TransCore Releases 2009 Broker Survey

Results Find Freight Brokers’ Margins Erode in Volatile Market

SAN ANTONIO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TransCore releases the second annual Broker Benchmark Survey; click to download a copy of TransCore’s 2009 Broker Benchmark Survey. Results show gross margins declined slightly for freight brokers in 2008 as a result of volatile market conditions.

Almost 500 freight brokerage companies and third-party logistics providers completed the survey, which asked about company operations, revenues, margins and sources of business. Survey respondents reported that profit margins averaged 15.8 percent, a 5 percent decline from last year’s average of 16.6 percent.

As part of the survey, brokers offered insights about their strategies for coping with the turbulent business environment.

• 39 percent had not changed their business practices in 2008,
• 31 percent cut costs,
• 30 percent cut jobs,
• 13 percent did both.

Some companies added sales people or agents, improved operational efficiency, tightened credit controls and/or enhanced customer service. Broker-carriers were more likely to resort to layoffs, while non-asset-based brokers were more likely to continue current practices, cut costs or add sales personnel.

About TransCore

TransCore’s 70-year heritage supporting the transportation industry spans a range of offerings for the trucking, rail, intermodal, traffic management, toll, homeland security, airport, parking, and access control markets. With products and installations in 46 countries, more than 100 patents worldwide, and pioneering applications of internet-based logistics services, RFID and satellite communications technologies, TransCore's expertise is unparalleled in the markets it serves. TransCore has more than 1,700 employees in 80 locations throughout the world.

For additional information visit: www.3sixty.transcore.com or www.transcore.com