSA and pay the $300 registration fee.

Freight brokers in Pennsylvania must also apply for a surety bond or BMC-84 for $75,000. Businesses are also expected to have what is known as a process agent.

A process agent is a representative who calls you if proceedings are levied against the business. A freight broker can have multiple process agents.

Top Freight Brokerage Schools in Pennsylvania

Below are some high-quality destinations to study as an aspiring freight broker in Pennsylvania.

Explore freight broker training schools in Pennsylvania by city:

• Freight broker training schools in Philadelphia

Salary & Career Outlook

Experience is one major factor determining the annual average salary of a freight broker in Pennsylvania, and location is another notable one.

This is why freight brokers in the state can scale their earnings as high as $158,194 (for the top 10%) or manage as low as $17,015 (for the bottom 10%).

Naturally, the most common figure will belong to those who are neither at the top nor the bottom but in the midpoint. Freight brokers in Pennsylvania who fall into this category will earn an average salary of around $51,881 at the end of each year.

Sorting strictly by location with all else being equal, freight brokers in Beaver are the highest-paid in Pennsylvania. They take home an average salary of around $82,968 per year.

Those in Allentown are also notable, earning an annual average salary of $78,198, and freight brokers in the United take home an annual average salary of $72,209.