Insider Secrets to Successful Freight Brokering

Freight Broker Videos - Legal Stuff

Here are a couple of videos. The first deals with some legal stuff. It’s good, but, if you are not ready for it, check out the other video. You can expect well-structured, well-organized training.

VIDEO ONE: Session 9.7.4 – Broker Liability (a portion of some new material I’m putting together) “Freight Broker Vicarious Liability and Negligent Carrier Selection”

VIDEO TWO: “5 Steps to Freight Broker Success”

LASTLY (an ethical bribe) – Give me a LIKE and make an objective COMMENT on EACH video. (You might get a little surprise). I hope you enjoy them but, mostly, I hope you get some useful and practical information. That’s what it’s all about.

This is John in El Paso, Texas

Government Over-Reach Getting Slapped?

There is a fresh wind blowing through Congress this year in regard to trucking regulations. The Electronic Log mandate (ELD) and proposed speed limiter regulations may not see the light of day. A certain group, the Freedom Caucus, is going right along with the President's desire to eliminate government over reach.

ELDs have been installed in some of the larger trucking companies for some time but it's the small carrier that has been waiting until the last minute to delay the expense as long as possible. And there are so many hitches in regard to the speed limiters that removing these potential regs bring a sigh of relief.

Look for more discussion on these issues and more.

Freight Broker Business: A Realistic and Potentially Very Profitable Venture

How would you like to start your own business without having to fall under the burden of heavy debt as you are trying to get the business off the ground? It can be done.

I've had comments from people who think that you need anywhere from $50K to $300K to start a brokerage. Nonsense!

You have probably heard about the $75K surety bond/trust fund. Yes, it's there. But you can get started on your broker authority for $1,400. Bottom line, your monthly overhead is very low.

Yes, you want a cushion to get started so you can pay your trucks on time. A line of credit is the best way to start here.

But we are looking at an opportunity here to get started for less than $4,500 with a great income potential.

Pick up some tips here: http://atexfreightbrokertraining.com/7-tips-on-freight-brokering/

Success! What Does It Take to Succeed?

Here is what Michael Jordan said:

"I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed".

Michael Jordan

And then, my favorite - Ross Perot said that many people succeed because "They are too dumb to quit".

Ponder these from those who have learned what it takes .....

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Load Boards - A couple of Tips Here ...

You probably have been to a food buffet where the selections abound. You don't know what to try if it's new. But you grab what you know you really want (maybe you don't need it, but .....). And it can get a little nerve racking as you meander down the line trying to decide on your selections.

Well, selecting Load Boards should be simple but there is confusion. There may be over a 100 load boards. Most people won't tell you which are the best. You have to rely on sales pitches. So, you have a large selection of load boards - yet, probably, only 3-5 are really worthwhile. And, within each load board there are various choices.

Then, the sales pitch I mentioned - what if the pitch is contrary to what you read on the load board company's website?

We try to sort this all out in training. Some people already have some experience with load boards; others have a little and then the rest have no idea about them.

Don't let the confusion paralyze you. You have to move forward, doing your research and making the best choices possible. This is where we come in. We don't sell load boards and can give you honest and objective input. Go here to learn more: www.atexfbt.com

Want to start as a Broker Agent?

Atex Freight Brokers, Inc. will be accepting trainees in our comprehensive and detailed broker agent training. Graduates can then work under our authority to build their broker agency. Go here for detailed info and get a $200 discount on training while it lasts:

http://atexfreightbrokertraining.com/ba-trng/

Intermodal - what exactly is this?

Intermodal freight movement usually refers to moving cargo by rail at least for part of the move. In technical terms, intermodal means moving cargo between any two or more modes of travel. It could be ship directly to truck or truck to ship or ship to rail directly. Or ship to truck to rail.

Shippers use intermodal primarily for cost savings. When trucking rates are relatively higher than rail, shippers look to move cargo by rail. And vice versa. Intermodal may take a bit longer time in transit; but this may not be enough of a problem to hamper the cost savings. The cost savings normally kick in to higher gear when travel is over longer distances. In other words, moving cargo for short hauls is hard to capture the needed savings.

Rail companies have been investing heavily in making intermodal easier and less costly. Bigger logistics companies even help shippers move refrigerated cargo by rail including the ability to monitor temperatures during the move.

For smaller freight brokers, getting involved in intermodal starts with the shipper and understanding what they need to move their cargo.

Worried about self-driving trucks?

Self-driving trucks are one of the issues being discussed nowadays. Some people discuss it with interest and curiosity; others harbor some fear to one degree or another. Maybe others outside the logistics and supply chains industries just don't care.

The fact is, some experts say it will take two decades (20 years) before self-driving trucks are fully put into place as a real alternative to moving cargo.

In a recent survey by Inbound Logistics, the majority of respondents felt that self-driving vehicles would have the most clout in the industry as compared to a few other alternatives such as uberized deliveries and drones.

Time will tell, What's YOUR thoughts? Leave us a comment.

Freight Brokers: Do You Need Software?

Many people who call or email with questions think they need to purchase freight broker software. After all, technology can provide a real pop to business transactions. But, here's the truth. Software is not needed, starting out. Yes, I do recommend using some type of general ledger software to record income and expenses and to send invoices and prepare checks. QuickBooks is the winner here. Other than that software, we provide spreadsheets that are ready to go for recording, monitoring and analyzing load activity.

Here is a sample of transactions that you will be doing:

• Searching the Internet for customers or carriers,
• Making a lot of phone calls,
• Sending faxes, usually all you need to change each time is the cover sheet,
• Receiving faxes,
• Setting up carriers as vendors and shippers as customers in QB,
• Recording load activity into QB,
• Printing out financial statements, usually on a monthly basis,
• Entering load information into spreadsheets,
• Etc., etc., etc.

Your first line of duty is to get customers and the best software in the world won't help on this; it will help MANAGE your customers and loads once you build a good base of activity. But it won't help in your search for customers.

Keep this in mind and don't spend a lot of money on freight broker software until the business demands it.

"Inbound Logistics" magazine has a survey .....

Here are a couple of interesting facts from their recent survey.

Q. What are the top three greatest challenges for truckers? Here they are ....

1. Driver-Related Costs,
2. Regulations and Compliance,
3. Price Pressure from Customers/Competition.

Q. What are the top three greatest challenges for shippers? Here they are .....

1. Reducing Transport Costs,
2. Price Pressure from Customers/Competition,
3. Matching Supply to Demand.

And, here are MY thoughts on what are the top three greatest challenges for beginning freight brokers.

1. Attracting Quality Motor Carriers,
2. Being Competitive While Building the Business,
3. Learning How to Work with Shippers.

Can you add to any of these? Make a comment below.