Incorporate your company. Open a “trust account”for your payables at the bank. This step is controversial as many brokers do not have a trust account. It is my understand that it is required under the Ontario Highway Traffic Act…..your call, I guess. Obtain a Property Brokers Licence (freight broker) from the FMCSA to conduct freight brokerage betwen Canada and the US. You will need to get a 75k surety bond from an insurance company to do that, or put up 75k of your own money or assets. Talk to an experienced transportation insurance specialist. You should have contingency cargo coverage in the event a carrier’s insurance company denies liability. Other policies could include Errors and Omissions. An experienced insurance broker can save you lots of money, try and locate a good one. Optional steps could include joining various trade associations , such as TIA or the NTBA here in Canada, it makes you appear like you know what you’re doing. Keep in mind that as far as carriers are concerned, your ability to pay your bills is paramount and will determine how easy or how difficult it is to get your freight moved. Slow payments equal no trucks or a very hard time getting one. There are a ton of freight brokers out there, of differing degrees of professionalism, do whatever you can to make yourself stand out as one of the good ones, to both your customers and your suppliers. I have probably forgotten something, if so I will add it later.