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When a corporation needs to transport cargo by truck, it usually approaches a freight broker sales agent who can coordinate the process as a third party intermediary. For firms that are known as shippers, it is much cheaper to use a freight broker sales agent since the shippers do not have to recruit on a permanent basis for such a purpose. For truck companies, the satisfaction comes from the fact that they carry enough cargo to maintain their trucks full. In this article, we will explain to an interested individual how to become a freight broker sales agent. First, the individual should acquire some working experience in the cargo industry. This can easily be done by working for either a trucking company or for a shipper. After one or two full years of employing, the individual ought to be able to work as an independent contractor agent in an established freight brokerage. Second, during their one or two years of employment, the individual needs to create an extensive list of contacts. Indeed, the person ought to create relationships with truckers in order to find suitable partners trucking firms. The individual must network as much as they can during their time of employment. Third, the individual needs to find a way to build themselves a name and expertise by concentrating on one specific area of the freight broker business. Among the different areas of specialization that are available, there are agricultural products, perishable products, heavy loads, or even livestock. If the individual wants, they might even focus on a given city, state or even region. Fourth, the individual needs to find out about the needs of the shipper. Indeed, a shipper sometimes needs to have cargo services, pickup services, delivery services at a specific time and place, and a particular type of truck. A soon-to-be freight broker sales agent is strongly recommended to speak with the various shippers that are on the list of contacts early every morning in order to find out about the categories of trucks that they will need for the day. Fifth, if one or more shippers agree to place an order, then the individual ought to take it and discuss about the terms of the order. For instance, the individual will need to agree with the clients upon the commission rate. Once everything has been settled with the customers, the individual will need to start checking loading boards on the web every morning. Sixth, the individual ought to search for famous trucking firms that can easily transport the cargo and that are currently available. In order to find such companies, the individual will need to go on the Internet and search for loading boards or specialized directories. It would also be a great idea if the individual could sign a couple of broker agreements with a few partner trucking companies. Seventh, the individual should send by fax the contract containing all the details to a trucking firm that is available to handle the cargo of the customer. If that trucking company agrees to handle the load, then they shall sign and send back the contract to the freight broker agent. Eighth, the individual ought to reach out to the shipper and inform them that the cargo has been scheduled for delivery. The role of the freight broker is to make sure that the load is delivered on time. By being constantly in touch with the truck driver, the freight broker may be able to determine the location of the cargo and to re-arrange a delivery if for instance it is found that the load has been delayed. Ninth, once the delivery is done, the individual should call the shipper to let them know. Then, the freight broker should pay the invoice of the trucking company and send theirs to the shipper.
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