Freight Broker
Freight Broker is a licensed intermediary that arranges truck transportation by matching a shipper's load with a motor carrier, without operating the trucks itself, and earns the margin between the shipper rate and carrier rate.
Why it matters for ecommerce brands
Brokers give brands access to large carrier networks and quick truckload quotes without managing carrier contracts. In the US, brokers need FMCSA broker authority and a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund; verify both before tendering freight.
Common questions
- What is the difference between a freight broker and a carrier?
- A carrier owns or leases trucks and physically moves the freight under its own operating authority. A broker arranges the move with a carrier for you, so your contract and payment run through the broker while the carrier is responsible for the goods in transit.
Cite this entry
"Freight Broker." Fulfillment Lexicon, last reviewed October 16, 2026. https://fulfillment.wiki/glossary/freight-broker/