Logistics and Supply Chain

Overview

• Logistics processes and systems defining material and information flows
• Cross-functional relationships with marketing, finance, and manufacturing
• How to achieve consistent customer service at the lowest total cost

Capacity Planning Management

• Strategic and operational considerations and alignment of resources
• Trade-offs between logistics, procurement, manufacturing, and customer relationship management
• Organizational forecast development

Order Management

• Order management and customer service
• Defining and measuring logistics customer service outputs

Inventory and Warehouse Management

• Methods and techniques to control, manage, and store inventory
• Economic and service benefits warehousing delivers
• Warehouse types and operating characteristics

Transportation

• Major principles and processes of transportation management
• Fundamental mode roles, capabilities, and responsibilities

Global Logistics Considerations

• Navigating complex supply chains from a total cost perspective
• Transportation modal analysis, security considerations, and regulations

Logistics Network Design

• Transportation and inventory impact on network design considerations
• Introduction to modeling tools and techniques
• The processes, resources, and tools for managing risk

Reverse Logistics Considerations 

• Reverse supply chain flows and sustainability
• Logistics social responsibility and the triple bottom line

Become a part of the exciting trucking, freight logistics, and transportation industries as a licensed freight broker or as a freight broker agent. From licensing to operations, to sales and marketing, you'll learn the basics of how to run a domestic freight brokerage or agency in the United States.

Entrepreneur magazine has rated the freight brokerage business as one of the top home-based businesses to own, and a recent Wall Street Journal article cited freight brokering and logistics as the largest growing sector of the transportation industry. Written by freight brokerage specialists, the Freight Broker/Agent Online Training Program will provide you with the knowledge and resources needed to break into the $400 billion-plus shipping industry.

Freight broker professionals are in demand. No matter the state of the economy, goods will always need to be shipped. A motivated and disciplined freight broker or freight agent who has received the proper training can build up his or her business into a six-figure earning potential. It's an ideal home business for a self-starter who enjoys fast-paced work.

Upon registering, you're given an initial six months to complete the program. Should you need more time, you may request a six-month extension at no additional charge.

$1,895

A freight broker is legally a property broker, which is the term established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), a division of the United States Department of Transportation. It describes licensed individuals or corporations that help make a shipper and an authorized motor carrier successful in the transporting of freight.

1. A Broker's Authority, available through the FMCSA for a $300 fee. You fill out Form OP-1 and file for your authority to operate as a broker.
2. A Surety Bond or Trust Fund, which you can obtain from a bank or bonding company. The cost varies depending on your personal credit. You're required to carry a $75,000 bond or trust. The form filed with this is BMC-84 or BMC-85.
3. Processing Agent, which runs approximately $50, with form BOC-3.
4. File a Unified Carrier Registration (UCR)

As of this writing, there are approximately 15,000 licensed transportation brokers in the nation, but a large number are inactive. This is still a relatively new industry, as there were only around 70 brokers in 1970. It's estimated that freight brokers accounted for over 10% of the shipping industry, or roughly $40 billion out of $400 billion, in revenues. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal cited freight brokerage and logistics as the fastest- growing sector of the transportation industry.

Yes. You can open a freight agency or become a freight broker agent with little risk and without obtaining your own licensing. In that case, you'd operate as an agent, under the umbrella of another broker's authority, and you would do a split with the broker on your profits.

If you want to open a freight brokerage or agency, you'll need a computer with high-speed Internet, a fax machine, a telephone and phone service with inexpensive unlimited long distance. If you're opening a brokerage, you'll also most likely want to purchase a transportation software program. If you're an agent, you'll use your broker's software system.

Absolutely. Most agents and many brokers work out of their home office.

It will take some time to build up your customer database, just as with any business that you start. Typically it can take three to six months of disciplined work to show a substantial profit. Sometimes it takes much less time, sometimes more. But once you begin securing customers, they normally have residual shipping, so the sale repeats itself over and over. Your level of success depends on many factors, such as your level of determination, your tenacity, and your genuine desire to help your customers succeed.

Again, your individual earnings will depend on your personal abilities and how determined you are to succeed. As a full-time broker or agent, you can make from $40,000 to well over $200,000 or more. The potential is virtually unlimited as you grow.

In the program, we go into detail on this subject, showing you many different tools for locating your shippers, such as publications, reference sources and Internet sources.

There are many factors in making this decision, which we go over in detail during the program. Three major factors are money, time, and experience, among others. Either way, you’ll need three to six months’ worth of living expenses or a supplemental income while you establish your business. If you open your own brokerage, you’ll also need additional start-up money for cash flow and start-up costs.

Yes, because our program is online you never have to actually travel to the school.

All of our programs are self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start them when you want and finish them at your own pace. Upon registering, you're given an initial six months to complete this program. Should you need more time beyond the six months, an extension of six months is available at no additional cost.

All the materials you'll need are included, and their cost will be covered by your tuition. Ed2go will ship all materials ground service upon enrollment.

This course is a non-credit course, so it does not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses.

Upon successful completion of the program, you will be awarded a certificate of completion.

Our programs will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We don't provide direct job placement services, but our facilitators and career counselors will help you build your resume and are available to give advice on finding your first job. Facilitators will also be available to use as a professional reference upon completion of the program. Potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.

Each student is paired up with a facilitator for one-on-one interaction. The facilitator will be available (via e-mail) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach.

In order to take our online programs, you must have access to a computer and the Internet. You can access the program contents from any Web-enabled computer. You don't have to use the same computer to log-in to the program every time. We recommend that you have a wordprocessing program (Microsoft Word is best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer.

Yes, you can use a Mac for this program.

Our programs are all open enrollment. You can register and start the program as soon as you are ready. 

Please note: Once the program curriculum is accessed online or through submission of a material shipment confirmation, refunds cannot be issued.