John Thomas on Freight Brokering

The Economy: Some Parts Are Shrinking, Some Are Growing

You will read in the newsprint these days about how the economy is shrinking. And it is. Overall revenues and expenditures will be and have been shrinking for some time. Companies and businesses sell less; and when they sell less, they spend less.

This is "bad" for many people. I've been through this several times. But these "bad" times can be blessings in disguise. I have mentioned this before.

However, before you realize it may be a blessing, it's like you have been suddenly jerked out of your comfort zone where you have had it relatively nice for awhile - and rapidly thrown into a completely different situation where you find yourself walking on a tight rope, 100 feet in the air and the safety net below is a handkerchief.

But here is what I see. When this economy starts shrinking, it's like one of those sponge balls full of water. You squeeze it and start to wring out the water. So, the sponge ball might be our economy and the water being squeezed out might be people. People like you and me.

So, the question is, what happens to all this water? What happens to all the people who have been squeezed out? Well, some dry up, I guess. But do they really dry up and go out of existence?

I think not.

Some of these people return and often times in full throttle. They start their own business - many on just a shoe string. And, they get on track, armed and full of knowledge and wisdom that can only be gotten by going through the wringer.

I don't care if you want to start a business teaching people How To Make A Rock Skip Five Times on Water - get out there and search for something. Some of you will do just this and you will want to thank me.

Now, I hope someone can come up with something better than the Rock on Water thing. But, who knows? Maybe there is a market for this. You try it first and I'll follow later on.

Freight Brokers & Trucking

There are some people who believe that freight brokering and trucking are essentially the same in some or many respects. They think that just because a trucker knows how to truck, they also know how to broker freight.

This is very misleading.

While many individuals get into brokering because they have had experience working with freight brokers, they need to understand that there are differences - sometimes big differences. In future blog posts we will look at a few differences. But, first, let's mention how they are the same.

Freight brokering and trucking are both businesses. They are not hobbies although either one can have an entertaining element. But, both brokering and trucking are for-profit enterprises - or they should be whether they are making money or not. So the for-profit element is where they are the same.

As mentioned, we'll look at some differences in future posts. The bottom line is, don't assume that you need to know all about trucking to become a good freight broker. It isn't true. It won't hurt, but it may not help all that much.

Freight Brokers: How to Get Customers

I just finished training with Matt several days ago, one of my clients from east Texas. He is a stay-at-home dad and wants to broker freight very badly. And he has a very realistic approach to all of this. Matt had very good questions during training and his effort during training and afterward is paying off.

He spent some time calling shippers and is hitting some good leads. He doesn't even have his paper work back from the FMCSA but he's already got about five shippers who want his set-up package.

Listen to what he has to say. It's only about 1 minute and 8 seconds long.

Here is Matt: 

http://atexfrei.ipower.com/AudioTestamonials/msg_+18305341574_27_Jan_2009_13_24_05.MP3

Freight Brokering and Reaching Out to Others

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to realize that technology has made our lives not only easier but we all have gained the ability to reach out to others like never before in the past. I'm thinking about telephones and faxes here.

It used to be that you needed to spend a chunk of money to put a second or third line in the house plus pay a higher monthly fee on top of that. Now, if you choose, you can resort or either cell phones or Internet phones.

Skype and Vonnage are two Internet telephone companies that work extremely well and they are relatively cheap. About two cents a minute with Skype and no cost if you are talking to another Skype user. You can get a headset when using Skype or Vonnage. This frees your hands up. Or you can get a regular telephone for the computer. You can get your own Skype number and no one can tell if they are calling a land-based phone or otherwise.

For faxing, you can get an Internet fax service. I use MyFax but RapidFax may be just as good or better. You can get a service for as low as $10 per month. But if you are working your freight brokerage, you will need a service that gives you the ability to send and receive much more than the $10 plan.

So, check out your options. Technology is in constant change and the prices are usually getting lower and lower. Take advantage of these.

3 Business Models Working as a Freight Broker

In any business, there is usually some type of "business model". This essentially means that the business will be set up and conducted in a certain way and targeted toward various customers or clients. Freight brokering is no different. There are several models.

To learn more about these models, they will be published in an email in the near future. And, you can get on the email list by signing up for the free eBook, "Introduction to Freight Brokering". On the right hand side of this blog, just enter your name and email address to order the free eBook if you haven't done so and if you want to get on the email list.

