HOW IT WORKS

Replacing Freight Brokers Is a System - Not a Risk

Most shippers don’t stay with brokers because they love them.
They stay because replacing them feels risky.

IHFB removes that risk by using a structured, phased approach that builds internal capability without disrupting freight execution.

The Broker Exit Strategy™

At the core of IHFB is a proven four-phase system aligned with PMI methodologies designed to transition transportation control from brokers back to your organization - permanently.

  • Objective

    Create cost transparency and identify broker dependency at the lane level.

    What We Do

    We analyze your transportation data to understand where margin is leaking, where risk exists, and how brokers are influencing decision-making.

    What We Review

    • Lane-level rate and volume data

    • Broker vs. carrier pricing behavior

    • Mode mix and service patterns

    • Contract vs. spot execution

    • Exception handling and failure points

    Deliverables

    • Broker dependency scorecard

    • Margin leakage analysis

    • Risk and opportunity summary

  • Objective

    Determine how ready your organization is to insource freight management.

    What We Evaluate

    Insourcing freight is not about cutting brokers overnight — it’s about building the right foundation.

    We assess:

    • Internal team structure and skill sets

    • Process maturity and SOP gaps

    • Technology and TMS readiness

    • Carrier strategy and onboarding capability

    • Compliance and risk tolerance

    Outcome

    A clear recommendation on:

    • What should be insourced now

    • What should be phased

    • What should remain external (if anything)

  • Objective

    Deploy the systems, workflows, and carrier strategy required to run freight internally.

    What We Build

    • Execution workflows and SOPs

    • Carrier sourcing and onboarding strategy

    • TMS selection or optimization (if needed)

    • Rate governance and decision frameworks

    • Exception management processes

    Key Principle

    IHFB does not run your freight for you.
    We build the operating system your team runs.

  • Objective

    Ensure success sticks — after brokers are gone.

    What We Do

    • Train internal teams on execution and decision-making

    • Provide real-world playbooks and escalation paths

    • Monitor early execution performance

    • Support change management and adoption

    End State

    • Internal transportation ownership

    • Cost transparency and control

    • Reduced broker dependency

    • A repeatable, scalable freight operation

WHAT CHANGES FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION?

Before IHFB

  • Broker-controlled pricing

  • Limited visibility

  • Externalized knowledge

  • Reactive decision-making

After IHFB

  • Shipper-controlled strategy

  • Lane-level transparency

  • Internal expertise

  • Proactive execution

WHAT THIS IS — AND IS NOT

This IS:

  • A structured transition away from brokers

  • A capability-building engagement

  • A shipper-aligned system

This is NOT:

  • A brokerage

  • A rate-shopping exercise

  • A short-term cost-cutting stunt

HOW ENGAGEMENTS TYPICALLY START?

Most clients begin with a Broker Exit Assessment.

This initial engagement determines:

  • Where broker dependency exists

  • What savings and risk look like

  • Whether a broker exit is viable

  • What an implementation roadmap would entail

Start the Broker Exit Assessment