Brokers are still widely used today. At my previous job, anything over a few hundred miles was usually Brokered, unless it was on a time schedule. The problem for the machinery needing to be moved was that you never really know when the truck is coming, or when the freight will arrive at its destination! So, if you need it there by a specific time, you have to call a hot shot mover like my brother and I (or own your own truck and staff a driver).
Most of our problem is a combination of the competition, and the amount a customer is willing to pay. There is a fine line here to be successful.
Casey