Becoming a freelance freight agent is a great way to be your boss and earn money working from home. Many people would like to work as freight forwarders for a company, but they don't know how to get into the industry.
ContentsWho are Independent Freight Agents?What do they do?1. Prepare for your freight agent training2. Request broker authorization3. Get CertifiedSummarizeYou may not know how to become an independent freight forwarder . How do you find customers? How do you prove you are worthy of their business? How do you navigate the work process?
Keep reading to understand who freelance freight agents are, what they do, and how to start your career as a freelance freight agent.
When most people think of freight, they imagine big trucks. However, many companies work with freight forwarders who use their cars to transport goods for companies.
As a freelance freight agent, you can offer your services to a different industry or even work for one company at a time. The tasks vary depending on whether you work for one company or offer your services to different companies.
The duties of an independent freight agent vary widely. Some people work for themselves, others work for a single business . Self-employed freight agents work by offering their services to different companies with shipping needs.
The most common types of cargo are furniture, appliances, and clothing. A freight agent can pick up items from other businesses or warehouses and deliver them to customers who have purchased them.
Sometimes companies use courier services to transport smaller goods than a truck can carry. Other times, freelance freight agents will be employed by courier companies to transport these smaller shipments themselves. Freight agents also pick up and deliver larger shipments to businesses that lack the equipment to handle them.
Here are the 3 main steps you need to know to become an independent freight agent.
Before you sign up to become a freelance freight agent, you need to prepare for your training. You will need to know how to drive a standard and manual transmission. Most companies that offer training will teach new agents the basics of freight forwarding and how it works.
There is also more advanced training that can be learned depending on the company hiring you. These classes may include safe operation of commercial vehicles, POINT regulations and the importance of loading and unloading goods correctly.
Freight agents must apply for broker authorization. If you are already an independent contractor, this step may not be necessary. Some companies will hire freight forwarders who have insurance and the authority to drive company vehicles. Once you receive your jurisdiction, you can contact different companies that offer shipping services.
Even if you have your authority, business owners will likely want their agents to be certified. Becoming a Certified Professional Logistics Associate gives independent freight forwarders the tools to excel in this industry.
You can earn your certification by taking a nine-hour course that will walk you through the various laws and procedures you need to know when working in the industry. With this certification, companies will trust you because you have passed a test that has verified your knowledge.
Freight agents play a vital role in business mobility. It's not hard to find work in this field, but finding the right freight agent job can be difficult. Start by preparing for your broker education and authority; then you can start applying for jobs.
