To get your loads to its destination reliably, quickly and securely is the main aspect of building the reputation of the shipper. So you, as a shipper or company, who need qualified ELD provider services, count on the transportation services that can eliminate emergency situations or perishable goods.
But if you lack time or need to ship tons of freight on an ongoing basis, the best way is to hire a freight broker. It’s a middleman between the shippers and carriers. The brokers can help shippers to minimize the risks and complexity by finding drivers for their cargo. They provide new business opportunities for carriers and are great partners for those carriers who want to keep their trucks on the track.
The freight brokerage is a profitable business that makes money on the fee between what they charge from the shipper and what they pay to the carrier. Therefore, a broker’s earnings depend directly on his ability to negotiate, maneuver and make new contacts.
Successful brokers don’t just find carriers. They match the right carriers to the specific cargo their clients need transported. That means they need to have a list of reliable carriers they can trust and count on.
How do freight brokers find freight forwarders?
Here are some basic techniques of freight brokers for finding shippers:
Ask for referrals. Your customers and suppliers are excellent sources and may have their own list of shippers they count on. You can rely on the network of contacts they possess to find forwarders quickly. It’s the simplest way the qualified brokers use to find shippers. Asking those you trust is always a good idea, as well as online research.
Use load boards. There are hundreds of freight load boards available on the internet. Some of them are focused on a specific industry or region, the others are all-purpose. When you are looking for new carriers, use such truck-freight load boards. They allow you to post the details of your shipment and cast a wide net where interested forwarders can find your contact.
Warm calling. Making “cold calls” is not a rewarding business that rarely brings new contacts to your list of the shippers. “Warm calls” are another matter. Consider purchasing a database of freight service providers with the details on company name, number of employees, phone numbers and products they ship. The lists of shippers can be bought from verified suppliers.
Check your competitors. This is a natural action in every field as the business needs to know the main competitive niche. Any freight broker can investigate the competition well, thanks to company websites and other techniques.
You can choose several companies they want to work with. Freight service providers of specific brands will be able to negotiate a good price for a particular course.
Use of different directories and internet sources. You can find detailed information about forwarding companies in the books and guides. It is also possible to learn about the tariffs for different loads and make comparison.
Google is providing many opportunities to find the data you want. Utilizing Google Maps can be useful for “spying” (researching the size of the company, its delivery docks and the products they ship and the way they send freights).
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