u/VoicecrkVillager

I'm a rising junior in college and I'm thinking about getting a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt in order to help me get a summer 2027 internship. What is the fastest way for me to get one this summer?

Hi, I'm a college student exploring different career paths to take and the freight broker industry is something that I've found very fascinating. Because I don't know any freight brokers personally, I would love to ask you guys a few questions to learn more about the industry:

Business & Industry

1. If you were starting a freight brokerage from scratch today or becoming a freight broker, what would your first 90 days look like?

2. Which freight niches are easiest to break into?

* Dry van

* Reefer

* Flatbed

* LTL

* Heavy haul

* Local deliveries

1. Is the industry becoming more or less competitive? Where are the opportunities today?

Customers

1. How do you actually get your first customers?

* Cold calling?

* Email?

* Referrals?

* LinkedIn?

* Load boards?

* Apps?

1. What type of companies make the best long-term customers?

2. How long does it usually take to land your first shipper?

Money

1. What’s the average commission or gross margin per load?

* What’s considered good?

* What’s considered bad?

How do brokers manage cash flow? If a carrier expects payment before the shipper pays, how do you bridge that gap? Do you use factoring or a line of credit?

1. What are the biggest hidden costs that beginners don’t expect?

Operations

1. What is a normal day in the life of a freight broker.

2. What’s the biggest mistake new brokers make?

3. How do you find reliable carriers and avoid scams or double brokers?

Legal & Risk

1. What licences, registrations and insurance are actually required in the U.S.?

* FMCSA authority

* Surety bond (BMC-84/BMC-85)

* Cargo insurance

* Contingent cargo insurance

* Errors & omissions insurance

1. Who is liable if freight is damaged, stolen or delivered late? How is insurance usually handled?

Technology

1. What software or tools couldn’t you live without today?

* TMS

* Load boards

* Accounting

* Carrier verification

* Tracking

* AI

* Automation

Hey everyone, I’m building a lead generation tool for freight brokers.

It finds leads based on real buying signals like warehouse openings, funding rounds, expansions, and similar events, then finds the right logistics contact to reach out to.

I’m looking for a few brokers to test it free for 30 days. No credit card or payment required, just looking for honest feedback.

If you’re open to checking it out, DM me and I’ll get you set up.