The freight industry is set to grow in the next few years. The American Trucking Association (ATA) says that the trucking industry alone made $796.7 billion in gross freight revenues in 2018. Additionally, 7.8 million employed people have jobs that relate to trucking activity. The average salary for all freight forwarders ranges between $34,000 and $65,000 according to PayScale.
You typically don’t need a specialized degree to be a freight forwarder, but you do need to go through the proper channels to get licensed and legally operate. You’ll need to fill out a handful of paperwork and submit the right information. To help guide you through this process, we put together a simple guide to getting your freight forwarding license. Below, we outline the six steps you'll need to take to complete your freight forwarder licensing.
Table of Contents
- Step 1: Know what type of entity you are
- Step 2: Determine your mode of transportation
- Step 3: Decide if you also want to be a carrier
- Step 4: Register for freight forwarder licensing
- Step 5: Submit insurance policies
- Step 6: Get a freight broker bond or trust fund agreement
Step 1: Know what type of entity you are
You must first decide if you want to be a sole proprietor and operate your own freight forwarding business or if you want to start a freight forwarding business as a partnership or corporation. This determines what name you’re listing down for your application.
Step 2: Determine your mode of transportation
Freight forwarder licensing also depends on how you will operate. You'll need a different license if you plan to work on the sea, in the air or on the road.
- Trucking and road freight forwarders must get their license with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
- Ocean freight forwarders must get their license from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC)
- Air freight forwarders aren’t subject to a federal license, but will need training and a membership number from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Air freight forwarders must also follow rules by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
- Intermodal freight forwarders use two or more modes of transportation to carry goods. You’ll need multiple licenses depending on where you operate. For example, you’ll need a license from the FMCSA and the FMC if you operate on land and on the water.
Below, we’ll dive into freight forwarding licensing with the FMCSA. You can follow the links above to learn more about other types of licensing.
Step 3: Decide if you also want to be a carrier
Next, you’ll need to decide if you’d also like to be a carrier. A carrier is an entity who physically transports goods. Carriers need a USDOT number and operating authority (MC number).
If you don’t want to be a carrier, then you’ll only need to obtain Operating Authority. Specifically, you’ll need Freight Forwarder Authority (FF).
However, you must decide what type of freight forwarder authority you need. There are two types — freight forwarding for property and freight forwarding for household goods.
Step 4: Register for freight forwarder licensing
Now that you’ve decided on how you’ll operate, it’s time to register as a freight forwarder. New applicants must use the FMCSA’s Unified Registration System (URS) as of December 2015. You’ll need to provide information like your freight forwarder application form and USDOT number, if applicable.
All new applicants must pay a $300 registration fee for each registration type. If you’re registering for freight forwarder authority for both household goods and property, you’re required to pay this fee for both.
After the application is approved, get a grant letter that includes your FF number. This number is needed to get both your surety bond or trust fund agreement and insurance.
Your application will be published in the FMCSA Register. Once published, any individual can protest your application if they don’t feel the FMCSA should issue Operating Authority. If this does happen, the FMCSA will give you information to resolve protests.
Step 5: Submit insurance policies
Your next step is to submit proof of your insurance policy to the FMCSA. Your insurance agent must submit this information within 90 days after you receive your grant letter. Make sure all information exactly matches your application or the FMCSA may reject it. Depending on what you operate, you’ll need to submit the following forms:
- BMC-34 or BMC-83: Household goods freight forwarders and motor carriers are required to submit this form. Those who fall in this category must have $5,000 cargo insurance per vehicle and $10,000 per occurrence.
- BMC-91 or BMC-91X: All freight forwarders operating vehicles must have public liability insurance. This covers bodily injury, environmental restoration and property damage. If you don’t operate a vehicle, you can ask to waive this requirement.
- BOC-3: You must pick a process agent who will file your BOC-3. A process agent provides legal representation in each state you operate.
- BMC-84 or BMC-85: This is your surety bond or trust fund agreement, which we’ll cover in the next section. This must cover $75,000.
Your agent can follow the instructions for submitting insurance information on the FMCSA website.
Step 6: Get a freight broker bond or trust fund agreement
The final step of your freight forwarder licensing journey involves the BMC-84 and BMC-85. You must decide if you want to get a freight broker bond (BMC-84) or trust fund agreement (BMC-85). Both of these cover the $75,000 coverage requirement. The key difference lies in how you pay these.
For trust fund agreements, you’ll typically pay the full $75,000 into a fund that you cannot access afterwards. These are commonly used by large brokers and carriers.
