When you’re looking for a brand new career or just a side hustle on top of an existing role, it can help to think outside of the box. All kinds of jobs could work perfectly for those with a talent for negotiating deals and a desire to make a difference from the comfort of their homes. One that fits the mold but you might not have ever considered is a freight broker. Is this a good option for you, and if so, how can you learn to become one?
Should You Become A Qualified Freight Broker?
There is a lot of potential in this career choice, even if it’s something you’d never considered before. For a start, this is a career you can get into without any previous qualifications beyond your high school education. So, if you’ve come in from a completely different line of work or a manual job with no college education, that’s fine. You can take a course via a professional freight broker school and get started. It requires a lot of dedication and perseverance to start something like this from scratch, but it can also be very rewarding.
Those rewards come from satisfaction in your work and a good return on your investment. Some career changes require massive overhauls and financial investments to succeed. It could be a while before you earn enough to cover the costs. That’s not the case here. You can get your license, insurance, and other necessary legalities sorted out upfront, which will require some of your savings. You can also get yourself set up with any basic tech you don’t have to start finding clients. From there, it’s all about finding jobs, making deals, and earning commissions. You could get a healthy income stream going once you get more confident and build relationships with the right companies.
Another factor to remember here is that this can be an option for self-employment. You can work for yourself, setting up your own independent business to create a new revenue stream. It is more costly this way to begin with because there’s no company covering expenses, but you do get to negotiate fees and costs on your terms and take home a decent amount per job. You also get to work from anywhere you want, in your own time, with no responsibilities to anyone else.
What Can You Learn On An Online Freight Broker Training Program?
It’s OK if you’re coming into all this with no prior knowledge or experience in the industry. The best courses will help complete novices understand all they need to know to start their new career. Many of the modules will focus on how the process works, such as contacting shipping companies and carriers and learning how to negotiate rates and sales. This range also means learning about the software used in the industry. From there, you also learn about the legalities of the industry, such as the regulations, licensing, and how to apply through the FMCSA to stay compliant and legitimate. There should also be guidance on creating your business if you want to do this on your own as a self-employment enterprise.
The styles of the courses will vary depending on their length, complexity, and how you prefer to learn. Some courses are more of an introductory boot camp that tells you what you need to know to get started. This approach could be enough on its own, or you could move on to more in-depth options. Those more comprehensive options are best for those who want broader knowledge and more skills. There may also be the choice between self-led or instructor-led learning, depending on your preference.
Finding The Best Freight Broker Schools
All of this is possible when you find professional freight broker schools with the right qualities to get you where you need to be. The final choice of how you do that and the exact course to take is up to you. Here are some tips on how to find the right school to get you started on this new career path.
The first step is to decide between a site purely dedicated to freight broker courses or a more well-down academic site with training options. There are pros and cons to both. The former should have the most varied range of courses available, which means more material covered and a better education on the subject. The downside is they might not have the same level of accreditation or the same reputation as an academic site. Sites that offer a wide catalog of training programs tend to be reliable, with great reputations and user reviews. You should also get easy-to-use material. However, there may only be a short introductory course rather than a more comprehensive option.
Either way, these schools should give a clear breakdown of what to expect before signing up and handing over any course fees. To that point, finding one at a fair price is also important. Free courses are always going to be popular for those looking to build skills while struggling with low incomes, but they might not offer everything you need. The best courses don’t have to cost a fortune either. They should provide value for money.
You should also be able to research the school and its resources before committing to a course. If there are instructors, who are they, and what are their qualifications? Do instructor-led courses mean a more structured approach with other students to connect with? Are their assignments? Or are the tutors just there for email support if you need them? If this information isn’t obvious straight away, you can email the provider and see if they can provide more information.
Check Out Freight Broker Training Options Today
Becoming a freight broker might sound like a weird choice for a career change at first, but it might also end up being the perfect new role for you. Take a look at what the job entails, and if it sounds like your sort of job, check out the different training options and freight broker schools online.
