MIT FreightLab: Where brokers have the advantage

2.3×

more likely to be accepted by brokers on historically volatile-demand lanes

The research doesn’t say “never use a broker.” On historically volatile-demand lanes, shipments were 2.3× more likely to be accepted by brokers than asset carriers, and unexpected surge shipments were roughly 2× more likely to be accepted by a broker. For consistent-demand lanes, both asset carriers and brokers had high first-tender acceptance rates.

Research credentials

Researcher: Dr. Angela “Angi” Acocella
Affiliation: MIT FreightLab / MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics
Published summary: C.H. Robinson, December 13, 2023
Dataset: Shipment transactions 2015–2021, covering dozens of shippers and thousands of contracted, backup and spot asset carriers and brokers
Dataset supplied by: TMC, a division of C.H. Robinson
Research type: Independent academic research, summarized by C.H. Robinson

Research sourceAcocella, A. (2023), summarized by C.H. RobinsonMIT FreightLab research on tender acceptance by asset carriers and brokersMIT FreightLab / MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics · dataset from TMC, a division of C.H. RobinsonIndependent academic research · 2015–2021 shipment dataView original

This is exactly what makes the argument credible: asset carriers for predictable core freight, broker networks for volatility, exceptions and surges. Different freight belongs with different capacity models.

What it found

2.3×

Broker acceptance advantage on volatile-demand lanes

~2×

Broker acceptance advantage on unexpected surge shipments

High for both

First-tender acceptance on consistent-demand lanes, asset carriers and brokers alike

Other research and case studies

All research →

Independent academic researchMIT: Asset carriers vs. non-asset providers MIT graduate researchMIT: The cost of routing-guide failure Peer-reviewed journal articleHershey: Carrier relationships and capacity commitment Carrier-published customer case studyNational retailer moves from non-asset providers to an asset-based model Consultant-published client case study · ocean freightDrewry: Moving part of a network direct to carriers

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