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There's no single "best" freight agent program — there's the best fit for your book. Here's a practical checklist of what experienced agents should compare, and how Armstrong approaches each.
The best freight agent programs pair a competitive commission with no bad-debt withholding, fast (often weekly) payment, clear customer ownership, strong technology and carrier access, and the brokerage covering credit, claims, billing and collections — with fair contract terms and real transition support. Compare programs on the full checklist below, not the headline split alone.
| What to compare | What to look for | Armstrong |
|---|---|---|
| Commission split | Share of gross profit, and what's included for it | Up to 75% of GP |
| Bad-debt withholding | Whether a fund is held back for non-payment | None withheld |
| Payment frequency | How fast commissions settle | Weekly |
| Customer ownership | Whether the book is contractually yours | Agent owns the customer |
| Technology fees | TMS/platform charges that reduce net pay | Proprietary TMS provided |
| Load-board costs | Covered or billed to the agent | Tooling provided |
| Carrier network | Depth across TL and LTL | TL + 50+ LTL carriers |
| Credit | Who funds customer credit | Armstrong carries it |
| Carrier payment | Who pays carriers and when | Handled by Armstrong |
| Claims | Who manages and disputes claims | Claims & dispute support |
| Operational support | Back office behind the freight | Billing, collections, ops |
| Contract terms | Non-compete/non-solicit, exit terms | Review with counsel |
| TL capability | Truckload access and pricing | Yes |
| LTL capability | LTL carriers, pricing, audit | Full LTL program |
| Financial stability | The balance sheet behind you | Established multi-modal 3PL |
| Transition support | Help moving your book | Guided ~30-day transition |
Use this as a scorecard against any program you're evaluating — including your current one. The goal isn't the highest advertised percentage; it's the best net outcome once fees, withholding, credit, claims and support are accounted for. Why the percentage alone misleads → · Model the economics → · How switching works →
Comparisons reflect Armstrong's program terms as described on this site; confirm current terms directly. This guide is educational and does not make claims about specific competitor programs.
Beyond the headline split, the best programs combine competitive commission with no bad-debt withholding, fast (often weekly) payment, clear customer ownership, strong technology and carrier access, and the brokerage covering credit, claims, billing and collections — plus fair contract terms and real transition support.
Commission split, bad-debt withholding, payment frequency, customer ownership, technology fees, load-board costs, carrier network, credit, carrier payment, claims, operational support, contract and non-compete terms, TL and LTL capability, financial stability, and onboarding support.