Going Into the Trades
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Going Into the Trades

Do you remember the first time you thought about what you wanted to do with your career? For most people, that idea was a glimmer when they were younger, which manifests into years of schooling. However, it isn't always easy to know exactly what you want to do, which is why it really pays to go back to school. Trade school gives people the chance to specialize in a range of different fields without committing their lives to their formal training. By taking the right classes, you can further your career in ways you may not have imagined. Read these posts to find out more.

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Going Into the Trades

3 Ways To Develop Strong Carrier Relationships

Daryl Scott

A career as a freight broker can offer you an exciting and flexible way to generate income. Freight brokers act as the middleman between clients and carriers to secure shipping services.

It's important that you are able to develop strong relationships with the carriers who deliver to the areas your clients ship to regularly. The stronger your relationship with local carriers is, the easier it will be to negotiate reputable and affordable shipping for your clients.

1. Communicate Load Details Clearly

Communication is an important skill for freight brokers. You will need to be able to convey details about your clients' loads when working with local carriers. Be sure that you are prepared to offer specifics regarding weight, dimensions, and any special handling considerations when booking a carrier for a load. This allows the carrier to schedule a truck and driver with the experience needed to handle the load.

You can form strong relationships with local carriers when they see they can trust you to provide all the information needed to successfully book a shipment.

2. Ask How You Can Help

Carriers provide a service for freight brokers, but you shouldn't let that stop you from trying to provide value-added service for your carriers as well. One of the cornerstones of a strong relationship is mutual understanding and assistance.

Ask your carriers what their challenges are, then try to think of ways that you can help. A local carrier might not have enough loads to keep a specific shipping lane open. You can help by reaching out to clients who use this shipping lane and offer ways to help with their shipping costs.

You will gain new clients, and your carrier can maintain open shipping lanes. These types of reciprocal services go a long way toward establishing strong carrier relationships.

3. Stay Informed

The shipping industry is constantly evolving. Rules and regulations governing shipments can change, and technology is constantly updating the way carriers do business. If you want to maintain strong carrier relationships as a freight broker, you will need to stay informed at all times.

Subscribe to professional publications and participate in continuing education courses to ensure you have a thorough understanding of current industry standards. This knowledge will help you avoid booking loads that don't comply with your carriers' guidelines.

You prevent the carrier from being compromised when you continually educate yourself, and this can help you establish strong carrier relationships over time. Contact a freight broker training program for more information. 


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