Oklahoma Freight Broker Training
Freight brokers get their name because they help the nation’s shipping companies find the carriers needed to move their freight from one location to another. This may seem like a fairly basic job. However, in reality, it’s an essential part of America’s goods transportation network.
Anyone looking for a profitable, work-from-home opportunity should add freight brokering to their list of possible options. That’s especially true in Oklahoma, where brokers can look forward to some of the country’s top job prospects. Want more information on becoming an Oklahoma broker? Let’s dive into the details.
What You Need to Become an Oklahoma Freight Broker
All Oklahoma freight brokers must go through a registration and licensing process. This process, created by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Authority (FMCSA), is the same in all 50 states. It begins with an online request for your USDOT business identification number. USDOT numbers help federal regulators monitor the nation’s transportation companies.
Once you get your number, you can start filing your application with the FMCSA. The agency has four primary requirements. First, all broker candidates must attain at least a high school-level education. In addition, all candidates must fill out an application form and provide three things:
- The names of the process agents working for the business
- Paperwork showing that you’ve obtained broker insurance
- A $300 filing fee
The people you name as process agents serve as your business’s stand-ins in legal proceedings. As your stand-ins, they accept binding responsibility for your broker activities. For offices you set up in Oklahoma, you can play this role yourself in any state courtroom. For offices you set up out of state, you must provide the names of other agents.
The insurance documents you file with the FMCSA must show that you have a full $75,000 in coverage. Surety bonds are the most common way of demonstrating your compliance with this standard. As an alternative, some broker candidates rely on a trust fund agreement to achieve the same goal.
In an average of four to six weeks, your application will make it through the federal process. When it does, you’ll receive an operating license called a Broker Authority or MC Authority.
Training for Work as an Oklahoma Broker
Some new freight brokers rush into operation with nothing more than their broker’s license and USDOT number. While this approach is legal, it can result in huge short- and long-term problems. That’s true because it takes a significant amount of knowledge to navigate the broker industry successfully.
So, how can you gain the knowledge you need? The recommended option is signing up for a comprehensive freight broker training course. To truly prepare you for success, such a course must offer detailed guidance in all areas of the broker’s world.
Required guidance includes help with internal business management. It also includes help learning the intricacies of working together with goods carriers and shippers. In addition, no course would be complete without in-depth information on broker marketing and legal requirements.
For high-quality training in a convenient setting, you might want to consider offerings from ed2go and Brooke Transportation Training Solutions. Across the country, these two organizations work in tandem to provide 180-hour courses for prospective brokers. The ed2go/Brooke courses rely entirely on expert instructors and feature a competitive pricing structure. In Oklahoma, you can find them at institutions such as:
- University of Oklahoma, Outreach (Norman)
- Oklahoma State University-Oklahoma City
- Red River Technology Center (Duncan)
- Tulsa Tech (Tulsa)
- Southern Tech (Ardmore)
- Mid-America Technology Center (Wayne)
- Gordon Cooper Technology Center (Shawnee)
- West Watkins Technology Center (Wetumka)
Just insert your zip code to find freight broker/agent training near you.
If you like, you can also supplement your broker training with an additional certification course. Certificate holders demonstrate to their customers that they possess advanced knowledge of the freight brokering field. For the most prized certification program, see the professionals at the Transportation Intermediaries Association.
Earning Potential for Freight Brokers in Oklahoma
Freight brokers in Oklahoma enjoy average annual incomes of more than $87,000. This is over 50 percent higher than the national average as a whole. What’s more, Oklahoma brokers receive an average of more than $28,000 in additional earnings through their commission fees. You can’t expect to reach these earning levels during the early days of your business. However, with time, you may find yourself with one of the top incomes in the industry.
Where to Open Your Oklahoma Freight Broker Business
Population centers and manufacturing hubs are by far the most lucrative business environments for the typical freight broker. In Oklahoma, your options include Oklahoma City and Tulsa. They also include:
- Norman
- Broken Arrow
- Lawton
You can also find freight broker training in Arkansas, Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Missouri.