How to get Direct Customers?

My experience is to haul for them and then after proving yourself go in and talk to the shipper, old school but works.

 

Most brokers have some sort of non-solicitation clause for both shipper and receiver. If they find out you've taken freight from them, they usually stipulate a cut of the money (sometimes in addition to a cease and desist).

 

Never dealt with anyone that made me sign my rights away, independent means just that and like to make sure scab brokers never see the light of day in my wallet.

 

Agree completely,

Eye to eye works with many good paying companies, also a proven track record of good service will kick the scab haulers out also.

 

its really simple,

you got directly to their office and in a very direct manner ask for their business.

thats why its called direct freight, but another can of worms. it quite often isnt the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

 

For whatever particular type of hauling you have in mind (van, flat, etc.) start looking at any source that would list companes/manufacturers that would utilize that type of equipment to move their products, lets say freight that moves on a flatbed; that could be Yellow Pages, state Manufacturers Directory (in the library), and on-line from Thomas.net or McRae's. Look up, for example, steel - various heading would include structural, reinforcing, plate, etc.

In my experience, most of the time the manufacturer takes care of shipping to a distributor, and so forth down-the-line; brick is an exception, usually the distributor handles the transport on their end.

If your going to travel long distance, it may be difficult to make enough connections in every area you could travel into to have loads out of that area, so therefore might be the dreaded brokers (unless you plan to dead-head back, which might even be the better option if you get good money going out). I do local/regional so it is not such an issue for me.

Then you get lots of business names and start making calls (like BullHaulersWife said)! Ask to speak to someone in or managing the Shipping Dept. or Logistics. Be prepared to hear 'no' a lot, along with a lack of returned messages. It is an uphill journey, but can be worthwhile with some perserverance. You may go through a good many shippers before you can settle-in on a few good ones.

 

The only thing about getting direct shippers, and I got one or maybe two that are a pain in the butt. You almost wish they wouldn't call you. Screw up anything you got planned, Same pay rate that you probley agreed on when you talked to them, but if you can make something out of it it might be a win for ya