Freight Broker

CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc; Cedar Rapids (IA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Life and disability insurance

Retirement savings with company match

Paid time off and holidays

Parental leave

Employee discounts

Job summary

CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc. is seeking a Freight Broker to grow our carrier network and secure capacity for customer freight at our Cedar Rapids, IA facility.

This fast-paced, relationship-driven role rewards performance with commission opportunities while contributing to margin and service excellence. You will negotiate rates, build trusted carrier relationships, and continuously optimize coverage.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to negotiate and make timely decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to own outcomes and meet performance goals.

Responsibilities

• Secure qualified carrier capacity for customer freight.
• Negotiate rates, service expectations, and load requirements.
• Evaluate carrier options based on cost and service needs.
• Develop relationships with carrier owners, dispatchers, and contractors.
• Monitor markets and communicate shipment requirements with carriers.
• Document rates and shipment information in company systems.
• Collaborate with account management, customer service, sourcing, and operations.
• Make daily decisions to support coverage and margin.

Skills

Strong communication skills

Negotiation

Relationship building

Decision making

Attention to detail

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

About CRST
CRST is one of the nation's largest transportation and logistics companies, helping customers move freight across North America through a broad range of transportation solutions. This role supports our Capacity Solutions business unit, CRST's brokerage and managed transportation operation.

Capacity Solutions helps customers keep freight moving by combining CRST assets with a large network of carrier partners to deliver flexible transportation solutions across North America. As the business continues to grow, building strong carrier relationships and securing reliable transportation capacity remains critical to our success.

The Opportunity
We're looking for a Freight Broker to help grow our carrier network, secure capacity for customer freight, and support the continued growth of our Capacity Solutions team. This is a fast-paced, relationship-driven role where success comes from building trust, negotiating effectively, making quick decisions, and staying ahead of changing market conditions.

Our team is actively growing, and we're looking for committed, high-energy individuals who are ready to invest in their career and be rewarded for their results. If you're competitive, motivated by performance, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems in real time, you'll have the opportunity to directly impact margin, service, and customer success while growing your earnings and building a long-term career with CRST.

How You'll Work

• Location: Onsite in Cedar Rapids, IA
• Schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM-4:00 PM
• Additional Schedule Expectations: Rotating Saturday coverage and two holidays per year
• Compensation: Competitive compensation package. Additional details will be discussed with qualified candidates during the interview process.
• Commission Eligibility: Eligible for performance-based commission opportunities tied to individual performance and results.
• Benefits: Comprehensive package including medical, dental, and vision coverage; prescription drug and telemedicine services; company-paid life and disability insurance; retirement savings with company match; paid time off, holidays, and parental leave; plus additional voluntary benefits and employee discounts.

What You'll Do

• Secure qualified carrier capacity for customer freight using carrier relationships, load boards, and transportation technology
• Negotiate rates, service expectations, and load requirements while balancing margin and customer commitments
• Evaluate carrier options and select transportation solutions based on cost, service, equipment requirements, and shipment needs
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with carrier owners, dispatchers, independent contractors, and transportation partners
• Monitor freight markets, carrier availability, and transportation costs to support informed coverage decisions
• Communicate shipment requirements, updates, and service expectations with carriers and internal teams
• Monitor freight through delivery and proactively address service issues, delays, or capacity concerns
• Accurately document rates, transportation costs, and shipment information in company systems
• Partner with account management, customer service, sourcing, and operations teams to support customer needs
• Make daily decisions that support freight coverage, service expectations, and margin performance.

What Great Looks Like

• Freight gets covered quickly, even in challenging market conditions
• Strong carrier relationships create dependable capacity and long-term partnerships
• Margin goals are consistently achieved without sacrificing service
• Internal teams receive timely, accurate communication and support
• Challenges are resolved quickly and ownership is taken through delivery
• You become a trusted resource for carriers and teammates alike.

What You Bring

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to negotiate, influence, and build trust with others
• Ability to make timely decisions and solve problems in a fast-paced environment
• Competitive drive and accountability for results
• Ability to learn new systems, processes, and industry concepts quickly
• Strong work ethic, resilience, and a willingness to take ownership of outcomes

Going the Extra Mile

• Experience covering freight and negotiating directly with motor carriers in a brokerage environment
• Experience developing and maintaining relationships with carrier owners, dispatchers, independent contractors, and agents
• Knowledge of freight markets, transportation rates, carrier capacity, equipment types, and service requirements
• Experience meeting margin, service, freight coverage, sales, or other performance goals
• Leadership experience through work, athletics, student organizations, military service, or other activities demonstrating accountability and ownership

Core Values

• Safety at the Core of All We Do
• Integrity in Every Decision and Action
• Commitment to the Success of Employees, Customers, Agents, Contractors and Communities

Equal Opportunity Employer: CRST The Transportation Solution, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. The Company prohibits unlawful discrimination against any applicant or employee based on race (including hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, creed, religious practices, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, reproductive health decision-making, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and related conditions), national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, military status, veteran status, marital status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.