How Much Does a Freight Broker Charge Per Load in 2025

Freight broker pricing depends on a variety of factors including lane, seasonality, freight type, and market conditions. Most brokers hope to make 10-18% of the total load value as their margin. For a standard dry van load traveling 800 miles, carriers might receive $2,000-$2,400 while the broker adds their commission. Specialized freight (hazmat, refrigerated, oversize) typically commands higher broker fees due to the additional expertise and carrier requirements involved.

The Three Main Freight Broker Pricing Models

Brokers use three primary pricing methods when contracting with shippers:

Pricing Model	How It Works	Best For	Typical Margins
Rate Per Mile	Fixed price per mile traveled	Long-distance, standard freight	$0.30-$0.50/mile
Rate Per Pound	Price based on cargo weight	Dense, heavy freight	$0.02-$0.15/lb
Flat Rate	Single price regardless of distance or weight	Regular lanes, consistent freight	15-22% of total cost

Let's examine each model in detail.

Rate Per Mile: The Industry Standard

Rate per mile (RPM) is the most common pricing model in truckload freight. Here's what you need to know:

Current 2025 Rate Per Mile Averages

Region	Dry Van (per mile)	Reefer (per mile)	Flatbed (per mile)
Northeast	$2.95-$3.25	$3.45-$3.90	$3.35-$3.75
Southeast	$2.65-$2.95	$3.10-$3.50	$3.25-$3.65
Midwest	$2.75-$3.10	$3.30-$3.75	$3.30-$3.70
West Coast	$2.95-$3.30	$3.55-$4.00	$3.40-$3.80
National Average	$2.85	$3.45	$3.40

Source: Compiled from DAT RateView and industry data, February 2025

How Brokers Calculate Their Margins

In a rate per mile model, brokers typically:

1. Quote the shipper a rate of $X.XX per mile
2. Find carriers willing to haul the load for $X.XX minus the broker's margin
3. Keep the difference as commission

For example, on an 800-mile haul from Chicago to Nashville:

• Shipper rate: $3.00/mile × 800 miles = $2,400
• Carrier payment: $2.65/mile × 800 miles = $2,120
• Broker margin: $280 (11.7% of total)

Pros and Cons

Advantages:

• Easy to calculate and understand
• Transparent for both shippers and carriers
• Industry standard with abundant market data
• Predictable costs for all parties

Disadvantages:

• Doesn't account for loading/unloading time
• Can be unfair for short but complex hauls
• Doesn't reflect value of cargo being moved

Rate Per Pound: Weight-Based Pricing

Weight-based pricing is less common in truckload but essential for partial shipments and certain industries like food distribution.

Current Rate Per Pound Averages (2025)

Freight Type	Average Rate	Common Industries
Standard LTL	$0.15-$0.35/lb	General manufacturing, retail
Specialized LTL	$0.30-$0.75/lb	Chemicals, electronics, medical
Parcel	$0.50-$2.00/lb	E-commerce, small package
Air Freight	$1.50-$4.50/lb	Pharmaceuticals, high-value goods

Sample Calculation

For a 5,000 lb shipment of packaged food products:

• Shipper rate: $0.22/lb × 5,000 lbs = $1,100
• Carrier payment: $0.18/lb × 5,000 lbs = $900
• Broker margin: $200 (18.2% of total)

When To Use Rate Per Pound

Rate per pound makes sense when:

• The weight directly impacts handling costs
• You're moving partial truckloads or LTL
• Dealing with high-density, heavy freight
• Moving commodities priced by weight in their industry

Flat Rate: Simplicity and Predictability

Flat rate pricing offers a single price regardless of weight or exact mileage, typically for specific lanes.

How Flat Rates Work

Brokers establish a set price for moving freight between specific origins and destinations. For example, $2,200 for any standard dry van load from Dallas to Atlanta. This rate remains stable regardless of minor weight variations or exact pickup/delivery locations within those metro areas.

