Not In for the Long Haul

We have a major truck driver shortage.   Drivers are needed to keep our economy going.   Many truck drivers are quitting.   As truck drivers stop driving or retire, they are not being replaced by a younger crop.  

Below are excerpts from an article from Business Insiders that give an explanation of why:

Higher driving costs and falling pay have created a truck-driver shortage that's likely to worsen in the coming years. The American Trucking Associations (ATA) estimates the U.S. is short 30,000 truck drivers — a number expected to surge to 239,000 by 2022.

"Smaller 'owner/operator' firms are increasingly dropping by the wayside as the cost of operations and maintenance are simply becoming too expensive to stay in business," Paul Pittman, a planner at a North Carolina-based logisitcs company, told Business Insider by email.  So drivers are suddenly faced with the choice of leaving the profession entirely or moving to a larger company where wages are likely to be lower. 

"As controls continue to tighten, many of the existing drivers currently employed are turning to other areas of employment simply to get off the road and escape some of the regulations implemented to govern their operations," Pittman said.

To hang on, small operators are forced to cut corners. For Jeff, a driver who asked to be identified by only his first name, the pay isn't the biggest issue — it's the compromises some firms are making on driver compliance.

"When you're non-compliant as a driver you run the risk of fatigue and the risk of hurting other people," he said. "And as a driver it's my license on the line." Jeff said he was asked by multiple trucking companies to falsify his logs, but he refused to.

"I consider myself a safety-oriented driver, and I have found that is a bad thing," Jeff said. "Because since I got my CDL [commercial driver's license] in 2008, I have worked for about 10 different trucking companies. That doesn't look good because it looks like it is job hopping ... I'm sticking to my guns."

Time Away From Home

Another problem is lack of time spent at home. Todd Feucht of Wisconsin says drivers can expect to spend as little as 52 days at home a year. Feucht, who hauls oversize loads, averages about three to five weeks. Last year he was home 54 days, including his vacation days. "Back in the day you were treated like a knight, but now you're treated like a peon," Feucht says.

All of this helps explain why the turnover rate at large truckload carriers was 92% annualized in Q1, according to the ATA. Turnover refers to the rate at which drivers leave the industry and are replaced.

Getting Squeezed

Meanwhile, drivers with less experience or bargaining power get squeezed. Feucht has been driving trucks for 20 years and thinks trucking companies need to be more honest when recruiting.

There may finally be some movement on this front. Last month, Swift, one of the largest haulers in the U.S., announced it would refocus expenditures on better labor conditions for employees, including higher wages.

"After assessing the current and expected environment, we believe the best investment we can make at this time, for all of our stakeholders, is in our drivers," the firm said in its earnings release. "Our goal is to clear the path for our drivers by helping them overcome challenges, eliminate wait times and take home more money."

To read the entire article: http://www.businessinsider.com/american-truck-drivers-are-getting-squeezed-out-of-their-profession-2014-8#ixzz3B4MazCeC

Moving forward,

Jeff Roach

www.tranpsortationtraining.com

Hire a Hero

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We train a lot of veterans in becoming freight brokers and freight broker agents. I have spent time talking with these brave souls about their service and the transition into civilian live.  In the process, I have gained even more respect for those who so courageously serve our country.  I applaud J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. for their part in employing our veterans through “Hiring our Heroes”.  Here are excerpts from an article I read on this:

 

J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. Partners with Hiring Our Heroes and FASTPORT to Hire Transitioning Veterans and Their Spouses into the Transportation Industry

 

LOWELL, Ark., May 30, 2014 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program and its FASTPORT partner welcomed J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc. as a new colleague in its effort to find promising career opportunities for veterans and their spouses nationwide. J.B. Hunt is continuing its mission to help America’s military families by connecting military men and women and their spouses to job opportunities. As part of the partnership, J.B. Hunt will supply a fast-track to meaningful employment to veterans and their spouses in their driving force as well as office support. J.B. Hunt will provide mentorship throughout the recruiting and on-boarding process as well as assistance in relocation where it applies.

…”With this program we’re providing veterans with military equipment operations experience a fast-track to a great career. Our founder, Mr. Hunt was an army serviceman, became a truck driver, built this business and was one of the great entrepreneurs in the industry. We need more service men and women to follow in his footsteps.” 

To read the compete article click here. 

Be sure to thank any military personnel you see.  It is because of them and those before them that we have our freedom.  

