Logistics Agent: Advantages and Peculiarities of the Profession

Being an independent freight agent is a profession that allows specialists to work from either an office or home. They connect shippers who need to deliver cargo with the direct executors of this process.

The global Freight Brokerage market, as forecasted by EMR analysts, will reach a value of $99.77 billion by 2032. The dominant region in the industry is expected to be the USA, whose segment, according to Mordor Intelligence experts’ predictions, will reach $26.82 billion by 2029.

This data shows that the specialty of cargo freight agent is an important component of logistics processes and one of the most lucrative and promising professions.

What Is a Freight Agent?

In short, a freight broker agent is a person who is directly involved in organizing logistics operations. The responsibilities include:

Finding cargoes. An expert monitors various specialized platforms, tracks promising contracts, and picks them up whenever possible.
Finding carriers. The specialist collaborates with companies and self-employed drivers, delegating tasks to them and negotiating prices.
Cargo bidding. If there are multiple rates for a contract, the logistic agent tries to secure it, provided that the benefits from executing it outweigh the costs.
Establishing the optimal service cost. The agent deals with the financial aspect of logistics, creating favorable conditions for everyone.
Driver support. From the moment of contract conclusion to its completion, the agent coordinates actions with executors and helps them in case of problems.
Resolution of complex situations. Documentation, traffic regulations violations, deviations from norms: all of these are handled by the freight agent within their duties.
Navigation. Tracking cargo, planning optimal routes, monitoring road and weather conditions, etc.
Consulting. Communication with the shipper, executors, and other freight agents.

Roughly speaking, trucking agents can confidently be called intermediaries who deal with organizing logistics processes. And this profession is quite well-paid.

How much do freight agents make in the US?

According to statistical data from experts on the Indeed platform, the average annual freight agent salary is $72,414.

Novices and part-timers receive approximately $25,710.
Professionals with years of experience in the industry receive approximately $203,965.

A necessary clarification: income significantly depends on the type of employment. If a professional works for a corporation, their income is usually higher than that of a self-employed agent.

However, independent logistics agents may earn larger sums than their corporate counterparts, but their workload will be significantly higher.

What Is the Difference Between a Freight Agent and a Freight Broker?

Quite often on the internet, you can see the professions of a freight agent and freight broker being discussed interchangeably. This is not entirely accurate and can be misleading for the audience reading such information. Here, we’ll explain the specific differences between the occupations.

A freight broker agent is a professional who holds a license from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and is legally responsible for cargo.

Trucking agents are intermediaries who oversee the basics of logistics processes and connect shippers with project executors for freight transport.

Another significant difference lies in the trust credit. It’s usually higher for trading brokers than for agents. This is due to FMCSA licenses, surety bonds, and operational bases.

How to Become a Freight Agent?

To start working as a logistics agent, a person needs to have at least a high school diploma or GED certificate. But to perform the job effectively, the professional should:

Understand logistics processes.
Have excellent communication skills.
Be proficient in English.
Be able to self-organize.
Have algorithms for handling stressful situations.
Understand market prices.
Be able to negotiate for better rates.
Build a database of freight providers and drivers.

Whether you choose to be a freight agent vs freight broker or self-employment vs. agency, the skills described above will be required in all cases.

How Does a Freight Agency Work?

If self-employment is somewhat understandable, the principle of agency work differs somewhat from traditional cargo freight agent operations. Primarily due to centralized operations and access to a larger client and intermediary base. Overall, the advantages of an agency include:

Management of brokers and agents at all levels.
A flexible pay model.
Stable commissions and payouts.
Access to commercial cargo owners.
Access to a driver database.
Closer integration into the state logistics control system.
Career prospects.

Thus, working in a freight agency is economically more beneficial than self-employment, especially if the professional is just starting their career.

Freight Agent Opportunities at HH Express

If you’ve paid attention to the classic cargo agent job description, you may have noticed almost unreal requirements and strict candidate selection. However, this is not the case with HH Express vacancies. Our company offers reasonable working conditions suitable even for newcomers.

We offer: