NEW BROKER ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE

Nov 01, 2011 at 01:00 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Greetings, Need help and assistance from anyone who does not mind helping a VET. I am a retired Naval Chief; I desire to become a freight broker. I am currently working for a company (non transportation) but I have to commute and because I am disabled transportation can be tough for me. That’s why I want to be a broker agent and work from home. I am having problems getting companies that will work with me, because I am new. Could someone give me any advice? Thank You God Bless!!! Lydia

Replied on Sun, Nov 06, 2011 at 07:31 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Number 1- It will take you 6 months of 200 phone calls a day to get any decent freight moving. If you are not prepared for this choose another carrier. Number 2- Becoming a truck agent vs a broker agent is a better deal... Brokers must make 2 sales per transaction. Shipper and Carrier. Basically middle men. Truck agents only have to sell one. Shipper. Number 3- Get experience. Dont come into this business thinking you as an outsider will do great. People that train you to be broker agents want you to think this is an easy business. First off. Drive a truck for a while.......then decide where you want to be. Number 4- Most brokers will not tell anyone this but when I was a broker agent my average % profit margin was 18%. I have seen brokers make more than 30% of freight. These numbers are not uncommon. Number 5- Transportation industry is a lifestyle. Not just a job. YOu will end up working 16-20hour days so be prepared. Number 6- Remember being a broker agent you will be fight for the freight with up to 20 other agents at companies. Number 7- DRIVE A TRUCK FOR A WHILE> KNow what we as drivers go through on these loads. Number 8- Truck agents are better than brokers! Truck agents work for the carriers and drivers. They are not middlemen. They get paid commissions on freight to load trucks. Number 9- Get trained by someone who KNOWS how to find freight. Not by looking at load boards, but calling actual shippers that NEED TRUCKERS. This right here is worth thousands of dollars alone........ Number 10- Learn the trade. Dont just jump in because someone sold you on the idea. Jump in because you care about the industry and want to make a difference in an industry where the big house carriers are destroying the industry. Jump in because the Transportation industry is the lifeblood of the country and you want to make a difference by moving the products of the country around the globe. Find purpose with what you do not just because you can do it out of your house. Have the understanding that you will have weeks where you are going to go empty handed, but you dont care because you are fulfilling a need for the industry. Take pride in the industry dont ruin it. Driver,owner, truck agent, former broker agent, Chris Stephens 912-414-8827 [email protected]

Replied on Sun, Nov 06, 2011 at 07:31 PM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Number 1- It will take you 6 months of 200 phone calls a day to get any decent freight moving. If you are not prepared for this choose another carrier.

Number 2- Becoming a truck agent vs a broker agent is a better deal... Brokers must make 2 sales per transaction. Shipper and Carrier. Basically middle men. Truck agents only have to sell one. Shipper.

Number 3- Get experience. Dont come into this business thinking you as an outsider will do great. People that train you to be broker agents want you to think this is an easy business. First off. Drive a truck for a while.......then decide where you want to be.

Number 4- Most brokers will not tell anyone this but when I was a broker agent my average % profit margin was 18%. I have seen brokers make more than 30% of freight. These numbers are not uncommon.

Number 5- Transportation industry is a lifestyle. Not just a job. YOu will end up working 16-20hour days so be prepared.

Number 6- Remember being a broker agent you will be fight for the freight with up to 20 other agents at companies.

Number 7- DRIVE A TRUCK FOR A WHILE> KNow what we as drivers go through on these loads.

Number 8- Truck agents are better than brokers! Truck agents work for the carriers and drivers. They are not middlemen. They get paid commissions on freight to load trucks.

Number 9- Get trained by someone who KNOWS how to find freight. Not by looking at load boards, but calling actual shippers that NEED TRUCKERS. This right here is worth thousands of dollars alone........

Number 10- Learn the trade. Dont just jump in because someone sold you on the idea. Jump in because you care about the industry and want to make a difference in an industry where the big house carriers are destroying the industry. Jump in because the Transportation industry is the lifeblood of the country and you want to make a difference by moving the products of the country around the globe. Find purpose with what you do not just because you can do it out of your house. Have the understanding that you will have weeks where you are going to go empty handed, but you dont care because you are fulfilling a need for the industry.

Take pride in the industry dont ruin it.

Driver,owner, truck agent, former broker agent,

Chris Stephens
912-414-8827
[email protected]