Monthly Archives: August 2023

A White Truck on a City Street that was dispatched by a Freight Broker

How to Get Loads for Your Trucking Business

Finding fresh loads is a constant hustle and sometimes a hassle for both truckers and trucking companies. But rest assured, with a shortage of truck drivers in the US; there are plenty of loads out there to source.

Whether you’re just starting to haul or have been moving goods for years, there are ways of finding new loads that are cost-effective and make doing business easier.

We will look at how to get loads for trucks and how to keep a steady flow of work coming your way.

Building a Strong Network of Clients and Partners

Networking is the backbone of established trucking companies. It can be time-consuming and hard to break through when branching out as an independent truck driver.

But building a solid network with clients and partners is beneficial and has a high payout over time.

Get involved with truck industry associations by going to events that focus on the types of freight that you are looking to haul. Some associations are exclusive and only allow entry if you work in their specific industry.

Keep in mind that trucking associates are not the place to find clients and are attended mainly by your potential competitors.

However, industry events are a great place to shake hands, exchange tips, and in some cases, build a prospect list.

Utilizing Online Load Boards and Freight Marketplaces

Load boards were once found on special television screens at most truck stops in the US. Now, you can easily find pick-up and drop-off locations, rates, and contact information all online.

You can find free online load boards, while others have paid options. Some load boards offer free trials and even have easy-to-access apps that send notifications about newly posted fresh loads.

Freight marketplaces and online load boards have the same basic function of connecting shippers, brokers, and carriers of shipments. But, a freight marketplace offers more services and is more comprehensive than a load board.

Online freight marketplaces use a load-matching algorithm to help shippers and brokers find suitable carriers for the job.

Developing Effective Marketing and Branding Strategies

You don’t have to be a million-dollar trucking company to develop an effective marking and branding strategy.

Organic social media content is an easy, cost-effective way to generate new business and build a reputation. When you post regularly, you’re putting your name out there and interacting with the shipping community. Just remain authentic to your brand and open to experimenting on different platforms.

Websites are great tools for spreading the word, but you want them to make a strong impression. One effective strategy is to work with an SEO professional to optimize keyword search and link building.

And we can’t forget truck wraps. A large vinyl decal can display your name, number, and an impressionable logo for thousands of people to see each day.

Maximizing Efficiency through Route Planning and Load Optimization

Load planning is about maximizing the capacity of you and your truck so that you can deliver multiple shipments in the fewest trips. But there are things you must consider your truck’s specifications (refrigerated), the center of gravity, where it’s going, and the product you’re hauling.

The main responsibility of a load planner is to maximize payload capacity. It also cuts unnecessary costs by considering loading sequence, destinations, overtime, and more.

Efficient route planning improves customer satisfaction because you can deliver goods on time, every time. It provides you with accurate time window management, real-time updates, effective other fulfillment, and services that focus on the customer’s preferences.

Using route planning and load optimization ensures better safety for drivers. It takes into account road conditions and road limits and helps you avoid high-risk areas. And when optimizing routes, you’re reducing fuel use and truck emissions, which lessens the environmental impact.

Maximizing efficiency through route planning and load optimization ensures that you’re complying with new trucking regulations. Manually planning and sequencing routes are inefficient, time-consuming, and leave too much room for errors.

Leveraging Technology and Automation for Streamlined Operations

In the trucking industry, technology is ever-evolving. Technological advancements and software solutions help streamline operations, reduce costs, and optimize overall performance.

Trucking companies and some owner-operators use fleet management software to track insights into vehicle locations, routes, fuel consumption, and maintenance schedules.

Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) have changed how large-fleet trucking businesses and owner-operators track and manage hours of service (HOS) to remain compliant.

Using a telematics system to track performance allows you to monitor speed, fuel consumption, braking patterns, and more to optimize fuel efficiency and address any maintenance issues faster.

Advanced analytics and predictive maintenance is another maintenance solution that proactively addresses maintenance issues and minimizes truck downtime and repair costs.

The evolution of automation using mobile applications has changed how the trucking industry does everything from GPS tracking to load management. Mobile apps streamline operations, reduce time-consuming tasks, and enhance overall productivity.

Conclusion

You have options when you’re in search of fresh loads to transport.

Building a solid network of peers allows you to establish yourself in the trucking business as an owner-operator. And developing effective marketing and branding keeps your name out there.

Technology and the internet now allow trucking companies and independent contractors to access load boards and freight marketplaces from anywhere, maximize efficiency, and automate to streamline services.

Route planning and optimization come with plenty of advantages, including cost reduction, enhanced efficiency, better customer service, and more.

But understanding how to get loads for trucks is not the only way to increase cash flow and stay profitable. Saving money, improving cash flow, and remaining consistently profitable continues after you have picked up and dropped off a load.

We at Advanced Commercial Capital understand the things that truckers need to feel confident and succeed. We provide custom-tailored, fair and honest invoice factoringthat protects you against unpaid invoices due to fraud, bankruptcy, or delinquency.

