Do freight brokers need a license in Rhode Island?

No statewide license is required for freight brokers in Rhode Island. See the licensing section above for the credential path.

How to Become a Freight Broker in Rhode Island (2026)

Q: How long does freight broker training take in Rhode Island?

Most people become a Freight Broker in Rhode Island through FMCSA broker authority (MC number), a BMC-84 bond or BMC-85 trust, BOC-3, and UCR. FMCSA does not require a training exam.

Q: How much do freight brokers earn in Rhode Island?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), freight brokers in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of approximately $76,180. Employment concentration in Rhode Island is roughly 0.68 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for freight brokers in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island currently employs approximately 550 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 16.7% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated August 11, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Rhode Island logisticians earn a median annual wage of $76,180 ($36.62/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 550 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -7.5% below the national median of $82,320 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $76,180 ($36.62/hr)
25th percentile: $63,480 per year
75th percentile: $98,940 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $129,630 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $47,010 per year
Workers employed in Rhode Island: 550
Versus national median: -7.5% below the U.S. median of $82,320
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.68 - this occupation is less concentrated in Rhode Island than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed August 11, 2026.

Rhode Island employs about 550 freight brokers earning a median $76,180 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 Rhode Island

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.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Quinsigamond Community College	58.1	$6,262 in-state / $11,206 out-of-state	$55,076	22%	Yes*	41 mi
2	Goodwin University	57.9	$21,198	$72,845	58%	Yes*	62 mi
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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.

Rhode Island employs approximately 550 freight brokers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $76,180 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 Rhode Island, 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 (Rhode Island): $76,180 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Freight Broker in Rhode Island

How to become a Freight Broker in Rhode Island? 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 Rhode Island? 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 Rhode Island? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Rhode Island is $76,180 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $47,010 and experienced professionals can earn $129,630 or more ¹.

How to Become a Freight Broker in Rhode Island

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.
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.
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.
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 Rhode Island

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

Apply for FMCSA broker authority.
File BMC-84 or BMC-85, BOC-3, and UCR.
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 Rhode Island

Logisticians Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick	730	$78,370	$86,250	$51,360	$130,480

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 Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 550 freight brokers ¹. Nationally, freight broker employment is projected to grow 16.7% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do freight brokers earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for freight brokers in Rhode Island is $76,180, which is $4,700 below the national median of $80,880 according to BLS data ¹.

In Rhode Island

Best Trade Schools in Rhode Island (2026)

Explore More Trades in Rhode Island

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

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

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / 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)