How to Become a Freight Broker in South Carolina (2026)

Updated August 11, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

South Carolina employs about 5,250 freight brokers earning a median $80,330 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 South Carolina

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
152.6$2,792 in-state / $8,936 out-of-state$48,44131%Yes*103 mi
251.5$5,210 in-state / $8,354 out-of-state$53,08432%Yes*14 mi
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351.3$5,071 in-state / $10,135 out-of-state$48,99128%Yes*111 mi
451.1$3,186 in-state / $9,330 out-of-stateNot reported63%Yes*112 mi
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550.1$3,388 in-state / $5,956 out-of-state$40,63543%Yes*111 mi
645.4$4,282 in-state / $7,492 out-of-state$43,46931%Yes*78 mi
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727.4$6,156 in-state / $11,916 out-of-state$47,36118%Yes*91 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.

South Carolina employs approximately 5,250 freight brokers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $80,330 1. The state’s concentration of freight broker jobs is 1.41x 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 South Carolina, 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 (South Carolina): $80,330 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Freight Broker in South Carolina

How to become a Freight Broker in South Carolina? 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 South Carolina? 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 South Carolina? The median annual wage for freight brokers in South Carolina is $80,330 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $49,460 and experienced professionals can earn $123,640 or more 1.

How to Become a Freight Broker in South Carolina

  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 South Carolina

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 South Carolina

Logisticians Wages by Metro Area in South Carolina

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia2,330$79,000$85,360$54,400$121,270
Charleston-North Charleston1,410$82,780$90,100$60,550$127,690
Greenville-Anderson-Greer1,100$76,890$76,900$47,220$114,990
Spartanburg620$82,950$83,750$48,690$123,880
Columbia490$75,800$79,080$49,070$118,820
Augusta-Richmond County460$84,090$89,640$52,470$131,840
Florence170$75,240$78,780$49,120$119,590
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach80$57,480$64,020$46,090$90,230
Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal70$73,920$78,940$49,620$110,300
Sumter70$93,640$94,030$53,390$133,210

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 South Carolina? South Carolina currently employs approximately 5,250 freight brokers 1. Nationally, freight broker employment is projected to grow 16.7% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do freight brokers earn in South Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for freight brokers in South Carolina is $80,330, which is $550 below the national median of $80,880 according to BLS data 1.

In South Carolina

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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)