John Thomas on Freight Brokering

Tired of Playing Games with Others? Get Brokering Now!

Check out this video. It's short, you'll like it.

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John

Freight Broker Partnerships

I just finished training Matt H. from east Texas and he called me the other day. He had initially told me that he had contacts in the industry - freight brokers, broker agents, produce growers and I guess a few others.

He wanted some input about putting on an agent or possibly a partner. This particular agent has been working the produce area for ten years and he knows the ropes. The real nice thing is the fact that my client's relationship with this broker agent goes back about 15 years.

So, here is what I told Matt. Yes, grab onto an agent or partnership IF you know pretty much who you will be working with. I also told him to be sure and have an attorney draw up a partnership agreement or some type of agent contract. Too many people go into working with agents or partnerships thinking there is nothing that could impede a good working relationship.

But things change if people don't. And a good agent contract or partnership agreement really is a necessity.

Another thing that I mentioned was to have the attorney draw up a "buy-sell" agreement if it's a partnership. These can be so valuable if and when it comes time for one partner to take over and the other to exit.

So, if you keep these in mind as you are thinking about agents or partnerships, you will be one giant step ahead of most freight brokers.

Freight Broker Strategies for Success

There are certain skills, traits and procedures that all successful freight brokers can lay claim to. Yes, there may be variations of each skill, trait or procedure. But the question to ask is, "What are some of the core, fundamental skills, traits and procedures that lead to freight broker success?

Why is it that some business owners never seem to be able to uncover these valuable tools; and yet, others seem to be able to apply them automatically apparently without thinking.

A lot has to do with getting educated.

When you get educated, you learn what to do, when to do it, how to do it and even why you are doing it. Some business owners just don't grasp the fact that it takes effort - real effort - to get educated.

I guess, they think that they will just fall into some type of success just because they are doing something. But doing something is not the same as having a plan of action and sticking with it.

The surprising thing is, you don't have to have a lot of formal education to further your education. Sometimes it helps if you are learning certain technical skills like how to run a machine or how to use certain software. But you don't have to be "smart" to start getting smart.

I run across many people who are on a mission. They are seeking and gathering up information to help them make a decision. They don't want to rely upon others to make their decision. They want the facts and they want to be able to say "I'm in" or "I'm outta here" by themselves.

This is my sole reason for this blog. I try to give as much information within what ever time I have to make various notes and comments. Read through these blog posts and get a free education. You may even order the affordable ebook, "The Best of John Thomas" with nearly 100 blog posts from the previous year. You will find a link over on the right hand side of this blog.

So, get educated. You don't have to always spend a lot of money in doing so.

My Home Study Course: I Want to Remind You .....

My new Home Study Course is now available and the fact is - this Home Study Course is of exceptional value. Here is why:

• First, it gives you everything you need to get started in your business in about 30 days if you choose to do it that fast,
• It gives you handouts many of which are templates that you will use saving you hundreds of dollars and many hours of work,
• It gives you real life situations from someone who has "been there, done that",
• It will tell you what to expect from others and what they will expect from you,
• It will illustrate some potential problems so you can learn what to avoid and how to react when problems do arise,
• It gives you detailed, step-by-step procedures for getting your business set up whether it's a sole proprietorship or a corporation,
• Likewise, it gives you detailed, step-by-step procedures for getting your broker authority. Why pay someone else an additional $200 when you can do it yourself easier than you think?
• It covers step-by-step procedures on using various tools that you will need to master such as how to monitor your progress so you can make decisions on where to go for more business,
• It will reveal the secret to working with motor carriers and how to keep them happy,
• It will show your strategies for finding customers that no one else is teaching,
• It will show you all this plus tons of other information.

Again, this Home Study Course is of exceptional value. Check it out by going here:
http://atexfrei.ipower.com//AtexFBTrngMiniCourse.html

Freight Broker Loads: They Are Out There .....

Earlier today, I had a call from Eric L. from South Carolina. We finished training last week. He was a go-getter, I could tell from the start, and he called to tell me about his first two loads.

One, is giving him a 28% profit margin and the other a 12% profit margin. This is great. He is thrilled.

The loads are out there.You just have to go out there and get them.

Freight Brokering: It's Wide Open .....

It's always very exciting for me working with various clients from all across America. I just finished training with Robert W. from Omaha, Nebraska.

