Freight Transportation Arrangement Revenue Benchmarks
The average freight transportation arrangement business in the United States generates $3.8M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 15,418 freight transportation arrangement businesses in the U.S., employing 301,772 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $82K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Freight Transportation Arrangement Business Actually Do?
Freight brokers connecting shippers and carriers, earning a spread. Include national brands (CH Robinson, XPO) and small brokerages.
Who buys: Manufacturers, retailers, distributors shipping freight; carriers finding freight.
Average Revenue
$3.8M
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$196K
per year
Total Businesses
15,418
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$192K
small business avg
Labor Cost
35.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$82K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
4.7
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Freight Transportation Arrangement Charge?
Freight brokers arrange freight between shippers and carriers, earning a margin (spread).
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Broker margin (per load) | 10–20% of freight cost |
Freight forwarder ocean container | $500–3,000 per container margin |
Freight forwarder air freight | 10–15% of gross |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete freight transportation arrangement business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a freight transportation arrangement business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the freight transportation arrangement industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Fuel & vehicle costs | $30 | $1.2M | Fuel is often the single biggest line — plus tires, maintenance, tolls. |
Wages & benefits | $35 | $1.3M | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $230K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $115K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $21 | $806K | Insurance (very high), truck payments, dispatching software, driver benefits. |
Net profit | $5 | $192K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
9.03%
openings/year
Closure Rate
10.52%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-0.11%
annual
Businesses Closed
1,313
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Freight Transportation Arrangement Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
9 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a freight transportation arrangement business do?
- Freight brokers connecting shippers and carriers, earning a spread. Include national brands (CH Robinson, XPO) and small brokerages. Manufacturers, retailers, distributors shipping freight; carriers finding freight.
- How much do freight transportation arrangement charge?
- Freight brokers arrange freight between shippers and carriers, earning a margin (spread). See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average freight transportation arrangement make per year?
- The average freight transportation arrangement business generates $3.8M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $192K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many freight transportation arrangement businesses are there in the US?
- There are 15,418 freight transportation arrangement businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 301,772 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a freight transportation arrangement business?
- Startup costs for a freight transportation arrangement business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the freight transportation arrangement industry?
- The average employee in the freight transportation arrangement industry earns $82K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The freight transportation arrangement industry is relatively stable — with a net job growth rate of -0.1%. Entry and exit rates are balanced at 9.0% and 10.5% respectively.
Approximately 57% of freight transportation arrangement businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 1,313 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the freight transportation arrangement industry earns $81,751/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 24,206 establishments employing 270,919 people, the typical business has about 11 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The freight transportation arrangement industry has grown 29% since 2000 (from 10,867 to 14,019 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Freight Transportation Arrangement revenue with other industries: