How to Become a Freight Broker in Arkansas (2026)

Updated August 11, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas employs about 2,220 freight brokers earning a median $78,400 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Freight Broker here means completing FMCSA broker authority (MC number), a BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust, BOC-3, and UCR. FMCSA does not require a training exam.

Compare Freight Broker Schools in Arkansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
163.8$7,334 in-state / $12,182 out-of-state$49,99838%Yes*117 mi
258.4$8,674 in-state / $14,668 out-of-state$49,75949%Yes*48 mi
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354.0$5,040 in-state / $6,480 out-of-state$50,47862%Yes*95 mi
447.0$3,504 in-state / $5,592 out-of-state$46,21042%Yes*95 mi
Sponsored Ad
535.4$5,200 in-state / $8,650 out-of-state$42,32828%Yes*56 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Arkansas employs approximately 2,220 freight brokers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $78,400 1. Nationally, freight broker employment is projected to grow 16.7% from 2024 to 2034, with about 26,400 openings per year 2. This page covers how to become a Freight Broker in Arkansas, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

  • Training paths: optional freight-broker course; authority is federal registration (find programs)
  • Typical timeline: FMCSA broker authority (MC number), a BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust, BOC-3, and UCR. FMCSA does not require a training exam
  • Exam: none required by FMCSA
  • Median wage (Arkansas): $78,400 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Freight Broker in Arkansas

How to become a Freight Broker in Arkansas? Complete FMCSA broker authority (MC number), a BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust, BOC-3, and UCR. FMCSA does not require a training exam. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish FMCSA broker authority (MC number), a BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust, BOC-3, and UCR. FMCSA does not require a training exam. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Arkansas? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect none required by FMCSA. See the licensing section below.

What do freight brokers earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Arkansas is $78,400 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,780 and experienced professionals can earn $134,910 or more 1.

How to Become a Freight Broker in Arkansas

  1. Decide whether you need your own authority. Employees and agents can work under someone else’s broker authority. Independent brokerages need their own MC number.
  2. Form the business and apply for FMCSA broker authority. Obtain an EIN, then apply for motor carrier (broker) authority. This is not a registered apprenticeship and not a state occupational license.
  3. File BMC-84 or BMC-85, BOC-3, and UCR. Post a BMC-84 surety bond or BMC-85 trust, file BOC-3 process agents, and complete Unified Carrier Registration. Confirm current forms and amounts with FMCSA.
  4. Optional training or TIA CTB. Courses and TIA Certified Transportation Broker are optional. They are not a substitute for FMCSA authority.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Freight Broker License Requirements in Arkansas

Freight brokers register with FMCSA. There is no state freight-broker license and no required training exam. Authority requires an MC number, BMC-84 or BMC-85, BOC-3, and UCR.

Typical path

  1. Apply for FMCSA broker authority.

  2. File BMC-84 or BMC-85, BOC-3, and UCR.

  3. Optional: complete a course or TIA CTB.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Freight Broker Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Logisticians Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), logisticians wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Memphis1,720$71,230$79,350$42,730$134,180
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers1,230$80,500$91,160$48,110$134,910
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway410$83,030$89,270$45,640$135,510
Fort Smith140$66,010$76,190$44,140$119,140
Jonesboro40$85,340$76,770$45,430$102,370

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for freight brokers in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 2,220 freight brokers 1. Nationally, freight broker employment is projected to grow 16.7% from 2024 to 2034 2.

What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arkansas.

How much do freight brokers earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Arkansas is $78,400, which is $2,480 below the national median of $80,880 according to BLS data 1.

In Arkansas

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)