For freight broker surety bonds, you’ll pay a percentage of the $75,000 as a yearly premium. This is a common choice for new or up-and-coming brokers and carriers who don’t have much working capital.
How does a freight broker bond work?
A freight broker bond is a three-party agreement between the FMCSA, the surety, and you. The surety is like a line of credit granted by the surety. By granting this, the surety guarantees that you’ll follow the FMCSA’s regulations and complete jobs in a lawful and reasonable manner.
The surety also agrees to cover the costs of any claims filed on your bond. A claim is filed if damages occurs, laws are broken or work otherwise not fulfilled as promised. Surety agencies will typically investigate claims first to confirm they’re valid. If they are, the surety will pay the claim amount and you are responsible for repaying the surety.
What’s the difference between a freight forwarder and a broker?
A freight broker is a person who helps shippers connect with carriers when they have freight they need to move. Freight brokers act as a middle man and don’t hold the freight itself. A freight broker's salary will also differ from a freigh forwarder.
A freight forwarder coordinates shipping for customers and may also store freight, assemble and distribute it, and supervises final delivery. They’re liable for any damages and losses in this process.
Freight forwarder licensing is a simple process that has a lot of specific steps to complete. Choosing between a trust fund and a surety bond is one important decision you’ll need to make to complete your licensing. If you’re still on the fence on what to choose, you can learn more about freight broker bonds to get a better understanding of how it works.
In reply to by admin
Hello I am interested in opening my own shipping company and would love some more information. I have not yet registered my company or have a website.
In reply to by admin
Hey Al,
I can't provide that specific guidance. I'd consider contacting the FMCSA.
In reply to by admin
Hi Eric, firstly thank for all info.
Currently I operate in Panama and USA but from Panama City (Central America) I would like to operate from USA without intermediaries, manage the booking and pick up directly with companies but I don't know what are the requirements and licenses. Maybe can someone teach me?
Thank you.
Nilka
In reply to by admin
Ibwould like to do the same. I ha e my website as well. Why couldnt we join together and under the same licensing agreement
In reply to by admin
Hey Kamal,
You can check out this list of freight forwarding schools here: https://blog.gofreight.co/education/top-10-freight-forwarding-training-…
In reply to by admin
Hi Eric! I'd like to learn something about freight forwader, so where or how do I get knowledge of the?
In reply to by admin
Hey Tracey,
Just to ensure I'm on the same page, you'd like to start a shipping company rather than a freight brokerage?
In reply to by admin
I'm interested in becoming a freight forwarder. The steps seem kinda simple, but after getting license how do you find customers?
In reply to by admin
There are several ways you can market a new business as a freight broker. One of the keys to success is ongoing marketing that generates quality leads.
You should first list yourself in business directories online, including sites like GoogleMyBusiness, Yelp, or Yahoo! Local Listings. Each of these business directories helps in putting your business out there for potential shippers and carriers looking for a broker. Using free load boards can also help you create a passive pipeline of leads for your new business: https://www.jwsuretybonds.com/blog/load-boards-find-the-right-one-for-y…
In reply to by admin
Hi there,
We are setting up a company which shipping activity will be exclusively shipping air and sea from the US to Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire) and vice versa.
We are still thinking of the better way to operate. We are thinking to start as Known shipper, our question is to know if it will be more beneficial to get a freight forwarder license in this hypothesis. Any advises or input would be warmly welcome.
In reply to by admin
Hey Ninia,
I believe that you're getting into customs brokering when you start importing/exporting oversees.
In reply to by admin
Eric, we have established a LLC in Cali 3 years ago named Can-Sail Fulfillment Warehouse LLC to handle warehouse business, we would like to extend the LLC with Freight Forwarding business, should we register for another LLC or using the same LLC to increase additional functions ?
In reply to by admin
David,
That is a good question.
Ultimately, the personal credit plays into this the most. You can obtain a low premium being a new business if personal credit is excellent. However, if personal credit is fantastic and you were to purchase an existing business, there would be further discounts on premium to the tune of about $300.
Conversely, if credit is sub-par, it doesn't matter if the business is new or existing as the premium will be based on that sub-par credit.
In reply to by admin
Hey Jackie,
I'll have an agent reach out to you today.
In reply to by admin
Dear Eric
Thank you for the sharing and detail explains. I'm preparing my freight forwarder business and willing to purchase surety bonds could you please contact me with my email?
Appreciate again
In reply to by admin
Hey David,
If this is in relation to the bonding process, it makes no difference which state the LLC is established in.
