Who does what in a freight move
Freight Broker vs. 3PL vs. Carrier
These three words get used interchangeably and mean different things. A carrier owns the trucks and drives the load. A broker arranges the run and matches it to an authorized carrier. A 3PL bundles logistics services around that. Knowing which one you're actually talking to tells you who is accountable for coordinating your run — and why, for a project-based load, coordination is the part that matters.
Overview
Three roles, one load
A motor carrier holds operating authority, owns commercial vehicles and employs or contracts the drivers who physically move freight. A property broker holds broker authority, owns no trucks, and arranges transportation by matching a load to an FMCSA-authorized carrier — the broker coordinates and stays accountable for the run, and the carrier hauls it. A 3PL (third-party logistics provider) is a broader term for a company that manages logistics services on your behalf, which may include brokering, warehousing and more. Capital Site Logistics is a licensed property broker: it arranges, quotes, sources and schedules the run, and an authorized carrier performs the transport. For a project-based load, that coordination — one point of contact who owns the run end to end — is the value, not a rate card.
- Freight broker vs. 3PL vs. carrier
- A motor carrier owns the trucks and performs the physical transport under its own operating authority. A freight (property) broker owns no trucks and arranges transportation by matching a load to an FMCSA-authorized carrier, coordinating the run and staying accountable for it. A 3PL (third-party logistics provider) is a broader category that manages logistics services on a shipper's behalf, often including brokerage, warehousing and fulfillment. Capital Site Logistics is a licensed property broker headquartered in Tampa, FL: it coordinates, quotes, sources and schedules the run, while the FMCSA-authorized carrier hauls it — so a project-based load has one point of contact who owns the coordination end to end.
Side by side
How the roles differ
| Dimension | Broker | 3PL / carrier |
|---|---|---|
| Owns the trucks? | No — a broker owns no vehicles. | A carrier does; a 3PL may own assets or broker them. |
| Performs the haul? | No — an authorized carrier does the driving. | The carrier does; a 3PL arranges or performs it. |
| What you're buying | Coordination — the right carrier matched to your load, one contact. | Capacity (carrier) or a bundle of logistics services (3PL). |
| Flexibility | The right vehicle arranged per load, not limited to one owned fleet. | A carrier is its own equipment; a 3PL varies. |
| Best for | Project-based, mixed or variable loads that need coordinating. | Steady, high-volume lanes (carrier) or full outsourcing (3PL). |
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Choosing
Which one, when
A broker fits when
Broker
- Your loads vary — different sizes, vehicles and timing per run.
- You want one point of contact who coordinates and stays accountable.
- You'd rather have the right vehicle arranged per load than be tied to one owned fleet.
A carrier or 3PL fits when
3PL / carrier
- You run the same high-volume lane and want dedicated owned capacity (carrier).
- You want to outsource warehousing, fulfillment and freight together (3PL).
- Your freight is uniform enough to standardize on one provider's equipment.
FAQ
Broker vs. 3PL vs. carrier, answered
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