Blog.

If you landed here after selecting “No” when we asked about freight brokerage experience, there’s a reason we sent you here.

LDi’s independent freight agent opportunity is a 1099 business opportunity for experienced freight brokers with an existing book of business. It isn’t an entry-level position. Without experience or established customers, starting as a 1099 agent can be a tough way to enter the industry. You’d be learning freight brokerage and trying to build a customer base at the same time, without a traditional salary to fall back on.

That doesn’t mean freight brokerage isn’t for you. There’s just a better way to get started.

Start at a W-2 Freight Brokerage

If you’re new to freight brokerage, look for a W-2 brokerage that hires and trains inexperienced brokers. You’ll get the opportunity to learn the business while earning a paycheck. You’ll learn how to prospect, quote freight, work with carriers, use a TMS, manage customers, protect margins, and solve the everyday problems that come with moving freight.

You’ll also find out whether freight brokerage is something you enjoy and want to build a career around.

Choose That First Brokerage Carefully

If your long-term goal is becoming an independent freight agent, pay attention to the employment agreement before accepting a position. Look closely at non-compete and non-solicitation provisions, customer restrictions, and anything else that could affect your ability to work with the relationships you develop if you eventually leave.

These agreements and their enforceability can vary, so understand what you’re signing and seek legal advice when appropriate. If independence is your goal, look for an opportunity where you can learn the industry and build customer relationships without unnecessarily restricting your future options.

Build a Real Book of Business

Learning how to broker freight is only part of becoming ready to work independently. You also need customers. A book of business isn’t a list of prospects. It’s customers who know you, trust you, and regularly give you freight.

Getting the first load is just the beginning. Keeping that customer means communicating well, quoting competitively, solving problems, and consistently giving them a reason to call you again. Over time, individual loads become regular lanes. Regular lanes become accounts. Those accounts become your book of business.

Don’t rush it. Your goal isn’t to hit an arbitrary number of months in the industry. You want to reach the point where you can confidently manage freight and have enough established business to support yourself as an independent agent.

Learn the Whole Business

Use your time as a W-2 broker to learn more than sales. Understand how carriers are sourced and vetted, how rates and margins work, and what happens when a shipment doesn’t go according to plan. Learn about tracking, detention, accessorials, claims, billing, and credit.

The more you understand about the business, the better prepared you’ll be to eventually run your own.

When You’re Ready to Make the Move

Once you know how to broker freight and have developed a portable book of business, becoming a 1099 freight agent starts to make much more sense. You bring the experience, customers, and business you’ve built. An agent-based brokerage like LDi provides the brokerage infrastructure and back-office support you need to operate and grow. That’s why LDi requires freight brokerage experience and an existing book of business from our agent applicants.

We want you to enter the industry the right way.

Get paid to learn the business. Build your experience and customer relationships. Build a book of business you can call your own.

Then, when you’re ready to take the next step, come back and talk to us.

We’ll be here.