Economic Outlook for Freight Brokerages in 2023 (2024)

The economic outlook for freight brokerages in 2023 is positive but turbulent. As more businesses emphasize supply chain efficiency to maintain smooth operations, demand for freight brokerage services is expected to remain strong. With increased competition and improved technology, freight brokerages will continue to provide businesses with competitive rates, reliable service, and faster shipping times.

The growing demand for globalized logistics and supply chain management services has driven the freight brokerage industry forward in recent years. Freight brokers arrange and negotiate the contracts between shippers and carriers, handle documentation, and manage transactions through the supply chain. This process helps to ensure that shipments are delivered on time and within budget. The increased demand for such services has allowed freight brokers to add value through cost-saving strategies and improved customer service.

According to Gartner research, professionals working with legacy paper products spend 50% of their time looking for misplaced information. This is a loss of $14,000 in employee time. At the same time, as much as 3% of a company’s revenue is spent on paper, printing, filing, and storing. This is even higher in the transportation industry. Exacerbating costs, a single 4-drawer cabinet costs $25,000 to fill and $2,000 to maintain each year.

Finally, knowledge workers making $30/hr will waste $4,500/year working with paper and 70% of businesses existing today would fail within three weeks if they had a catastrophic loss of their paper records.

In addition to the continued growth of global trade and e-commerce, the development of new technological solutions is likely to be a major driver of growth for freight brokerages in 2023. Transflo Workflow AI has already helped to reduce manual labor costs and streamlined business processes for many freight brokers. This technology is expected to continue expanding in the coming years as more companies become aware of the cost savings associated with adopting advanced technologies. In particular, the increasing adoption of blockchain technology could have a significant impact on the entire logistics industry, allowing for verifiable data tracking and secure payment methods.

As businesses become increasingly aware of the cost savings associated with freight brokerage services, more companies are likely to get involved in this industry in 2023. As competition increases and digital innovation continues to improve operational efficiency, prices could drop, and quality could improve. Thedigitalization of datawill also lead to increased transparency between shippers and carriers as they negotiate rates as well as make it easier to track shipments throughout their journey.

Overall, the economic outlook for freight brokerages in 2023 looks very promising. With continued growth in global trade and advanced technologies becoming increasingly available, freight brokers are well poised to capitalize on these trends by providing shippers with cost savings, faster turnaround times, and improved customer experiences.

For more information on industry-leading software solutions for carriers, brokers, factors, and shippers, please reach out to us today!

Economic Outlook for Freight Brokerages in 2023 (2024)

FAQs

What is the outlook for freight brokerage in 2023? ›

What is the Economic Outlook for Freight Brokerages in 2023? Strong but shaky is a good phrase to describe the economic outlook for freight brokerages in 2023. With more businesses emphasizing supply chain efficiency to ensure streamlined operations, demand for freight broker and 3PL solutions should remain strong.

Is there a freight recession in 2023? ›

The decline in transportation of goods from seaports and throughout the supply chain is expected to continue as consumer spending is forecast to drop at a 0.5% annualized rate in the second and third quarters of 2023. Less goods coming into the country means less loads to transport.

What is the future of the freight brokerage industry? ›

Prediction: Freight brokerages will focus on operations to mitigate supply chain volatility. Prediction: Growing interest in cybersecurity. Prediction: The rise of SmartBrokers empowered by broker tech stacks including financial enablement platforms, will put pressure on the entire industry to evolve.

Is freight brokerage still a good business to be in? ›

In wrapping up, starting a Freight Broker Business can indeed be a promising venture if you're ready for the challenges and committed to understanding the marketplace. The possibilities for growth and profitability in the freight brokering sector are substantial, given the pivotal role it plays in global commerce.

Will freight brokers be replaced? ›

While pure digital freight management intends to disintermediate – or cut out the middleman – a freight broker's role is unlikely to disappear any time soon.

Are freight brokers in demand? ›

Today, estimates show they manage 25%-30% of freight, a significant market share, with others suggesting the figure is closer to 50%. And more than 61% of brokers are expecting demand growth in the freight ecosystem.

What is the freight market prediction for 2024? ›

Because of the impact of higher inflation from driver wages, fuel prices, and interest rates and their downstream effects, FreightRun expects freight rates to go higher in 2024 even if the economy slows down – stagflation is a real possibility.

What is the freight trend for 2023? ›

2023, and the predictable rainy day arrives.

Following the massive build-up of shipper inventories in 2021 and 2022 and decreasing freight demand over the year, carriers could still break even in 2023 despite the rollercoaster ride that diesel prices were taking carriers on.

What is a recession in the freight industry? ›

A freight recession, also known as a trucking recession, is a period of declining freight volumes, which indicates overcapacity in the industry. The freight market has been struggling, and rates have not bounced back as expected.

Is becoming a freight broker worth it? ›

On average, the yearly freight broker salary in the U.S. is $71,500 ($36.67 per hour). Entry-level positions begin at $45,000 per year, while most experienced professionals earn up to $107,500 per year. As a freight broker, you can start your own trucking business and become your own boss.

Who is the largest freight brokerage firm in the US? ›

C.H. Robinson

How profitable is a freight brokerage? ›

What does gross margin mean for freight brokerage? Gross margin numbers are often displayed as a percentage of net sales and for a freight brokerage, usually range from 10% - 20%. This means that for every $1 you pay your brokerage, they usually take away less than $. 15 in gross margin.

What is the outlook for freight brokerage? ›

Freight Brokerage Market size was valued at USD 51.7 billion in 2023 and is estimated to register a CAGR of 6% between 2024 and 2032. The rise of e-commerce has led to an increased demand for efficient and flexible freight solutions.

Which freight brokers pay the most? ›

Top paying companies in Transportation & Logistics for Freight Broker are Western Express, King of Freight, and FreightCenter.
  • Western Express$83,892/yr.
  • King of Freight$82,914/yr.
  • FreightCenter$80,433/yr.

Who is the best freight broker to work with? ›

Top 20 Freight Brokerage Company Listing in Detail
  • BNSF Logistics.
  • KAG Logistics.
  • Yusen Logistics (Americas) Inc.
  • England Logistics.
  • Uber Freight (with subsidiary, Transplace)
  • ArcBest Company.
  • Allen Lund Company.
  • Redwood Logistics.

Will freight cost increase in 2023? ›

Will trucking rates in 2023 increase or decrease? Without a doubt, trucking rates in 2023 have been lower. In the short term we see truckload rates decreasing. Clearly, the downtrend that began in the 3rd quarter of 2022 is still in play.

What is the forecast for the trucking industry in 2023? ›

Trucking's revenues will grow from $1.01 trillion in 2023 to $1.51 trillion in 2034, which will account for 78.8% of the freight market.

What is the logistics industry outlook for 2023? ›

The main factor affecting the industry's growth levels is a slowdown of the global economy in H2 of 2023. Supply chain pressures in transportation have receded, and prices for international shipping along several major routes have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

What is the cargo outlook for 2023? ›

Consequently, 2023 concluded with an 11.3% increase in total air cargo capacity compared to 2022. The expansion in global air cargo capacity also resulted in a small drop in cargo load factors (month-on- month), closing the year at 44.0% on average.

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