How to Select a High Quality Freight Broker

INSURANCE

Do they have proper insurance to protect your goods for transport?

Chances are that the trucking company the freight broker or Freight brokerage company hires for you will have more than enough insurance to cover the value of your goods in the case of an accident but it is a good idea for the broker to have insurance as well. You will want your broker to obtain proper insurance l just in case the trucking company is running with expired insurance or the broker forgets to check the trucking companies insurance in the first place. Either way you want to make sure you are covered. A reputable freight broker will have this insurance in place and will likely provide a copy of it before you have a chance to ask for it. You will want to see a minimum of 1 million liability, 250k cargo (unless the value of your goods is higher of course) and an errors and omissions policy is always a good idea.

REFERENCES

Can you find non bias references or referrals?

A good freight broker will likely have reviews on Google about past shipments, however keep in mind that these may be higher on the negative side as a person who had a good experience is much less likely to take the time out of their schedule to write a review in the first place. The best place to start would be from a friend or college who is in the shipping business. Chances are they have used one or more freight brokers before that should be able to point you in the right direction. The broker may also be able to provide references but unless it's from a big reputable company it is likely not going to be very useful.re are several reasons to use a freight broker, perhaps you have purchased an item across the country or need to get an item (s) shipped to your customer and you're looking for an easy, cost effective way to get it done. Whatever the reason may be, this guide has been put together to help you select a high quality freight brokerage company.

The below article contains various items to look for including legal, insurance, quality & experience when selecting a freight broker.

LEGAL

Do they have a Freight Broker Bond and operating authorities?

As of October 1st, 2013 Freight brokers are required by the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) to have in place either a BMC-84 or BMC-85 freight broker bond in the amount of $75,000 U.S Dollars in order to maintain an active operating authority. The BMC-84 is a surety bond provided by an insurance company who is willing to guarantee the 75K in case the broker defaults on payments. The insured (broker) will pay a yearly premium of $1,000 to $12,000 in order to get this insurance in place. The BMC-85 removes the insurance company and is put in place by the broker themselves or a bank by putting $75,000 into a trust fund. The main benefit to a trucking company is that they have a bit more of a guarantee that they will get paid and that a less reputable broker isn't going to take the money from the customer and run without paying the trucker. The benefit to the shipper is very similar in the idea that they don't have to fear that after they pay the broker the trucking company is going to come after them later if the broker takes off. This has helped reduce the amount of fraud in the industry as the broker now has to be financially stable before they even start. This is all fine if your in the USA or using a U.S. based broker but if you're in Canada its a little different story. Currently the only province in Canada that regulates freight brokers is Quebec, who requires brokers to be registered with the CTQ. However in order to get active authorities the FMCSA stated that Canadian Brokers need to obtain the bond as well. This has left many brokers Canadian brokers in a grey area as the U.S. says they need it while Canada says they do not. Even if a Canadian broker wanted to get a bond it is very tough to find a U.S. or Canadian insurance company to quote it or offer it for a decent price. In conclusion, it is a good idea for all brokers to have it as it is beneficial to everyone and chances are if a Canadian broker has obtained a bond they are extremely financially stable


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Gold Coin Appraisal - The Real Value Gold Of Coins

We all know that before we sell a house, we need to have it appraise so that we have a general idea of the kinds of improvements we need to make in order to sell the house for a higher price. When it comes to coins, we also need to have it appraise prior to selling to have a clear picture of how much the metals are worth. Presently, the gold trade is very active. If you have gold coins on hand and you wish to sell your precious pieces, you need to have them appraise so you will not be rip off its true value. Following are ways on how to have your coins appraise.

Factors That Determine The Value Of Coins

There are five things that dealers and coin appraiser look at in order to tell if your coins are worthy of a higher price or not. First is the condition. You can tell the condition of the coin by looking at its shape. Second is its rarity. Rarity denotes to the number of coins struck. Third is the a

Creating Wealth In Spite Of Today's Dire Economic Crisis

In one form of another, everyone on this planet has been impacted by the Global financial crisis that began in 2008. I'm not an economist nor am I a financial adviser. I'm simply a "messenger," and I'm going to explain to you how we got here and how people are actually capitalizing during one of the most severe economic times since The Great Depression.

Every time you turn around, the price of one thing or another seems to have gone up. Whether it be groceries, fuel, household necessities, etc. Simply put, since the world went into economic chaos in 2008, The Federal Reserve has been printing paper money on command to stifle our country's debt. Federal government bailouts included big names such as American International Group or AIG.

The result is Inflation...and a weaker dollar.

Stop Buying Diamonds and Start Investing in Them

It's Time to Stop Buying Diamonds and Start Investing in Them

It is no secret that tight supply and growing demand, especially in emerging countries, is increasing the prices of diamonds throughout the industry, making supply and demand difficult to accommodate. Major diamond collectors and diamond dealer's agree, it's time to stop buying diamonds and it's time to start investing in them. Similar to gold price, both white diamonds and natural fancy colored diamonds have experienced drastic price increases over the span of a few years.

Imagine, natural fancy colored diamonds were formed billions of years ago and only recently have come to the earth's surface for the world to see. In fact, not so long ago they were disregarded as geological oddities. Today, however some natural fancy colored diamonds are considered the most concentrated form of wealth on the planet.

How To Get Good Deals On Gold And Silver

Apparently, people are continually seeking ways to earn more money especially in these trying times. Gold and silver are two of the most sought after metals today. Experts believe that as the value of dollar declines, inflation will return and the value of precious metals will rise. Truly, gold and silver are examples of excellent investment vehicles that people can trust. If you are like the many who wishes to invest in precious metals, following are some helpful tips to get good deals.

Study The Market Before Investing
Since the price of precious metals is changing constantly, it is prudent to update oneself with the latest information about the gold and silver trade. To get information about the industry, one can study the financial periodicals. Periodicals are current and they provide pertinent feedb