Freight brokers and 3PLs are often lumped together, but they provide meaningfully different services. Understanding the distinction helps you choose the right partner.
A freight broker is a licensed intermediary focused on connecting shippers with carriers for individual shipments. Brokers are transaction-oriented — you call when you have freight, they find a carrier, and they manage that shipment.
A third-party logistics provider (3PL) offers a broader range of outsourced logistics services — which may include freight brokerage, but also warehousing, fulfillment, inventory management, customs brokerage, and supply chain consulting. 3PLs take on more of your logistics function, not just individual shipments.
If you have an in-house logistics team and just need carrier capacity, a freight broker is typically the right choice — lower cost, more flexibility, no long-term contracts. If you want to outsource your entire transportation and warehousing function, a 3PL may make more sense. Many companies use both: a 3PL for warehousing and a freight broker for spot capacity.
IZY Logistics provides freight brokerage services — sourcing, negotiating, dispatching, tracking, and managing carriers on your behalf. We integrate with your existing logistics operation, not replace it.
IZY Logistics is a licensed freight broker (MC #1615290) serving shippers across the United States. Get a competitive quote in under 30 seconds.
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