Getting into Truck Dispatching or brokering

Hi, I was wanting to get into the trucking industry by dispatching or doing freight brokering. I have all the equipment and resources needed to setup a company and possibly hire employees to help, I just need to know where to get started. I heard that getting into brokering you have to have a bond? And up to like 75k? I was thinking dispatching, then I could just find them a load, confirm it, and send them on their way. I know it's not that simple, but I get the gist of it. My friend drives OTR and tells me a lot about it and maybe I could dispatch for him, and make our own little company. Any help would be nice. Thanks!

 

Becoming a freight broker is very costly although you don't have to have 75k in hand. You can get bonded by putting up money every year to keep your bond that particular amount depends on your credit and example amount is $7200 per year. That was my quote when I was looking into that very same possibility. everyone will be different though. The other really tough part is finding customers. alot of meeting and cold calling have to be very good in sales. their are some shortcuts like hiring agents with existing book of business the downside is when they leave they take their customers with them. and other downside is you will be paying them like 50% since they are working under your authority but its their customers. If you bring customers to the table and they book a load for one of your customers then it would only be like 25% cut or whatever yall agree on. Needless to say its quite an undertaking.

For dispatching its till alot more to it then just getting loads. You will have to obtain a limited power of attorney between you and the carrier. This will allow you to speak on the carriers behalf and sign paperwork. You will be negotiating with brokers for load rates. filling out carrier packets invoicing the brokers and or customers. all you need is computer with internet, Fax, invoicing software, Adobe Professional, Phone. Slunds easy enough but drivers can be very demanding. brokers can also be hard to work with. however the drivers are paying you not just to get them loads and do their paperwork for them but you are being paid to make them money so offering cheap freight is not an option. anyone can use the load board. Problem with load board freight is most the good paying freight never hits the load board. thats where years in this business come in at. its all in who you know. I have several brokers I can call to get freight in certain areas that pay really well and their freight never goes to the load board.

So neither option is good for a first timer in the industry. You need experience and really know what your doing to pull this off. . And I can promise you it wont take a driver long to see you don't know what you are doing.

 

TQL - Career Opportunities

 

Eww.

 

thats what I say that post has no place here and should be deleted.

 

It has no place here? I strongly beg to differ. The best place to gain experience in any field is to work somewhere first. Maybe you think he should just wing it and learn by trial and error at a Carrier's expense? Maybe you're right, our families should just go hungry while this guy makes of his rookie mistakes on our dime. Please. I'd rather work with someone who has been trained by someone who knows what they're doing instead of losing revenue and time with a newb.

 

lol I wasn't referring to his post I was referring to the TQL advertisement


trying to hijack this relevant thread with unrelevant post

 

The advertisement is a link to get a job at their brokerage. Should I link other brokerages? Maybe some local classified that have similar job postings? I think you're missing the point here. He needs real world hands on experience and training before anyone in their right mind would work with him. However, if YOU want to take a chance on him while he learns then knock yourself out, bud. I certainly wouldn't. I already deal with enough losers as it is. Trying to find a good Broker is challenging. Adding more knuckleheads is a very bad idea. With all the being said, the fact that he hasn't bothered to use the search function is enough for me to never use him for anything. Sorry but if you don't have enough initiative to use the tools given to you then you're about as worthless as tits on a bear. His question has been covered so many times here it isn't even funny. Let his "friend" take a chance on him while going broke.

 

hmmm I do believe thats exactly what I said in my original post. guess not fully reading posts isn't restricted to newbies.

 

Pretty much what @DSK333 said. There is an absolute ton of information in this particular sub forum, from how to start, and what to expect as a baby broker. I'm not necessarily going to sit down and teach my potential competition the ins and outs of the job.