In reply to by admin
Thank you Eric, our alternative is to buy a corporation from Florida which has been operating for years but is shutting down. My guess is that, with an entity with historic track record, the bond cost would be significantly lower than with a newly incorporated?
Thanks a lot,
In reply to by admin
Hey Nilka,
I'll need some more information to help.
Are you currently a freight broker with a bond on file?
Are you a US citizen?
Are you already dealing with customs?
In reply to by admin
Hi,
We´re establishing a Freight Forwarder in Miami, Florida, and one question that has risen is if we should establish an LLC in Fl or in Delaware and if it would make any difference in the process of licensing and authorizations.
Thanks,
In reply to by admin
Hey Kan,
I'm honestly not sure about that. You may want to get some guidance from an attorney.
In reply to by admin
Hi, Eric
I am interested in starting freight forwarding business. What do you suggest.
In reply to by admin
Seng,
What type of information are you seeking exactly?
In reply to by admin
Hey ONeal,
This guide outlines the steps pretty well. Please read and let me know if you have any other questions.
In reply to by admin
Hey Alex,
I'll have someone reach out.
In reply to by admin
I would like to start a Freight forwarder business in NY. What are the necessary steps to take for it
In reply to by admin
Hi Eric,
I have a company that receives cargo from Miami, but we are having some problems with the Freight Forwarder Agent. We were thinking on open a Freight Forward Company in the US. Many people say that the process is not easy, however, it's the better way to do the business, since the partner in Miami is not working properly well.
Can you contact us in order to have the path that we need to choose?
Kind Regards,
Alex
In reply to by admin
Hi Eric,
Above article was so helpful, but still I am having some confusions/doubt on the registration. I would like to start a freight forwarding/logistics company. Could you please help me out.
Thanks
In reply to by admin
I would like to start a Freight forwarder business in NY. What are the necessary steps to take for it
In reply to by admin
Hey Ramesh,
I recommend that you read our guide here: https://www.jwsuretybonds.com/blog/become-freight-broker
In reply to by admin
Hi Eric,
Thank you for the information, it was very detailed. Would you be so kind to help me understand if I would like to ship the cargo from Canada to Europe, I mean I would like to act as a shipping broker. Should I have a Freight Brokerage or do I have to be a Freight Forwarder to deal with the carriers (sea)?
Thanks
In reply to by admin
Hi I have my own small trucking company, so I already have everything to be a carrier for example MC, USDOT #, processing agent, DMV partnership login valid FMCSA login with the driver background checks ect... So I'm trying to figure out how to become a freight forwarder or broker so I can move product from Oregon, Wisconsin or North Carolina up into Canada and bring product from Canada back down to the lower 48 states.
In reply to by admin
Hey Aiswarya,
What questions did you have specifically?
In reply to by admin
Hey Daniel,
I recommend you read our guide here: https://www.jwsuretybonds.com/blog/become-freight-broker
In reply to by admin
Hi Eric,
our company is NVOCC in Vietnam. Now, we are planning to open a branch in US. This branch is only handle documents for shipment from Vietnam to US, such as be consignee on MBL and issue Arrival notice to real consignee. Please advise if this US branch need to register anything. Thank you.
In reply to by admin
Hey Thomas,
That's a good question. I recommend that you contact the Federal Maritime Commission: https://www.fmc.gov/resources-services/how-to-apply-for-an-oti-license/
Hi, my name is Jerome and I…
Hi, my name is Jerome and I would like for someone to advise me on some issues dealing with freight Forwarders! Please contact me using the email address that I am listing!!
Thanks,
Jerome
In reply to Hi, my name is Jerome and I… by Jerome
Hey Jerome, I'll have…
Hey Jerome,
I'll have someone from our sales team reach out.
Hi Eric, Thanks for sharing…
Hi Eric,
Thanks for sharing the useful information.
I have set up my import/export corporation in Canada. And I want to import consolidated shipments regularly. Do I need to register as a freight forwarder? If yes, is there any consulting company you can refer to that can assist in registering my company as a Freight Forwarder?
In reply to Hi Eric, Thanks for sharing… by Khalid Iqbal
Hey Khalid, I'll have our…
Hey Khalid,
I'll have our team reach out to you via email.
In reply to Hey Khalid, I'll have our… by eweisbrot
Thanks, Eric for a prompt…
Thanks, Eric for a prompt response.
Hi Eric, I have a Freight…
Hi Eric,
I have a Freight Forwarding Company in Argentina and I would like to open a new branch in the US (Miami). Which licenses or permission do I need?
In reply to Hi Eric, I have a Freight… by Gonzalo Foyth
Hey Gonzalo, You'll have to…
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