How to Become a Freight Broker in Illinois (2026)

Updated August 11, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 14,170 freight brokers earning a median $80,100 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 Illinois

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
160.0$3,822 in-state / $9,846 out-of-state$51,35740%Yes*74 mi
256.1$6,090 in-state / $13,500 out-of-state$35,36842%Yes*68 mi
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355.1$4,530 in-state / $13,800 out-of-state$51,12121%Yes*52 mi
453.4$5,220 in-state / $25,830 out-of-state$50,34332%Yes*57 mi
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550.2$3,252 in-state / $9,516 out-of-state$54,22041%—77 mi
650.0$4,800 in-state / $12,150 out-of-state$55,05849%Yes*36 mi
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749.6$5,502 in-state / $12,414 out-of-state$46,99931%—83 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.

Illinois employs approximately 14,170 freight brokers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $80,100 1. The state’s concentration of freight broker jobs is 1.44x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 Illinois, 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 (Illinois): $80,100 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Freight Broker in Illinois

How to become a Freight Broker in Illinois? 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 Illinois? 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 Illinois? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Illinois is $80,100 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,020 and experienced professionals can earn $128,070 or more 1.

How to Become a Freight Broker in Illinois

  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 Illinois

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 Illinois

Logisticians Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin10,220$79,900$84,480$48,430$127,150
St. Louis2,430$88,880$92,710$54,980$130,170
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island770$100,710$101,860$61,140$139,170
Peoria570$85,930$92,210$44,830$155,820
Rockford220$78,560$86,080$45,540$132,360
Bloomington180$78,030$73,870$46,760$98,500
Champaign-Urbana150$58,840$67,180$46,060$105,070
Springfield130$77,090$82,200$53,080$123,810
Decatur110$81,760$86,750$49,780$125,830
Kankakee50$77,460$78,480$49,250$108,740

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 Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 14,170 freight brokers 1. Nationally, freight broker employment is projected to grow 16.7% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do freight brokers earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Illinois is $80,100, which is $780 below the national median of $80,880 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

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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)