Freight Broker job description.
A Freight Broker connects shippers who need freight moved with carriers who have available capacity, negotiating rates and coordinating logistics. They manage relationships on both sides of the transaction, track shipments, and resolve issues to ensure freight moves on time and within budget.
The Freight Broker job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: Freight Broker Reports to: Brokerage Manager or Director of Logistics
A Freight Broker connects shippers who need freight moved with carriers who have available capacity, negotiating rates and coordinating logistics. They manage relationships on both sides of the transaction, track shipments, and resolve issues to ensure freight moves on time and within budget.
- Match shipper freight needs with available carrier capacity
- Negotiate rates and terms with carriers and shippers
- Book and confirm loads, ensuring proper documentation is in place
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
6 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
Brokerage Manager or Director of Logistics
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Match shipper freight needs with available carrier capacity
- Negotiate rates and terms with carriers and shippers
- Book and confirm loads, ensuring proper documentation is in place
- Track shipments in transit and proactively communicate delays
- Resolve issues such as damaged freight, missed pickups, or disputes
- Build and maintain a network of reliable carrier relationships
- Maintain compliance with brokerage licensing and insurance requirements
- Update load and customer records in the transportation management system
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- 1-3 years of freight brokerage, logistics, or dispatch experience
- Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills
- Familiarity with transportation management systems (TMS)
- Understanding of freight regulations and documentation requirements
- Freight broker license or agent authority experience
- Established carrier network
- Experience in a specific freight vertical (e.g., reefer, flatbed, LTL)
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the Freight Broker job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this Freight Broker job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The mid band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (Brokerage Manager or Director of Logistics) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- Does a freight broker need a license?
- Independent freight brokerages generally require federal broker authority, though brokers working under an established brokerage as an agent may not need their own license.
- Is this a commission-based role?
- Many freight broker roles include commission or bonus tied to load volume and margin, in addition to a base salary.
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Logistics Manager
A Logistics Manager oversees the movement of goods from suppliers through warehouses to customers, coordinating transportation, warehousing, and inventory to meet cost and service targets.
Dispatcher
A Dispatcher coordinates the movement of vehicles, drivers, or field personnel to ensure timely and efficient service delivery.
This Freight Broker job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.