Freight Broker

Connects companies that need to ship goods with carriers that transport them — the matchmakers of logistics.

Did you know?

C.H. Robinson, one of the world's biggest freight brokers, began in 1905 as a small fruit-and-vegetable broker in North Dakota and Minnesota.

Business Studies: Agree a fair price with a trucking company and still earn a fee for arranging the deal.
Geography: Match a load to a truck already heading the right way so it doesn't drive back empty.
Communication: Keep the sender and the driver updated when bad weather or a breakdown delays a delivery.
Mathematics: Compare cost per mile and weight limits to pick the best carrier for each load.

Pick two pairs of towns or cities: one pair close together and one pair far apart. Find the distance between each pair.
Using the made-up speeds on the card, work out how many hours each trip would take by truck, train and plane.
Now choose how to send three things: fresh flowers, a load of bricks and one urgent medicine. Would you pick the fastest option every time?
Write one sentence for each choice explaining why, thinking about speed, cost and size.

Logistics managers and freight brokers weigh speed against cost for every load, and rarely pick a plane unless the goods are urgent or perishable.

Also try: Test-fly two paper planes.

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