Moving forward,

Jeff Roach

www.transportationtraining.com

 to learn about our freight broker training course click the link above

Success is Eminent

I thrive on hearing confident words from graduates of our training course.  My favorite phrase from this most recent group of graduates for our Dallas live class is “I am more than certain success is eminent.”  He learned not only the nuts and bolts of being freight broker but more importantly he gained the confidence needed to push forward.  As a freight broker you must make a lot of phone calls to establish a client base.  You just have to be able to understand that “no” is an encouraging word not a discouraging word.  When someone says “no” to your offer to help with their shipments that just means you are one step closer to a “yes”.   They aren’t saying they don’t think you are capable of the job; they just don’t need your help now.   

Read through a couple of testimonies from our recent class.  Thanks Vinny for teaching with such excellence every month.  Thank you graduates for spending a week with us.  We wish you much prosperity in your new career.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the class.  Not only did it meet my every expectation, but exceeded my desires.  I wanted to learn the freight broker business, and I learned of my “life” business.  I am more than certain success is eminent and my business will thrive, as a result of all I have been through.  Vinny is the man!"--Sean Thomas

"Brooke Training class was very good for me.  It was very informative and interesting.  You learn about yourself, trucking industry, and most of all the broker business from start to finish.  I would definitely recommend to a friend." --Phadra Riser


"It was a very interesting class.  I learned a lot of things in a few days.  Instructor was very supportive and communicative.  I made a good decision to take this training class.  Thanks!" --Lorenc Aleksi

Moving forward,

Jeff Roach

www.brooketraining.com

www.transportationtraining.com
 

 

What does a Freight Broker Do?

Freight brokers are the guys who get products moved from the manufacturer to the seller or from a wholesaler to a retailer or from one seller to another.  Many manufacturers have their own trucks to move many of their goods but sometimes they need extra trucks and will call on a freight broker to cover those loads.  To make money as a freight broker you need to be a good listener.  To begin I tell my freight broker students you will be spending most of your day making phone calls, hunting down business.  Look at every phone call as an opportunity to help someone out with a need.  Ask good questions and listen actively to their answer.  I encourage my freight broker students to find a niche and then learn all they can about that niche.  Find a niche that involves something you love.  If you like cars, you could specialize in transporting vehicles.  Since more and more people buy their cars online, transporting cars from seller to buyer can be quite a good gig.  Transporting vehicles involves understanding specialized transporters and finding truckers that have those kind of trucks.  If you love to work out perhaps exercise equipment is more your speed.   Or if you like ice cream you could specialize in freezer trucks. 

Stay abreast of the news and you can get ideas on what industries are on the upswing.  You can develop your niche around an up and coming industry.

The transportation industry is an exciting and dynamic industry with great opportunity for those who are willing to put the work in.

Join us for our next live class or take the course online.  The live class is one week with an additional week if you'd like advanced training. 

Moving forward,

Jeff Roach
www.transportationtraining.com

Experience of a Lifetime

We are honored and thankful to have the most incredible students come through our basic and advanced freight broker training courses.  These students include many disabled veterans.  The Vocation Rehab department will pick up the bill for these courses for qualified vets.  So often when someone gets something for free they don't value it as much as something that was costly.  But this is not the case with our students. Below is a recent letter I received from one of our advanced students: 

My final week at Brooke

So my final day has come at Brooke.  These 2 weeks have gone by far too fast.  The training I received at Brooke was the best.  I not only got the best knowledge and know how of being a broker and learning how to set up my business, but I also found out who I was.  Many nights prior to me choosing to take this leap I questioned my ability, and knowledge.  I thought of 100 reasons I shouldn’t.  After all I had (underlined twice) conditioned my mind to believe I was gonna be sitting in my chair at the age of 47 drawing SSD (Social Security Disability) for the rest of my life due to my accident.  In all reality what I was, I thought I couldn’t change (WRONG) (WRONG) (WRONG)!!

I was so lucky for all my instructors; however one stands out for me.  See what I didn’t know was I was letting my past control my future and present.  I had a FEAR of not believing and realizing my goals for myself.  Don’t please DON’T let fear keep you from doing anything.

F – False
E – Emotion
A – Appearing
R _ Real

I would like to thank you Janis Roach for helping me get enrolled.  Also, Jeff Ashcraft for helping me the first days of the class and the first day on the second week.  Also, thank you Tish for your superior training on rail freight.  And I want to say Thank you to Vinny.  My final instructor, mentor, and friend.  Vinny you gave me more than learning, you gave me something I hadn’t had in a very long time.  You showed me who I was.  You inspired me more than anyone has (ever).  I will be indebted to you for the rest of my life.  I would have never thought of getting this out of coming to this school.  There’s no money in this world that could have bought what you gave me.  Thank you so much and may God bless each and every one of you and may all of your lives be abundant.  Now as I make my journey back to Germantown, Ohio I and my family have a business now.  So look us up.  I would be happy to tell you my experience of a lifetime.
937-422-1068

P.S.  My business name (Capital Gains Logistics)
                                                937-422-1068

Take the LEAP

Be The Best

Sincerely,
Brent Lykins

Wishing you Brent much success in this new adventure.  Thank you for  your kind words.

