How freight brokers make money
Updated October 2026
Brokers earn the difference between what the shipper pays and what the carrier is paid, often called the margin or spread.
What affects profit
Margin per load, the number of loads you move, quick pay and factoring costs, software and load board subscriptions, insurance, and how long shippers take to pay you.
Cash flow
Many brokers pay carriers before shippers pay them, so cash flow can make or break a new brokerage. Run your numbers with our margin calculator.
