How do you find shippers to eliminate the middle man?

Do like the big brokerage companies, hire a salesman, most are female, 30’s, attractive, nice dress or tight jeans with high heals.
That is what your up against, and if a shipper says yes real quick you had better take a good look at their credit.

 

Another good source is receivers. Talk to the folks on the dock when you are at a receiver you would like to haul into, or who receives the type of product you want to haul, and ask who they buy from (and who they don't). Know who ships what and to whom, and then go down that rabbit hole.

Steven Covey said "start with the end in mind". Where do you want to go? What do you want to haul? That will tell you who to call on.

 

And for Pete's sake, don't highball a new customer. I approached a local trucking company with one of our regular loads that would bring his driver bck to about an hour and a half from home. Commodity product, and he threw me a rate that would not even be competitive last year. That's an immediate "don't call me, I'll call you".

 

ouch. Sounds like he didn’t want your business. I just tell people i don’t want to deal with no thanks i’m booked up and can’t help you.