Now, to some people on the eastern seaboard or on the west coast, Omaha may not seem to be a real hot bed of activity. But, it's wide open with opportunity.

Robert has been driving a truck for years and is now going to start brokering loads for his trucks and then for other trucking companies as well.

Toward the end of training, I always spend some time going over a plan of action with each client. I want them to know pretty certain where and how they are going to get started.

Robert has personal contacts who are just waiting for him to get his broker authority. Then he will contact them first and then he mentioned all the potential activity in Omaha.

They have beer manufacturers, motor cycle manufacturers, steel mills, fire equipment manufacturers, cereal manufacturers, store fixture manufacturers - in fact the largest in the world based right there in Omaha. And this is just a start.

I said, "It appears you have been doing your homework". He said, "Yes, I have".

So, folks, this business is wide open. What opportunities do YOU have right under your nose?

"They Are Quietly Walking and Smiling All the Way to the Bank"

Most of my clients are business savy. They are knowledgeable and alert. They see what's going on around them and they are getting prepared. They don't complain much, they have a plan.

More than once a client has told me that they know someone whom they "know" are doing very well. They have a truck or trucks and they have their brokerage set up. These guys/gals are very quiet about what they are doing. They don't shout and do a lot of hoop-a-la.

After all, it's sort of like guarding the family recipe.

They are most likely doing very, very well.

So, this is going on more that what most people would imagine and it sort of answers the question: "Is there any room for me? Don't all the "big" guys have this market cornered?"

My answer is, Yes, there is room and all you have to do is quietly carve out your niche. No, all the "big" guys do NOT have the market cornered.

Good luck!

Are You a Hot Shot Sales Person?

Most everyone interested in freight brokering should know that they will be in a sales position. In fact, ANY business owner is in sales whether they think so or not. But, guess what? You do NOT need to be a "hot shot" sales person.

I remember years ago working as a certified public accountant and going into client businesses. At first, the receptionist, or whomever, thought I was a "sales" person. I hated that. I have always disliked any reference to me as being in sales. It was a turn-off.

I thought I was the type of person who could not give bread away in a concentration camp, let alone trying to sell it.

But, guess what again? Things changed. Now I'm in sales. And I love it. Why? Because my perception of the sales role has changed. Now I'm more like a consultant, guiding people, mentoring people. To me this is not sales, this is helping people achieve their goals and changing their lives for the better.

So, if the "sales" aspect scares you. Forget it. Most people are NOT looking for hot shot sales people. In fact, they are not looking for ANY hot shots.

What are they looking for?

They are looking for honesty, integrity and service. That's what YOU want most likely when you are seeking solutions to your needs. And that's what your customers will want when you approach them.

Good luck and happy selling to you!

Freight Broker Training: Here's A New Training Option .....

Check out our latest training option. How about Home Study with

some support?

 

Go here now: http://atexfrei.ipower.com/purchaseAtexFBProMini.shtml

 

Have a nice day!

 

John

Freight Broker Training: Many Reasons, Many Roads

It's amazing how many different people I come across as they search for answers about the freight broker industry and about the training. There are many reasons for coming into this industry. And there are many roads to success.

Some think about the activity involved. They are action-oriented people. They realize that the money will come if they do certain things the right way and avoid doing some things that will essentially destroy them. Some think about how much and how fast can they make money. They are, naturally, focusing on the money and what it can do for them. Many individuals understand that they can supplement their trucking business and cut out the middle man that they have relied upon for many years.  Some think about growing a business that can include or be passed on to their family. Some think about brokering as a way to get out of a bad situation. They are just burned out at doing whatever they are doing. Others just want to keep busy to some extent without going "over board".

So, brokering will actually be a different "game" for different people depending upon their goals and purpose for getting involved.

Many people want to know if now is the right time to get into the business. Well, it all depends. It depends upon your own personal situation. In my opinion, a person should strive to have a cushion of money to carry their personal living expenses while they are building their freight broker business.

Without this, some people are forced into trying to "make it" and they end up getting burned out because of the frustrations involved with growing a service-oriented business.

In our training, we try to tune into some of these personal issues. I have actually told a number of people to look for something else for one reason or another. So, everybody is different. We try to learn what people are really looking for and we try to provide relevant information to their particular desires. What good is training if it does not involve your personal goals and purpose for getting into the business?

Search it out and and ask a lot of questions. Make sure you make the right decision before committing to a costly or lengthy venture.