Freight Brokers - Building Your Business - Part II

Let's imagine yourself for a moment: Let's say youto give away their "secrets". If they say they will,
are beginning your freight broker business and youthere is some ulterior motive for them doing so.
are working off or your kitchen table or from yourBecause they have worked hard for what they have.
office in your bedroom.So, what do you do if you can't find the help you
You are searching but you are not finding shipperswant? Well, you start thinking and planning and
with cargo as quickly as you would like. And you mayputting various types of approaches.
be thinking, "Where can I go to get some help?"Some new approaches to getting started might be
What if you could pick up a pair of binoculars andsearching new geographic areas, focusing on certain
start peering out of your window where you couldtrailer types such as just flat beds or just reefers, or
zero in on about 10 other freight broker businesses.using different Internet search engines or being more
Let's say these 10 businesses are doing extremelyalert as to what is going on in your local area or using
well and they are getting tons of loads every weekmore creative and targeted keywords in your
and every month. So, imagine yourself driving over tosearches. These are just a few examples that you
each office and asking them, "What is your secret tocan explore and really "drill down" on as you learn
success? How are you getting all these loads everyfrom the feedback that you are getting.
week?"So, in the final analysis, it is up to YOU to carve out
Well, this is guaranteed - most, if not all, will just smileyour own niche. Even if you go to a school that also
and tell you something like, "Well we work hard at it".does freight brokering or if you are lucky enough to
And then you ask, "Can you teach me?" They willhave someone take you under their wing - they will
smile again and maybe not even answer or, they willnot divulge their best stuff.
say something like, "Just start calling businesses". IfThey may push you off to their worst players and
they are generous, they will say, "Go to the Thomasmake you think you have hit the jackpot. So, yes,
Register - there are tons of shippers there".look to others for help. But don't expect them to lay
Well, yes, the Thomas Register IS extremely popularout the red carpet to that ultimate gold pot at the
for freight brokers. BUT, if you are going whereend of the rainbow.
everyone else is going, you don't have theKeep trying new approaches and, at some point, you
competitive edge that you need to overcome yourwill create your own secret to success. And you will
competition.build your business on a more solid foundation.
The point is, these successful brokers are NOT going