You can contact us at Advanced Commercial Capital at 855-465-4655 or by using our contact form.

How to Find Shippers as a Freight Broker

Trucking Industry and Logistic Dock - two trailers are parked at the dock with two empty spots int between them reminding us to look for how to find shippers as a freight broker

Whether you’ve read guides about starting a freight brokerage and are ready to get started or have experience in the industry, finding shippers is one of the most important factors. Here are some tips for finding freight shippers as a freight broker that can help you achieve your goals and boost profit margins.

Talk to Existing Customers

Make note of all of your current client’s shipping locations, and ask them if there are other locations, subsidiaries, or partners that you can team up with along those corridors. Sure, it’s easy to do an online search, but companies change ownership hands, lose clients and find new ones that might be noted on the web.

Be certain to remind them (should they choose to recommend you) that you offer solid trucking rate confirmations for their protection and their company’s. This helps shippers know that they are getting paid in accordance with the terms of the agreement.

Know Your Competitors

The shipping industry is highly ambitious, so building credit as a freight broker is important to keep up with competitors and exceed them. Strong credit along with satisfied shippers and recipients can allow you to negotiate higher prices as a broker.

After all, carriers and shippers tend to lean towards reliable, low-risk freight brokers. To better understand what your competition is doing, research what the top freight brokers in those regions are doing. Find out what they are charging. Do they work with fixed percentages or have a sliding scale to accommodate changes?

These discoveries can help identify areas of weakness in a competitor’s business structure. You can then find ways to serve portions of certain sectors of the market that other freight brokers are neglecting.

Make Some Cold Calls

Finding shippers as a freight broker can be as easy as making a few cold calls that could potentially lead to fruitful partnerships. Before cold calling, prepare a proposition and sales pitch that explains why your freight brokering service will value prospective clients.

Know that the first ten seconds of engagement will be the most critical. After a quick introduction, get right to the point. Discuss the regional company’s target shipping zones. Showing familiarity with the area means local businesses are likely to work with you.

Should they be interested, talk about how you factor invoices with a factory company. Explain that this practice streamlines the process, giving shippers easy access to collecting payments. If you haven’t already, consider signing a notice of assignment to simplify paperwork while ensuring satisfied shippers.

Warm Calling Tactics

Making warm calls is a bit more involved than cold calling, but it tends to yield better results. Instead of walking in half-blind, know what the shipper’s primary service needs are and whether they’ve expressed any interest in freight shippers or are looking for new partnerships.

This ensures that you don’t waste their time or yours, should their needs be well covered currently (unless you want to try and undercut competitors). It also shows your genuine interest in receiving them as clients and meeting their needs.

Reach out to Former Customers

Former customer accounts that suddenly ghost you are termed ‘orphan accounts’. Making contact with these former clients can be a remarkable way to expand your customer list and make your trucking business more profitable.

However, if there was a reason for their dissatisfaction with you, be sure to let them know that you have taken steps to resolve issues from the past in those areas. Explain that you’d like to regain their business. You may even offer a discounted rate for a few months to those who sign back on as a sign of good faith.

Look for Referrals

Owners are far more receptive to referrals provided by fellow trusted associates, and they carry more power in lead generation than marketing or advertising content. After developing solid relationships with a shipper, don’t be shy about asking for referrals.

Ask them if they are aware of other businesses in need of shipping brokerage services. If you’re lacking referrals, boosting credit with nonrecourse factoring for freight brokers may be a good option to free up working capital. This could make or break a client’s decision.

Create a Loyalty Program

Loyalty programs serve two primary purposes: to incentivize current clients to keep them with your company and to generate freight industry buzz that can establish and grow your brand image. These typically provide discounts, rewards, and other incentives to attract and retain clients.

Sponsoring a loyalty program fosters shipper retention and can result in overall growth in the industry. These programs can have a lasting major impact on your business, as they can strongly influence consumers’ decisions.

Rewarding loyalty counts, and promoting such programs can be amazing marketing strategies that distinguish your freight brokerage from others in ways beyond more than just price. Loyalty programs can involve several aspects with a similar principle. Most of them offer clients discounted brokerage rates after a certain number of transactions.

However, loyalty programs can entail more than only rewarding repeat customers. They can also be tailored to fit the main niche of your brokerage and be a more interesting way to express your company’s vision. Loyalty programs can deepen relationships while showing appreciation to clients.

Transportation Factoring for Truckers With Advanced Commercial Capital

Learn more about how to find shippers as a freight broker with assistance from the experienced team at Advanced Commercial Capital. We are the top choice for factoring for truckers, because we specialize in this field, giving it our full attention. In fact, factoring and related processes are all we do!

Invoice factoring offers trucking companies a number of benefits that make these agreements worthwhile. We can help secure advance funds that factoring can provide to help your startup or keep your business growing.

These finances can assist with covering payroll, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and other trucking-related expenses. Additionally, our factoring company can help save you money. We charge no setup fees and don’t require contracts while offering time-saving tools for shippers.