Moving forward,

Jeff Roach

www.transportationtraining.com

New Freight Brokers set to Earn Big

Just completed another great week of freight broker training.  Our instructors did another incredible job. The graduates learned more than they could have imagined, were inspired, gained insight and skills.   Here are testimonials from the recent graduates. 

My experience has been amazing.  I came here as soon as I graduated high school. I feel within this week I learned more than those whole 12 years of school.  Each teacher was wise, knowledgeable, kind, giving, and over all very good-hearted people.  I feel I know that I am ready to take on the world!!!  Thank you to all.  No matter where I go I will always have this with me and that is something nobody can take away from me.
-Alexis A. Gonzalez

I received a better insight into the brokering business and had a lot of fun learning about the sales skills and techniques.  I learned a lot this week! - Rudi Sinn

I enjoyed the dynamic and interactive teaching experience in the sales portion of the week.  The opportunity to meet representatives of established companies was of great value.


The class was very good and very beneficial to me, which allows me to stay in the trucking/transportation industry.  I was involved in an accident 4 years ago that took my job and ways of supporting my family with a lifestyle they were use to.  By becoming a freight broker I get to deal with the same people I grew to love for over 25 years and have an opportunity to make the money in a month which I made over a year at driving!  --Brent Lykins


This was hands down the best opportunity for me.  I came in the training class not knowing a lot about the trucking business.  This has given me not only the tools to get started but the motivation.  Also the companies coming in to show case their needs.  I would recommend this class to anyone who is looking forward to getting into freight brokering. --Tim Ricks


Brooke Broker/Agent training has much more value than what I expected.  Not only did I get all of the ins and outs of the industry, but I also learned a lot about myself during the second phase of school.

The presenters of this great material have my utmost gratitude.  I now feel confident on my next step.  --Ramon Gamino

We wish you loads of success.  Keep in touch.

Moving forward,

Jeff Roach

www.transportationtraining.com

Great Bosses Make Great Companies

Wanted to pass on this excellent read on being a great boss by

Ken Sundheim

From Personal Branding Blog

June 16, 2014    

The best bosses are the ones who can turn a good organization into a great company. They are the individuals who consistently push their employees to become better, more engaged and enable them to adapt to oncoming changes in the corporate landscape.

Instead of suppressing employees, top-tier bosses encourage smart ideas, open conversation and creativity. They reward the employees who deserve recognition instead of promoting those who simply agree with them.

Regardless of industry or size of company, studies have showed that the best bosses share common traits that lead to consistent success. Below, you’ll find 5 of them.

The Common Traits and Qualities:

1. An understanding of how to build confidence among employees. First-rate bosses don’t allow their subordinates to blame circumstances or environment for their failures. They maintain an energy that is optimistic and focus on possibilities rather than problems. This “can-do” outlook becomes contagious. As a result, employee motivation and confidence continually increase and so does everyone’s success rate.

2. Fanatic discipline. The best bosses set high, but attainable performance benchmarks for the employees at the company as well as themselves. Relentlessly, they pursue these achievements regardless of whether they must work around the clock to meet those goals.
Outstanding bosses don’t let intimidation or harsh business environments dictate their actions. They are unwavering in their quest to preserve profitability and prevent bad habits from forming within the group.

Related: 4 Critical Traits of Great Leaders

3. Consistency. The most effective bosses are the ones who don’t get sidetracked by chasing the “next big thing.” Instead, they make firm decisions as to the course of the organization and, thus are able to define clear roles and tasks that the employees must engage in.
They never leave the overarching goals ambiguous and stick to a pattern of operation that works. Under a first-rate boss, everyone knows where they stand.

4. Strength. The best bosses project strength and have the ability to get things done. Their employees look to them for advice because they possess the expertise and character that it takes to succeed. They are less concerned about being the most popular and more concerned with their commitment to progress.

5. Strong loyalty to the company and those within the organization. The best bosses are the ones who are concerned less for their own personal greatness and put the company’s needs first. Their ambition comes from wanting to make the organization money as opposed to being strictly focused on personal wealth. Instead of requiring outside recognition for their achievements, they quietly produce extraordinary results and set a positive example within the company.

In the End: When you work for a manager who is a top-tier boss, you are rewarded for performance rather than favoritism. You grow both personally and professionally while working under them. They give your position a sense of meaning and your job becomes less of a job and more of a passion.


Moving forward,

Jeff Roach
www.transportationtraining.com