Factors That Determine Flat Rates

Flat rates depend on:

• Lane balance (headhaul vs. backhaul)
• Seasonal demand
• Fuel prices
• Consistency of freight volume
• Special requirements
• Market conditions

Brokers typically establish flat rates by:

1. Analyzing historical costs on that lane
2. Adding buffer for market fluctuations (usually 3-5%)
3. Adding their margin (usually 12-20%)
4. Rounding to a clean number

When Flat Rates Make Sense

Flat rates work best for:

• Regular, consistent shipping lanes
• Shippers who value budgeting predictability
• Contract freight with committed volumes
• Dedicated routes

How Brokers Contract With Shippers

Freight brokers use two primary contracting approaches:

1. Spot Market Arrangements

Spot market pricing involves one-off quotes for immediate shipping needs. Rates fluctuate daily based on:

• Current capacity in the market
• Fuel prices
• Weather conditions
• Seasonal demand
• Equipment availability

These arrangements typically have:

• Higher rates during peak seasons
• No volume commitments
• Simpler contract terms
• Faster carrier assignment
• Higher broker margins (often 18-25%)

2. Contract Freight Agreements

Contract freight involves longer-term agreements (often 6-12 months) with:

• Guaranteed capacity
• Stable, pre-negotiated rates
• Volume commitments
• More favorable payment terms
• Lower broker margins (usually 10-15%)

In 2025, most sophisticated brokers use a dynamic pricing model that combines contract and spot elements, where baseline rates adjust within defined bands based on market conditions. This provides both predictability and flexibility.

How Brokers Select and Pay Carriers

Once brokers set prices with shippers, they must find carriers at rates that preserve their margins. Here's the modern broker process:

Finding and Vetting Carriers

Modern brokers use a multi-step approach:

1. Check internal carrier database for preferred carriers
2. Use carrier search tools to find qualified carriers with available capacity
3. Verify carrier credentials, insurance, and safety records
4. Assess carrier reliability score and on-time performance
5. Implement carrier verification to prevent fraud and double-brokering

Rate Negotiation Process

The typical negotiation flow:

1. Broker calculates target carrier rate (shipper rate minus desired margin)
2. Initial offer to carrier (usually below target rate)
3. Counteroffers and negotiation
4. Rate confirmation when agreed

Top brokers in 2025 use strategic bidding tools that recommend:

• Optimal starting offers based on carrier history
• Psychological pricing points ($1,795 vs $1,800)
• Real-time market conditions
• Carrier-specific negotiation strategies

Payment Terms and Factoring

Standard payment terms range from:

• Quick pay: 1-3 days (with 2-3% discount)
• Accelerated: 10-15 days (sometimes with 1% discount)
• Standard: 30 days (no discount)

In 2025, approximately 62% of carriers use factoring services to get paid faster, typically at a cost of 2-5% of the invoice amount. Savvy brokers offer competitive QuickPay programs to attract quality carriers without the factoring middleman.

Maximizing Profit Margins as a Broker

The most successful brokers optimize their margins through:

Strategic Lane Selection

Rather than competing in oversaturated markets, top brokers focus on profitable niches where they can command premium rates, such as:

• Specialized equipment needs
• Difficult-to-serve regions
• High-service requirements
• Time-sensitive freight

Technology-Enabled Rate Optimization

Modern AI-powered tools analyze:

• Historical lane data
• Carrier performance metrics
• Market capacity indicators
• Shipper-specific requirements

These systems enable brokers to set optimal pricing that balances competitiveness with profitability. For instance, AI for carrier sales can negotiate rates with carriers much more efficiently, preserving margins without sacrificing carrier relationships.

Value-Added Services

The highest-margin brokers offer additional services beyond basic freight movement:

• Real-time shipment visibility
• Custom reporting
• Dedicated customer service
• Specialized handling
• Expedited service options
• Risk management

By providing these extras, brokers can command rates 15-25% higher than commodity brokers who compete solely on price.

Conclusion

Ultimately, your pricing strategy must reflect your overall business model. The most successful brokers in 2025:

1. Understand their true costs
2. Specialize in specific lanes or freight types
3. Build carrier density
4. Utilize technology
5. Develop shipper partnerships

They don't compete primarily on price, but rather on reliability, service quality, and specialized expertise – allowing them to maintain margins of 18-22% even in challenging markets.

By understanding these pricing models and implementing strategic approaches to both shipper and carrier negotiations, you can ensure your brokerage maintains healthy margins while remaining competitive in the evolving freight market.