I'm currently considering becoming a broker or broker agent, being as such that my back condition (degenerative disk disease) is not going to let me drive, see the country, hide from lot lizards, and scare myself silly.

Is this a worthwhile endevour? There's a company advertising on thetrucker, Transport Training of America, Inc., that is offering a course which might be covered by vocational rehab. The course includes material such as:

+ The requirements of a broker and how to obtain them
+ The broker/freight agent similarity to the travel agent
+ Overview of the Workbooks, Textbook and Legal Terminology and Scenarios
+ Overview of the forms for Domestic Truck, Rail (Intermodal) Domestic and International Air and Ocean Freight
+ Review and Build the Shipper Packet
+ Writing your Business Profile and Developing the Shipper Letter.
+ What is a Contract between You and the Shipper?
+ Establishing the Shipper Credit Limits
+ Helpful Government Websites
+ Development of a Shipper Database
+ Development of a Carrier Database
+ Development of Rates
+ Marketing (10 sources for finding Shippers)
+ Contacting the Shipper
+ Prospecting
+ Developing the Shipper Profile
+ Developing the Carrier Profile
+ Using the Internet to determine where the Freight is but the Trucks aren't.
+ Discovering where the Shippers are.
+ Posting your loads
+ Finding Trucks
+ Posting Bid Requests
+ "Instant Notification"
+ Using the Thomas Register
+ Using the Thomas Regional Directory
+ Using the "Safer System" to qualify your Carriers
+ Mileage Calculations
+ Working the Internet Sources
- o Internet Truck Stop
- o Carrier Depot
- o Get Loaded
- o Flying J
- o H.I.S.
- o Post Everywhere

and more.

Do a lot of carriers and owner/ops use brokers, or would I just be wasting my time and effort? Does anyone know anyone who has went through this program? :?

Any advice, pointers, best wishes, run for the hills, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Most carriers and owner operators running their own authority use brokers at least some of the time. Have you considered going to work for a major brokerage firm like CH Robinson? They look for people from time to time. I am not sure of their requirements. It is a good way to learn the business and get paid for it. I am not familiar with the company you noted that has the brokers course. I am also not sure why Flying j is listed with the load boards. To my knowlege they don't have their own load board. At least not yet. 8)

I wouldn't mind being a broker at Home-Small scale
Hey GMAN-if you're ever up my way I can find you Loads

Yoopr, snow is not considered a load. :P

Snow in Northern Michigan?
Who started that ugly rumor?

I've been to the U.P. SEVERAL times in my life, and never saw a single flake of snow.

I suppose I could try going sometime other than July...

(BTW...are mosquitos considered a load? Plenty of them up there!)

Actually at one time or another it has snowed In the UP every month of the Year.
Nah-We don't get snow-I WISH :P

I appreciate that yoopr. I will keep that in mind. I recall talking to a guy from up your way a few years ago. He told me that you had gotten more snow than Buffalo that year. I think Buffalo had gotten about 108" at one time and he said you all had gotten a little more. He seemed upset that Michigan hadn't gotten any publicity and Buffalo did. Go figure. :roll:

we always get more snow than Buffalo-In fact more snow than anyplace other than the Rocky Mountains but the reason Buffalo gets the publicity is because it's a Big City and the largest town up here is only a little over 20,000 people.


Take a look at the Snow Ruler

http://www.copperrange.org/photoshop.htm

Yoopr, I had no doubt you didn't get snow. I have a brother in law who lives in Northport and since your just a lake apart it would make sense you also would the wonderful white stuff.

It's Lake Superior that causes all the snow up here-Where's Northport? Never heard of it