How does this Broker game work?

Discussion in 'Freight Broker Forum' started by amberfeldt, Dec 1, 2020.

  1. amberfeldt

    amberfeldt Light Load Member

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    How can Brokers have so many customers an loads to post day after day on a load board ?
    I can not even score one customers let alone 100's like some brokers do. they want 10 or more trucks
    It is not possible to go door to door to score them to be your customer ,some loads have multiple brokers
    How does it work?
    I do not see how the mega brokers an small brokers get all theses loads .there are a lot of things in this trucking game i do not understand. could someone shed some light please
     
    iledbett and God prefers Diesels Thank this.
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  3. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    If you really want to secure your own customers you can't go to places like Nestle or BJ's.

    They would go out of their minds with all independent owner-operators all the scheduling, accounts payable, check ins...

    You have to find a shipper in your area that is a low volume shipper. You need some place that if you haul one or two loads a week out from there that would help them.

    That helps you because if it's close to where your Homebase is then you take that load out and bring brokered freight back.

    Brokerages are businesses like any other business. They get customers then they get more customers then they get more customers

    And don't forget there are many times the freight is double and triple brokered also.
     
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  4. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

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    This is one of the reasons I don’t like the entire talk of putting the customer rate on the trucks rate con. Getting customers is really really difficult for me anyway. Others may have the magic touch. Back solicitation is a real concern always, and if the trucking company knows the rate and has the contact info, it’s as easy as a phone call to try and steal them. Next thing you know you gotta undercut the trucker who undercut you and as I’ve said before. Becomes a race to the bottom.

    Most brokerages have huge fleets of sales people who are highly paid and highly motivated. You have trucks, they have salesmen.

    Dinosaur shot some really good advice your way, go after the small companies who are under the radar and that you can build a rapport with. These huge companies are a waste of time for small guys like us.
     
  5. 062

    062 Road Train Member

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    Another strategy is look around your area for small brokerages. If you do a search for brokers within 50-100 miles you may be surprised at the number and probably some you’ve never heard of.
    My outbound has been through the same broker for nearly 4 years. I don’t sit and watch the boards 24/7,but in the years I’ve been loading for him,I’ve only seen one load posted by him.
    If you pick a lane or triangle and find brokers on each end, you will find it a lot easier and profitable.
     
  6. amberfeldt

    amberfeldt Light Load Member

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    could you explain the search some more please. on a load board? or on google
     
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  7. 6wheeler

    6wheeler Road Train Member

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    Wrong time of the year to look for shippers. Not unless it's household goods manufacturers.
    Christmas time.
    In the spring of the year is where you can get shippers. Be ready though to go wherever they want to send you 7 days a week. Plenty of small operations that will work with you. Stay away from large corporations that employee JB Hunt types
     
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  8. 062

    062 Road Train Member

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    Yes google or whatever search engine you prefer.
     
  9. Old Man

    Old Man Road Train Member

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    Most of the big broker sales force is 30 something, good looking, tight jeans and high heels or tight dress. How you expect to compete with that?
     
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  10. PPDCT

    PPDCT Road Train Member

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    You have clearly never set foot in my office.
     
  11. Old Man

    Old Man Road Train Member

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    I was talking about the guys
     
    86scotty, Badmon, PPDCT and 1 other person Thank this.
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