Freight Broker Commission Calculator
Work out a freight agent or broker commission per load and per year from the shipper rate, carrier pay, costs and the commission split.
Freight agents and brokerage sales reps are usually paid a share of the margin on each load, the gap between what the shipper pays and what the carrier is paid. This calculator works out the commission per load, what the brokerage keeps and what the commission adds up to per month and per year, on either a margin split or a percentage of gross revenue.
How to use this tool
- Enter the shipper rate and the carrier pay for a typical load.
- Add any costs your agreement takes off the margin before the split.
- Choose whether the commission is a share of the margin or of the shipper rate, and enter the rate.
- Enter your loads per month to see monthly and yearly earnings.
Formula
Commission = max(0, shipper rate − carrier pay − other costs) × split % or shipper rate × revenue %
Gross margin = shipper rate − carrier pay. The brokerage keeps the margin after costs minus the commission. Monthly commission = commission per load × loads per month. Negative margin produces zero commission here; clawbacks are not modeled.
Example
A load pays $2,800 from the shipper and the carrier gets $2,350, leaving a $450 gross margin (16.07%). On a 60% split the agent earns $270 and the brokerage keeps $180. At 30 loads a month that is $8,100 a month, or $97,200 a year. If $50 of quick-pay fees came off first, the commission would be $240.
Frequently asked questions
What commission split do freight agents get?
Splits vary with who supplies the customers, back-office support, credit and insurance. Agents who bring their own book of business generally get a larger share than in-house reps. Compare offers with the table, which shows other rates on the same load.
Is commission paid on gross or net margin?
It depends on the agreement. Some brokerages split the gross margin, others deduct items such as quick-pay discounts, bad debt or claims first. Enter those deductions as other costs to see their effect.
When is commission on revenue used?
Some sales roles pay a small percentage of the billed amount instead of a margin share. It is simpler to track, but it pays the same on thin and fat loads, so check the margin too.
Last updated: 2026-10-30