A freight broker works with the manufacturers of goods, wholesalers and distributors to see to the safe and effective and timely transportation of huge loads of goods to be ultimately sold on the market. These professionals also work on the modalities of sending the material from one location to another, and the amount earned as a part of the profit is termed as freight brokerage. The business of freight brokers has been in the trucking business as early as the early 20th century.

A freight broker is a transportation intermediary, neither the shipper nor an asset owner, who plays a vital role in moving goods. These professionals leverage their knowledge, investment and resources to help the shipping and the carrier companies.

Licensed freight brokers can be companies or individuals who match up carriers with shippers for a fee. According to research, there are 4,000 licensed transportation brokers in United States, and only 50 percent of them work on a full-time basis. Brokers are people who provide valuable services to both motor carriers and shippers. They help the carriers load goods in a truck and earn commission for their effort. Some of the companies use brokers as their traffic department and solely depend on them for coordinating their shipping needs.

Although freight brokers do not require any formal training, there are some institutes that provide knowledge on the subject. One such institute, like a freight broker training school, not only gives insight about the business but also provides certificates to students who successfully finish the course.