Forward Air logo

Strategic Capacity Brokerage Specialist

Forward Air

  • Des Plaines, IL
  • 2 days ago
  • $60,000–$70,000 Per Year

Highlights

Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.). This role combines carrier procurement, digital freight execution, carrier relationship management, and operational oversight to ensure efficient, profitable, and reliable freight movement.

Numbers & Facts

LocationDes Plaines, IL
IndustryTransport and Storage - Materials
Salary$60,000–$70,000 Per Year
Company Size2,500 to 4,999 employees
Year Founded1981
Websitehttps://www.forwardair.com/content/careers-0

Description

Compensation: 60,000 - 70,000

The Strategic Capacity Brokerage Specialist is responsible for managing and optimizing freight capacity across digital, partial truckload (PTL), and brokerage operations. This role combines carrier procurement, digital freight execution, carrier relationship management, and operational oversight to ensure efficient, profitable, and reliable freight movement. They partner with carriers and internal stakeholders to secure capacity, execute freight opportunities, and maintain high service levels throughout the shipment lifecycle. They play a key role in supporting operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and business growth through proactive capacity management and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

  • Source, negotiate, and secure carrier capacity for full truckload (FTL), partial truckload (PTL), digital, flatbed, and high-value freight opportunities.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with carrier partners to ensure consistent access to capacity and service excellence.
  • Verify carrier identity, qualifications, and compliance requirements using Highway, Carrier411, and other approved tools.
  • Manage digital freight bookings through the transportation management system (TMS) and approved freight platforms.
  • Execute and manage partial truckload opportunities to maximize operational efficiency and profitability.
  • Monitor shipments from booking through final delivery, proactively addressing service disruptions and resolving issues as they arise.
  • Ensure accurate and timely documentation of shipment activity, carrier communications, and operational updates.
  • Support achievement of operational, service, and profitability goals through effective capacity management and execution.
  • Participate in cross-training initiatives supporting Digital Brokerage, Partial Truckload freight operations.
  • Develop working knowledge of HVHR shipment requirements, including approved carrier programs, chain of custody controls, security protocols, tracking expectations, and standard operating procedure compliance.
  • Collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment on freight strategy, service execution, and customer expectations.
  • All other duties as assigned to meet evolving business needs.

Qualifications

  • Education: High School Diploma or GED equivalent required; Undergraduate degree in Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field preferred.
  • Certification/Licensure: No specific certification required; transportation and logistics industry certifications are a plus.
  • One (1) or more years of experience in freight brokerage, carrier sales, logistics operations, capacity procurement, dispatch, or transportation management.
  • Strong understanding of full truckload (FTL), partial truckload (PTL), less-than-truckload (LTL), and digital freight operations.
  • Strong negotiation, communication, problem-solving, and analytical skills.
  • Experience with transportation management systems (TMS) and digital freight platforms preferred.
  • Experience with flatbed, specialized, or project freight transportation preferred.
  • Experience working with High Value/High Risk (HVHR) freight programs preferred.
  • McLeod TMS experience preferred.
  • Demonstrated discretion and confidentiality in handling and protecting sensitive information.
  • Technical: Proficient with common office technologies, including Windows PCs, Microsoft O365 (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) and web conferencing (Teams, Zoom, Webex, etc.)
  • Environment: Comfort commuting to/from and working in a 100% on-site setting (listed in this posting), with travel for related meetings/events.

 

--

#LI -Onsite 

#LI-DR1

About Company

Since 1990, Forward Air has been a leading provider of ground transportation and related logistics services to the North American air freight and expedited LTL market. We offer surface shipping on an accelerated “time-definite” basis, delivering cargo at a specific time, but under less time-sensitive situations – supplying you with a cost effective, reliable alternative to air transportation. We work with companies of all sizes to develop tangible advantages and build the best products to meet your specific needs. Forward Air presents to the wholesale transportation community (logistics companies, freight forwarders, integrated air cargo carriers, passenger/ cargo airlines, and non-traditional shippers), a single-source provider that can deliver more supply chain services and a superior menu of choices. Throughout the years we have added supplementary lines to our linehaul service, such as full truckload operations (Truckload Services), final-mile coverage (Complete® Cartage), and an Airline Logistics program, and we will continue to expand our services to meet the changing needs and growth of our customer base.

Forward Air is structured to optimize both savings and service to our customers. Direct partnerships with owner-operators and other surface transportation providers, enable us to remain cost-competitive. The Forward Air network is designed with over 90 facilities located at or near major U.S. and Canadian airports, 12 regional sort centers and over 300 beyond points (secondary airports provided through our Complete Cartage service), creating one of the most comprehensive linehaul networks in the industry.

The foundation product for Forward Air is our expedited linehaul service, offering consistent and reliable transit and on-time, damage-free deliveries. By locating terminals on or near airports and maintaining a scheduled transportation network, we are able to arrange for convenient and consistent service with broad geographic coverage. Shipments of varying sizes (TL/LTL) are received at our terminals and transported by contracted service providers either (1) on a direct truck to the destination terminal, (2) through our Columbus, Ohio central sorting hub, or (3) through one of our 12 regional hubs, where they are unloaded, sorted, and reloaded in rapid fashion. After reloading the shipments, our contracted service providers deliver them to the destination city for early morning recovery. Through our Forward Air Complete® cartage service, customers also can have shipments picked up from the shipper, delivered to the final consignee, or transferred at the airport, simplifying the freight management processes. These options allow us to maximize handling efficiency of each shipment while minimizing freight loss and damage, improving transit times over traditional ground transportation.

Similar Jobs