Why Getting GFM Freight Certified Is a Smart Move

If you want to work with the Department of Defense as a freight broker or motor carrier employee or agent, earning your GFM Freight Certification can open important doors. It’s not just a professional asset—it can give you and your business a real competitive edge. Let’s break down what it is and why it matters.

What Is GFM Freight Certification?

GFM stands for Government Freight Management. This certification qualifies individuals or companies to access and operate within the Department of Defense’s Global Freight Management (GFM) system. The GFM system is used to:

Book freight shipments

Track their movement

Handle billing for delivered freight loads

In short, it’s a key logistics tool for handling freight tied to government operations.

🎓 Who Is Eligible for GFM Freight Certification Training?

Any individual that is, or is, seeking to become an employee of an

approved TSP for DoD freight is eligible—and often required—to

complete GFM certification training.

This includes the following:

Motor Carriers Employees

Freight Brokers Employee

Agents of Freight Brokers

Freight Forwarder Employees

Note: Training may be mandatory or a pre-requisite before participating in

certain DoD freight tendering and acceptance processes through GFM systems.

What the Training Covers

This course equips professionals with essential knowledge and hands-on skills in the following key areas of defense logistics and freight management:

✅ Mastering the Defense Transportation System (DTS)

Gain a solid understanding of DTS operations, including how cargo is moved efficiently and securely across the Department of Defense’s global network.

📦 Navigating DoD Logistics Platforms

Receive training on critical systems such as:

GFM (Government Freight Management)

TMS (Transportation Management System)

ETA (Electronic Transportation Acquisition) System

CAS (Carrier Appointment System)

These platforms are central to managing freight movement, tracking, and compliance within the DoD supply chain.

📑 Freight Tendering & Billing Compliance

Learn best practices for:

Submitting and managing freight tenders

Ensuring compliance with billing and documentation standards like EDI (Electronic Data Interchange) and SYNCADA

📊 Carrier Performance & Audit Readiness

Understand how to:

Evaluate and report on carrier performance using standardized metrics

Ensure audit readiness through tools such as CAVS (Customer Added Value Suite) and ITV (In-Transit Visibility) Verification

🎯 Key Benefits

1. Expanded Freight Opportunities

With GFM certification, you gain access to a highly regulated but stable stream of DoD freight contract & tendered freight systems, which are otherwise restricted to qualified and vetted providers. It signals that you're a trusted logistics partner for military freight.

2. Competitive Edge

This certification significantly increases your credibility when bidding on government transportation contracts or tender placement as an employee of a TSP Contractor or working as a subcontractor. It's especially valuable if you're in third-party logistics (3PL), freight brokering, or carrier transportation management.

3. Operational Readiness

You will gain the expertise in navigating DoD systems, which boosts efficiency, ensures compliance, and lowers the risk of errors when executing freight orders in secure or sensitive environments, a critical element of success

4. Placement Access

Once certified, you may be eligible for placement directly with larger prime contractors or government freight offices, who often seek GFM-qualified agents or employees for overflow or niche lanes. Your knowledge opens doors.

Important Information About Our Training Program

Class Schedule:

Training classes are held one to two times per month and operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Program Type:

This is not a traditional school. It is a training placement program designed for individuals serious

about entering the military freight industry.

Enrollment Policy:

Seats are limited and will only be secured with full payment.

No reservations are made without advance payment.

We strongly recommend registering as early as possible due to limited availability.

Eligibility Requirements:

Must be a U.S. citizen.

Must have a clean criminal record.

Certification and Placement:

Only participants who complete the course and pass the final exam will receive a certificate.

Certification is required to be eligible for placement with an approved company.

Refund Policy:

There are no refunds once the course begins.

Course Tuition and Fee Reimbursement Options

1. Standard Enrollment (Recommended for Personal Certification):
If you are pursuing the certification for personal reasons (which we recommend),

you will need to pay the tuition out of pocket before starting the course.

2. Fee-Waived Enrollment Through Employer:
If you're looking to avoid personal tuition costs, your current employer may be able to cover the course fees by enrolling as a Transportation Service Provider (TSP) through our program. In this case, the company would handle the registration and pay the associated fees, allowing you to attend the course at no personal cost.

3. What You Should Do:
Please inform the instructor of your intended path:

Are you getting certified independently?

Are you seeking to work for an approved TSP?

Are you hoping your current employer will sponsor you?

Class Schedule and Availability

Classes are held 1–2 times per month

Each session runs Monday through Thursday, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM CST and spans a two-week period.

Classes are conducted live and online, with each session lasting one hour.

The next upcoming class begins Monday, July 14, 2024, and runs over two weeks, per the schedule below.

Note: Only the July class is currently published on our website calendar.