When Loads Get Lost

Everyone in the transportation industry knows that on any given day hundreds if not thousands of freight loads get sidetracked.  The reasons a load is waylaid are endless, since there are so many aspects and people involved in the moving of a load. The carrier might not show up for a pick up, or a carrier could get sidetracked in Vegas while he has my load.    Loads can be stolen while a carrier takes a quick break at a coffee shop.  Carriers however are not always the problem.   Snowstorms, bad weather, trucks breaking down, DOT and even the shippers changing plans or load details at the last minute can turn a load into a nightmare.  

The key to controlling a situation like this, is communication.  Shippers are not new to these types of situations and can be very forgiving to a Freight Broker providing they are kept in the loop.  It is essential for the broker to contact the shipper as soon as he finds out about an issue with the shipper’s load. The worst thing that can happen is that the shipper finds out about a problem from someone other than their broker.  

Make sure the shipper has a clear understanding of the situation and tell them what you are doing about it. Keep in touch with them periodically even if you have no new news just to let them know that you are still on it.  

Regarding the carrier, make sure you have the dispatcher’s phone number, the driver’s phone number and an "after hours" number or someway to effectively find the carrier.  It is imperative that you can reach the driver and dispatcher during a crisis.  Make sure to talk with both the dispatcher and driver to get all the details of the situation.  Sometimes you don't get the whole story by just talking to one.  Stay on top of the carrier to make sure that they are doing all they can to handle the situation. 

When your shipper trusts you, they will understand so long as you keep them informed.  The trust between you will be strengthened if you handle a bad situation well and with transparency.  

Communication is not just important, it is key.

Moving forward,

Jeff Roach

www.brooketraining.com

 

What Does It Take to Become a Freight Broker?

I was reading through some of the comments left on my blog posts this morning.  One reader asked "what does it take to become a freight broker?".  There are books and courses with much information in answering this question, but here is my quick attempt to explain some of what it takes. 

There are many character qualities and professional skills needed to succeed as a freight broker. 

A freight broker is the middle man between the manufacturers or distributors of goods and the carriers or the vehicles that actually do the hauling.  As the middle man, the freight broker must have good communication skills.  They need the ability to be able to clearly negotiate terms to both sides.  The broker will need to communicate on the phone, via email and text.  The broker will determine their customer's preferred methods of communication.  This is a fast paced industry so being adept at communicate, in the most efficient manner, is key. 

After the negotiation, the broker will then need the organization skills to coordinate the pick up of the goods, movement of the goods then delivery of the goods.  When you are a freight broker agent, your freight brokerage will help with some of the logistics.  A freight broker is always on call as a load is being moved so that if any snags happen they can alert their customer.  A truck may encounter bad weather, traffic accidents, detours, sickness and other slow downs along the way.  When this happens the freight broker will keep all parties informed to the plan of action in getting the load delivered. 

So two key qualities needed to be a good freight broker are communication and organizational skills.  I will talk about other qualities in my next couple of blog entries.

At Brooke Transportation Training Solutions we train a diverse group of students every month.  The skills we teach are key to getting up and running fast, as a freight broker.  And the faster you are up and running the faster you will start turning a profit.  Our students actually start booking loads while in class.

Good luck in whatever adventure you take.  The skies the limit as a freight broker.

Moving on,

Jeff Roach
www.transportationtraining.com