Lists of the top freight brokers rank them by revenue, but the top broker for your freight is the one that fits it. ExpeditedFreight.com is an expedited freight broker that books dedicated trucks for urgent loads. Here is how to read the rankings and choose.
The measure sets the order
Gross revenue, net revenue and loads each rank brokers differently.
Most lists of the top freight brokers rank them by revenue. Some use gross revenue, the total amount shippers pay the broker, which includes what the broker pays carriers. Others use net revenue, what the broker keeps after paying carriers, which gives a clearer picture of the size of the brokerage business itself. Some lists count loads handled or the number of carriers in a broker's network instead.
Each measure produces a different order, and lists also differ by fiscal year and by whether they include companies that do far more than brokerage. That is why two lists of the top freight brokers rarely match.
Rankings show scale, not fit. ExpeditedFreight.com is an expedited freight broker, and the best way to judge any broker, large or small, is by how well it handles the freight you actually ship.
A freight broker arranges transportation for a shipper's freight without owning the trucks. When a shipper has a load, the broker finds a carrier with the right equipment on the lane, agrees the pickup and delivery, books the truck and manages the load until it is delivered. The shipper deals with the broker, and the broker deals with the carrier.
Because brokers work with many carriers, they can often find capacity quickly, offer several truck types and cover lanes a single carrier does not run. That makes them useful for one-off loads, peaks, unusual freight and urgent shipments, as well as steady lanes.
ExpeditedFreight.com works this way, booking dedicated trucks from carriers for urgent loads, from Sprinter vans to 53 ft dry vans and flatbeds, with air freight when the road is too slow.
Brokers specialize
National, specialist, expedited and digital brokers each fit different freight.
Even among the top freight brokers, there are several kinds. Large national brokerages handle huge volumes across many modes and regions, often with contract lanes for big shippers. Specialist brokers focus on a type of freight or equipment, such as flatbed, heavy haul or temperature-sensitive loads, or on a region they know well.
Expedited brokers focus on urgent loads that need a dedicated truck or flight right away, often outside business hours. Digital freight marketplaces match loads and trucks through online platforms, with less personal contact. Many brokers combine more than one of these.
Knowing which kind fits a shipment narrows the choice faster than any ranking. ExpeditedFreight.com is an expedited broker, focused on the loads that cannot wait.
Fit beats size
Communication, equipment and availability matter more than rank.
For a shipper, the top freight brokers are the ones that handle its freight well. That starts with communication: quick answers, one point of contact who knows the load and honest updates, including when something goes wrong. It continues with the right equipment and coverage, so the broker can send the truck the load needs on the lane it travels.
Availability matters for urgent freight, since problems do not wait for business hours. So does the willingness to recommend a different option when it fits better, rather than whatever is easiest to book.
A broker that ranks lower on a revenue list may still be the top choice for a particular kind of freight. ExpeditedFreight.com aims to be that choice for urgent loads, with one expeditor tracking each shipment from booking to delivery.
Many use more than one
Steady lanes and urgent loads often go to different brokers.
Many industries rely on freight brokers, including the top freight brokers on revenue lists. Manufacturers use them for overflow and urgent parts when a line is at risk. Retailers and e-commerce sellers use them to add capacity around peaks and to restock stores quickly. Food and beverage companies use them alongside their regular carriers.
Hospitals and medical suppliers turn to brokers for urgent, careful deliveries. Construction and energy companies use them to find flatbeds and hot shots for job sites, and event and trade show teams use them to get freight to venues on time.
Many businesses work with more than one broker: a large brokerage for steady lanes and an expedited broker for loads that cannot wait. ExpeditedFreight.com fills that expedited role, which is why being among the top freight brokers for a shipper often depends on the type of load.
A shipment goes right when one person owns it, the option fits and the updates are honest.
“I had a single point of contact assigned to our shipment that was fantastic on keeping me updated every step of the way.”
Pamela · TrustpilotWhen you call ExpeditedFreight.com, you reach a real person right away, and that same person owns your shipment from the first call to final delivery. You never have to explain it twice.
Your expeditor books it, follows it the whole way and is the person you call next time.
“I called up at 7:30 pm... one that was secured cancelled at the end of the day. Todd quoted three shipments on the spot... The last shipment was picked up at Midnight.”
Susan · TrustpilotEvery shipment is different, and the right solution is the one that actually fits. We book Sprinter vans, box trucks, straight trucks, hot shots, 53 ft dry vans, flatbeds and air freight across the US.
We match the shipment to the option it needs, so you never pay for capacity or speed you do not use.
“True to word. They did exactly what they said they would do.”
Dan · TrustpilotUrgent freight is stressful enough without wondering whether you have the full story. We give you the price before you commit, the timeline as it actually stands, and if something goes wrong, you hear it from us first.
That includes telling you when another broker or option would suit you better.
talk to an expeditor now
Call (800) 704-7145
