Insider Secrets to Successful Freight Brokering

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/

Self-Employed as a Freight Broker or Being a Broker Agent?

Many individuals call or email asking whether it's best to start as an Agent rather than start with their own company. There is no correct answer because it depends.

I answer their question with another question: Do you want to help someone build THEIR business or do you want to build YOURS?

There are pros and cons either way but most of my clients want to become fully self-employed.

Now, most of my competitors will say, Start as an Agent. However, they are motivated by recruiting Agents to their own brokerage or to an affiliated company's brokerage. So, they are motivated more by fulfilling their needs rather than giving the person an objective comparison.

You need to assess what YOU want and follow through whether it's working as a fully self-employed broker or an Agent. To get a good grip on how you can get in gear as a fully self-employed freight broker, go here: www.atexfreightbrokertraining.com

Freight Broker Agent Training

Are you seeking information and training on how to become a freight broker agent? We have some updated information on our broker agent website. Check it out and see if this is for you.

Go here now: Work as a freight broker agent

Freight Broker or Broker Agent

Some don't know where to start. Some start as an agent then later get their authority to work as a freight broker. Some stay working as agents. Working as an agent is not easier (as some believe) but it is the best way to start for some.

The decision depends upon where you are and what your short term and long term goals are. To learn about which option is best for you, go to http://atexfrei.ipower.com/brokeragent.shtml and http://atexfrei.ipower.com/Whatsthedifference.shtml

Go to my separate website http://www.atexbrokeragenttraining.com for more info on Broker Agent training.

Lastly, there are several other blog posts here related to broker agents. Go to the right hand side of this blog and look for the category, "Broker Agent Training".

Broker Agents Need to Coordinate

So you want to work as a freight broker agent? Not a bad decision for many individuals who don't want all the "backroom" demands that freight brokers need to address.

Broker agents can concentrate on building a customer base and finding new carriers. Afterall, this is what a freight broker wants from their agents.

But is workinng as an agent a piece of cake? Maybe, maybe not.

Agents may not have to deal with invoicing customers or paying trucks. But they do need to coordinate with their freight broker. The entire process of getting new customers and booking loads with carriers requires a lot of flawless communication between the freight broker and their agent.

Who runs credit checks on customers? What if the customer doesn't pay the broker? What policy does the broker have as far as the agent is concerned? Who checks the carriers' authority and insurance? What if an agent dispatches a truck before the carrier is fully checked out? When does the agent approach the freight broker if there are problems?

Certainly, most freight brokers don't want their agents calling them all the time to get help. This would negate the reason why the broker wants an agent in the first place. So, how can an agent make a smooth entry into the broker's method of operations?

In our training, we address these issues and many others. Not only does an agent need to know how to get customers and find trucks. They need to blend into the broker's way of doing business. A well working relationship between the broker and the agent ensures better satisfaction and bigger profits.

 

Are You Considering Landstar as an Agent?

Landstar uses about 1400 agents to fill cargo needs all around the country and internationally as well. The last input I had is that they gave up their broker agent training. And the cost at the time was $2,500. This is my last recollection.

Remember, working as an agent has its pros and cons. Some people work as agents because they have no other option. Maybe their credit is bad and there is little chance of getting their broker authority.

As an agent, you may have to give up your customers and carriers that you worked so hard for. And a book of customers and carriers is a virtual goldmine.

So, explore your options and ask enough qustions so you know exactly what to expect and what they can expect of you.

Here is our option: http://www.atexbrokeragenttraining.com

 

Are You a Freight Broker Looking for Agents?

If you are seeking good broker agents, send me an email and I will reply with some information. Most of my clients do NOT have a following and have little or no experience. But they are well-trained and are raring to go.

If this suits what you are seeking, I have some well-trained agents waiting.

Send an email to: [email protected]

Thanks

 

Are You a Broker Agent?

Some people choose to work as a Broker Agent under the authority of a freight broker. And there is nothing wrong with this. Some agents are prospering more so than freight brokers, I would imagine.

But you need to be careful.

Most freight brokers will have a contract. I suppose many broker agents just sign the contract because they feel that's what they have to do. Well, maybe you DO have to sign it in order to work for the freight broker. But it is absolutely necessary to READ and UNDERSTAND everything that is in the contract.

For starters, the contract will be slanted in favor of the freight broker. That's okay as long as it is "fair". What's fair and what's not fair are in the eyes of the beholder.

But some contracts are just not fair. The freight broker will try to push some of the collection liability off onto the broker agent. Yet, most freight brokers should, and will, run a credit check on each customer before transacting business.

And it seems to me that the freight broker should assume responsibility for collections. If the broker agent is to assume liability for collections - which is "above and beyond the call of duty" - it seems they should be compensated "above and beyond the call of duty".

What would be next? Would a freight broker require the agent to pay the rent if the freight broker is short of funds? I think not.

Don't be afraid to contest whatever parts of the contract you don't agree with. And if you can't live with the contract for whatever reason, do NOT bother working with this freight broker. There are others that don't have requirements that are "outside the norm".

Freight Brokers Are Looking for Good Broker Agents!

I routinely get calls from freight brokers who are seeking good Broker Agents. Working as a broker agent is a great way to get started in this industry. The start-up and overhead costs are very low. There are no tests to take, no exams - you just need solid training and/or experience plus a ton of motivation.

By the way - our Broker Agent training includes the contact info for 3-4 freight brokers who are interested in you EVEN IF YOU HAVE NO EXPERIENCE OR FOLLOWING.

But they all require that each agent has solid training. And you will receive a certificate of completion to show as evidence of your effort.

Go to my website now. We have NEW training materials that are second to none! Here is the address:

http://www.atexbrokeragenttraining.com

Have a nice weekend!

Working As A Broker Agent

Recently I have had a rash of clients training to work as a broker agent. For some people, this is the best way to go.

For one thing, an agent does not have to obtain their broker authority. They work under the authority of another freight broker. In our broker agent training, we give you the contact info for about 4-5 freight brokers who are seeking agents. In fact, I have spoken to each and have required them to complete a questionnaire beforehand.

Another reason to work as a broker agent is to side step some of the "backroom" work like invoicing shippers and paying the trucks. These are left to the freight broker.

Whether you work as a fully licensed freight broker or a broker agent, you still need to understand the nature of the business and all the details of finding shippers, using the loading boards, calculating rates, pre-qualifying your carriers, monitoring your cargo and a host of other detailed duties.

To read more on what some of the differences are between a freight broker and broker agent, go to:
Working as a freight broker or broker agent?