How to Become a Freight Broker in Kentucky (2026)

Updated August 11, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Kentucky employs about 2,590 freight brokers earning a median $68,420 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 Kentucky

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
158.7$6,750 in-state / $13,982 out-of-state$72,18824%Yes*111 mi
255.7$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$47,99059%Yes*95 mi
Sponsored Ad
355.4$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$44,85454%Yes*96 mi
451.0$4,808 in-state / $6,512 out-of-state$48,18143%Yes*49 mi
Sponsored Ad
550.7$5,517 in-state / $10,044 out-of-state$59,23516%Yes*106 mi
647.1$4,728 in-state / $6,432 out-of-state$43,25243%Yes*61 mi
Sponsored Ad
743.9$15,480$53,06871%Yes*37 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.

Kentucky employs approximately 2,590 freight brokers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $68,420 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 Kentucky, 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 (Kentucky): $68,420 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Freight Broker in Kentucky

How to become a Freight Broker in Kentucky? 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 Kentucky? 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 Kentucky? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Kentucky is $68,420 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,960 and experienced professionals can earn $106,280 or more 1.

How to Become a Freight Broker in Kentucky

  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 Kentucky

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 Kentucky

Logisticians Wages by Metro Area in Kentucky

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Cincinnati1,960$79,990$89,380$50,460$130,470
Louisville/Jefferson County900$63,880$71,190$47,210$98,030
Lexington-Fayette360$72,250$75,870$53,110$101,900
Elizabethtown170$88,610$90,590$58,510$134,330
Clarksville170$65,170$73,600$40,560$119,320
Bowling Green90$65,980$75,100$50,050$102,090
Huntington-Ashland70$69,390$76,670$47,430$106,330
Owensboro50$64,230$73,390$49,330$102,030

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 Kentucky? Kentucky currently employs approximately 2,590 freight brokers 1. Nationally, freight broker employment is projected to grow 16.7% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do freight brokers earn in Kentucky compared to the national average? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Kentucky is $68,420, which is $12,460 below the national median of $80,880 according to BLS data 1.

In Kentucky

Related trades & nearby areas

Explore More Trades in Kentucky

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)