Whether you are new to the transportation logistics industry or have worked in the field for many years, the role of a freight broker may seem somewhat arcane. To the outside observer, it might seem like they just find a way to move the freight from point A to point B, but it is much more complicated than that. The freight broker has the unenviable job of working with shippers and carriers to coordinate action in an industry that never stands still. They are not only responsible for negotiating prices for freight transport but also doing it in a way that maintains profitability for carriers and earns their commission. As you can imagine, there are a lot of moving parts to juggle to accomplish this daily, but it is a job that can be made much more manageable with the help of a sophisticated computerized freight forwarding system.
A Certified Transportation Broker often runs into the greatest difficulty in sourcing transportation for freight loads when they are bogged down in busywork like invoice management and accounting. The priority on any given day is to make sure that customers are billed and that carriers are paid promptly because if this isn’t accomplished the entire system grinds to a halt. However, this takes away from valuable time that could be spent more productively. While you are working on billing transactions you could be brokering more freight loads and earning a greater number of commissions in a day. The role of an online freight forwarder system is to facilitate this process by taking billing and accounting off of the table and reducing unnecessary paperwork that can weigh down a broker’s desk.
Efficiency is the name of the game for a freight broker, and the most useful software for freight forwarders is the one that can enhance this efficiency by generating all needed documents in a fillable electronic form. It also maintains these records disseminates manifests and weighs bills to the responsible parties. In short, great freight software helps the broker to turn complicated multi-step tasks into one easy step that can be performed from a desktop computer or even a mobile device while on the move. Unlike other common office-based computer automation software, freight forwarder software is based on the specific needs of brokers to manage financing and workflow in a way that is easy to navigate and accessible. With the help of this software, you can put aside the more tedious and repetitive tasks required of freight forwarding and get the cargo moving for your customers.
Are you interested in hearing more about how freight broker software can transform your workplace? Contact us and learn about our custom-designed transportation software applications.