More and more people are becoming interested in becoming independent freight agents, and with good reason. The cargo industry is only getting more prominent, and the opportunity to make a decent living has never been more accessible. Being an independent agent means you’ll have a lot of diverse responsibilities on your plate, with plenty of benefits to go with it.
This article will examine the different roles an independent freight agent must partake in order to be successful. After reading this article, you’ll be more than ready to start your journey as an independent freight agent.
- Call potential clients
As an independent agent, you have the responsibility to get your clients, which means cold calls. Fortunately for you, the increase in cargo shipping in the country means there are many fish in the sea. That does mean you’ll have to be on the phone quite frequently and be prepared for possible rejection, with the ability to bounce back.
Nonetheless, you will get used to it, and soon enough, you will become an expert in pitching this opportunity to potential clients.
- Form Relationships With Shippers
Wouldn’t it be ideal if clients contacted you for work? If you put the work in, that will eventually happen. Once you have a client base, you’ll begin getting calls from them daily to see if they need help with upcoming shipments. If the answer is yes, you’ll be responsible for connecting with a carrier to deliver the freight on time. Over time if you prove yourself to be reliable, shippers will contact you with work.
This isn’t an overnight process. You have to prove you can meet deadlines, that you have connections to reliable drivers who will make sure the cargo gets to its location safely and on time, and that you negotiate on prices fairly. Once you prove yourself, however, being an independent freight agent becomes much easier.
- Get in Good With Carriers
To prove yourself to the shippers, you need to deliver their cargo on time and in good condition. To do this, you need to have a pool of trusted carriers that you can call on whenever you need them. This comes with experience, unfortunately, sometimes you’ll take a chance on a driver who can’t deliver on their assignment, and that’s just part of the gig. However, over time you will have built a quality carrier contact list.
- Communicate effectively between Shippers and Carriers
As the middleman between shippers and carriers, you are responsible for accurate communication between the two. That means getting all the relevant information from the shipper regarding the order, such as the size of the cargo and handling instructions. This also means handling contracts, so everyone gets a fair deal on order.
- Coordinate Schedule to Handle Multiple Orders
A successful independent freight agent will have multiple shipments on the road at one time. It’s your responsibility to organize and maintain an accurate schedule, so you don’t get overwhelmed and potentially mess up a shipment. However, an experienced freight brokerage will give you the tools you need to succeed.
Get Started As An Independent Freight Agent Today
Now you should have a good understanding of a freight agent’s responsibilities. It undoubtedly requires you to wear many hats, but with that, gain the independence of being your boss. And if you put the work in, eventually financial freedom.
