It's a Team's Life
Agents – Brokers – Customers do they have favorites?
I was talking to an agent the other day about the system we use, the different size trucks he works with, and the different computer systems that make his job difficult. Luckily for us, he goes the extra step to bid on all different size loads and then finds the perfect truck to fit the needs and size of the load.
What I found interesting is that he hesitated to say that he uses his favorite trucks first. We went on to discuss that it takes work to become one of the favorites and this is not done till you get your foot in the door and prove yourself. There are plusses and minuses to this favorites system but I see it as a win-win for all involved. The agent will use a truck he knows will look good and will treat his or her customer right, the customer gets a “favorite” truck, and the agent knows he can go to sleep easily as the driver will handle anything that comes up as a professional.
When I go grocery shopping I have my favorite store in town and I drive by one well-stocked nice grocery store to get to my favorite. I like the way the store is set up, the friendly staff, and the parking. When I go to see a movie, we drive twenty miles further to see the same movie we could have seen fifteen miles from our house. Why? Because the theater further away has better seating, is cleaner, and it is easier to buy tickets. We do this with almost everything we purchase we have our “favorites” and to become one of our favorites it takes work on their part to draw us into their store and prove they are as good or better than where we shop.
So how do you become one of the agent/broker favorites? Persistence and work to get them to notice you. Calling the agent/broker/customer and introducing yourself in a professional manner and asking if they have anything you might be able to help them with? Often that first load they offer is not the best but it is a foot in the door for you, even if the load is not the best you do your best. Prove to the person that gave you the load that you can get it done with no hassle, on time, and in good shape. It never hurts to follow up with a Thank You for the load, we appreciate you letting us haul it.
Another way is to send a flyer of yourself, your truck, your equipment, and all of your qualifications. What sets you apart from every other truck in the fleet? Remember they all would like to haul the high dollar freight just like you so you have to set yourself apart. Once you get a chance at that good load a Thank You email or Thank You card is an easy way to get noticed.
The harder we work the luckier we get.
Bob & Linda Caffee
TeamCaffee
Saint Louis MO
Expediters since January 2005
Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle;
Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;
Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;
Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.