Been at it a year, how do I find the good brokers?

Call forward air drop and hook terminal to terminal no brokers

 

Have you developed any good relationships with brokers? Part of success in business is schmoozing. That's not part of what is taught in CDL schools and may not be a strong suit of many an owner operator, BUT it should become part of your skill set.

There is a great thread in the owner operator subforum that is titled something like, "How to Bypass Brokers and Get Your Own Customers". It's a great thread with lots of helpful information, unfortunately the OP was banned and I don't know why.

I tried to find the thread I referenced above, but no luck. If anyone knows the thread and can reference it here, I owe you a ribeye steak dinner. That thread should be stickied in the OO subforum so those with their own authority can bypass brokers.

 

Get shippers. Not brokers

 

Search for the thread I referenced. The OP explained exactly how to find local hometown shippers and the paperwork you need to prepare to make a professional presentation.

I can't recall the forum member's name, but he hauls flatbed out of Atlanta. He got a direct customer from that area to Gary, IN IIRC. Then he used loadboards to get home, until he got another direct customer from Indiana to Memphis. Then he used loadboards until he found a direct customer from Memphis to the Atlanta area. He leaves home every Monday morning and gets back home Thursday evening. He makes about $3 per mile for all miles.

I hope someone can find that thread.

 

the Trick with broker freight is building a good relationship with one or two guys. I had a guy with ch Robinson that treated me very well. A lot of his freight was paying close to whAt my direct freight is now. Direct fright for a one truck guy is hard but not impossible. Maybe find a trucking company that will give you there overflow. They won’t usually take as much as a broker. The more you work with them the better the freight will get.

 

@Lepton1 is this it?Small carrier: How to get a direct customer & skip the broker.

 

Thank you for finding the thread. That's the one!

 

Wait about 30 days or not. That tone with shippers will change. Department stores, warehouses, home goods, agriculture products will be a mad rush to fill orders for spring inventory.