After you have signed up, you may opt-out anytime after receiving any future emails by going to "Manage my subscription" at the bottom of each email.

Business & Financial Success Using an Expert

Atex Freight Broker Training, Inc. is the first nationally recognized freight broker training program that actually teaches you how to run a "business". We have been doing this for over five years now. John Thomas, owner and president, is a certified public accountant with over 25 years experience working with small business startups. Why is this important?

It's important because there are many people who profess to know how to broker freight and yet they go "belly up". Or they don't have a clue on how to prepare others to properly set up and maintain a successful business not just a freight brokerage. It's because they have missed the boat on teaching sound business practices.

For over five years, our training has focused not only on the nuts and bolts of freight brokering but on sound business fundamentals as well. And we even go further than just touching on cash management skills, effective marketing, proper planning, setting up operations and learning about some of the legal, credit and financial issues that impact freight brokers.

We show you exactly which bench marks to monitor and how to analyze them so that you can make the proper decisions that will keep you not only afloat - but will keep you ahead of the competition.

Check out the website for yourself. Don't just scan it - read it including all the pages. Go to: http://www.atexfreightbrokertraining.com

Have a great weekend!

Do You Want a Job? Or Do You Want to Be Your Own Boss?

I just read that the people in Congress have already passed, or are looking to pass, an $825 Billion stimulus package. The stimulus will focus on JOBS.

If you are out of work right now - or if you are on "shaky" ground with your current position - I truly hope and pray that you get a good, decent JOB quicker than a cat on a mouse.

I truly do.

However, if you are tired of a JOB and want to be your own boss, to call your own shots, you deserve to check out all your other opportunities.

You deserve to check out freight brokering and there is no better material presented to you BEFORE you commit than our own website, our blog, our freebies, and our other low-cost items.

Go for it. Go to http://www.atexfreightbrokertraining.com

Freight Brokering: How & Why

Information about how to broker freight is not too readily available if you are looking for a simple, comprehensive, step-by-step guide showing you what to do, how to do it, when to do it and why you are doing it.

There are a number of training school websites and some literature elsewhere on the Internet. And these are all good "food for thought".

But you need more than this.

You need a blueprint for success.

Check out the following web page to give you a preview; then come to us for all the "nuts and bolts".

Here is the web page: http://atexfrei.ipower.com/howandwhy.shtml

Thanks
John

Freight Brokering: What It Takes to Succeed

There are a number of things it takes to succeed in the freight broker business but I would like to focus on two. The first one is "persuasion" and the second is "determination". The art and science of persuasion has built fortunes for many individuals. Likewise for determination.

In freight brokering, you don't necessarily need to be so gifted. Persuasion in freight brokering means presenting yourself to the customer in such a knowledgeable and profession way that your chances of getting work are greatly increased.

In regard to determination, you have to "see things through" to the end. This is assuming you are properly prepared and you know what you need to do and how and when to do it.

I'll never forget an incident where I witnessed both persuasion and determination. It happened at an outdoor musical event where individuals could dance if they wanted to. I was watching a beautiful young lady sipping on a coke. (Why not?) She was nicely dressed in a beautiful white blouse and skirt.

Along strolled a man - he actually looked like he just woke up from sleeping on the sidewalk. He was rough and unshaven with his hair and clothes all messed up. I watched him as he stood in front of this young lady - both enjoying the music. After 20 minutes or so, he began to move around doing a little dance by himself. His casual glances to the young lady eventually ended up with him doing a little dance in front of her - and beckoning for her to join him. This went on for more than 20 minutes.

All of a sudden I looked back at the two of them and there she was - she was dancing with this dude!!! I was utterly shocked. This guy knew what he was doing. He didn't push himself on her. He just presented himself in a manner that eventually persuaded her to join him. And he didn't give up.

If anyone would have told this young lady prior to the musical that she would be dancing with a street bum, she would have dismissed them as being crazy.

The power of persuasion and determination can be seen in many ways and if this dude would have cleaned up his act and gotten a job in business - he, too, may have reaped untold profits.

Truck on Over to My Buddy's Blog

My friend, Jim, has a very nice blog related to the trucking industry. He always has some very interesting posts about all the ups and downs in the business. He even likes to stop and "smell the roses" once in awhile with his beautiful photos.

But truck on over to his website and read his article "Recession Proof Career?"

It might surprise you a little. Here is his website. Once you get there, just scroll down a little ways to view the article.

http://truckingblog.blogspot.com/