Freight Brokers for Small Business

August 11, 2020

Does Your Small Business Need a Freight Broker? Three Signs You’re Ready

If you are like most small business owners, you’re wearing many hats. This means you might not have a shipping manager to handle your freight shipping needs. Or, you might have a single administrative assistant who isn’t able to keep up with the demands in orders and shipping.

Unfortunately, there are major consequences to falling behind on shipping. If you want to keep your customers satisfied and coming back for more, you need an efficient shipping process you can rely on. You also need it to be easy to use and affordable.

Does this mean you need a freight broker? And if so, how much does one cost?

Before we discuss the three signs you might be ready for a freight shipping company, let’s define freight broker.

What is a Freight Broker?

A freight broker is a third-party company that works for the shipper to find carriers who can transport their goods and cargo from one place to another. In this role, the broker works directly with the carriers and negotiates rates for the shipper.

Freightquote by C.H. Robinson, for example, is a freight broker. Other names for freight broker includes freight service provider and freight shipping company.

Three Signs Your Small Business Needs a Freight Broker

Now that you know what a freight broker is, here are three signs that your small business is ready to use one.

1. You Want to Save Money on Shipping

Without the proper networks in place, a small business can spend a lot of money on shipping and transportation. If you’re finding that a great deal of your budget is going toward freight shipments, it’s time to work with a reliable freight shipping company that can save you money.

The right freight shipping company has a large network of carriers in place and is able to negotiate rates on your behalf. With Freightquote, for example, you can get access to these great rates simply by using our online tool. The tool is free, which means you don’t pay a fee to use our services or hire a broker. Instead, you simply use the tool and choose the carrier and rate that best fits your budget.

There are many ways you can save money by using a freight broker such as Freightquote. Along with getting competitive rates, you can save money by learning how to properly package and ship freight.

2. You Want to Streamline Shipping and Transportation

The best way to streamline this process is by going with a freight broker who can automate the process for you. In essence, the right freight shipping company is an extension of your business. You should be able to rely on them to simplify the process. For example, Freightquote allows you to not only compare carrier quotes, but also book your shipments, create BOLs, and track deliveries online -- all with the same tool

3. You Need Expertise and Experience

In larger corporations, shipping and logistics is a department. The people who are hired have experience and they specialize in this area of business. But when you’re running a small business, your expertise might not include freight shipping. Sure, you know your products inside and out, but you might not know the best way to get them from point A to point B without breaking the bank.

That’s where the right freight broker can help. Freightquote has been around since 1998, and we have the experience and expertise your company may need. As your freight broker, you can contact us to answer any questions you might have and to help you with the freight shipping process. Have a question about shipping tool? Give us a call. The idea is that you don’t have to do shipping alone. You can find a trusted partner that’s reliable and makes the process easier for you.

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