Economy and Brokering. How is it affecting you?

We all have heard about the economy and slow down. How is it affecting your brokerage or agency?

Our regular customer are moving least freight, therefore we have to make more cold calls. As we call, we have run up on other shippers that can't keep the carriers they have moving. Also, we have came across alot of phone numbers that no long in use or website have been taking down. So, it has effected our cash flow, but we push on.

We have seen a slow down in freight. We are moving freight but this slow down is expected at this time of year. It seems our customers are laying off workers, shutting down facilities by GM is causing less shipments from some of our customers, which is causing more of a slow down than expected. We are surviving, no layoffs or job loss so far in our company, which is fortunate for all of us. I had someone call me the other day and wanted training on becoming a freight agent/broker. I had to discourage her because if someone pays or gets free training right now it will for nothing. They are not going to find any customers right now and they will get discouraged and probably not give it a shot at any other time and they will have paid for something with no return. This same lady that I discouraged, I gave her an alternative route for a home based buiness and she signed up for it instead. Told her when the time was right and if she still wanted to be a freight agent I would help her. But I wouldn't advise anyone to enter into the freight world right now. I tried for a solid month cold calling on customers that I know use brokers and I didn't get a single new customer out of it. Several years ago I was able to get a new customer everyday if I tried. Today it is almost impossible to get in with a new shipper.

We got 2 new customer but they won't be doing anything until first quarter and time will if that pans out. Sales Agent, that was good advise for the person who want to get in this business.

Sales Agent in Tulsa, Oklahoma said: We have seen a slow down in freight. We are moving freight but this slow down is expected at this time of year. It seems our customers are laying off workers, shutting down facilities by GM is causing less shipments from some of our customers, which is causing more of a slow down than expected. We are surviving, no layoffs or job loss so far in our company, which is fortunate for all of us. I had someone call me the other day and wanted training on becoming a freight agent/broker. I had to discourage her because if someone pays or gets free training right now it will for nothing. They are not going to find any customers right now and they will get discouraged and probably not give it a shot at any other time and they will have paid for something with no return. This same lady that I discouraged, I gave her an alternative route for a home based buiness and she signed up for it instead. Told her when the time was right and if she still wanted to be a freight agent I would help her. But I wouldn't advise anyone to enter into the freight world right now. I tried for a solid month cold calling on customers that I know use brokers and I didn't get a single new customer out of it. Several years ago I was able to get a new customer everyday if I tried. Today it is almost impossible to get in with a new shipper.

You are so correct!!! Freight is at an all-time low. The trucking industry has cut to the bone. Products are not in demand!!!. Companies are counting each and every dime when it comes to prepaid shipments cost. Also, cold calling leads to a deadend. Another business would be the best to get into at this time. Spend your time learning refrigation/air condition/heating or plumbing, or mechanics

Everyone needs to have something on the side for the "just in cast". Myself I have started a network marketing business that is going to hit the market Jan 2009 it is a health product. Good timing for this is when everyone makes the New Years Resolutions plus I still have my CDL to fall back on.

Good luck with that

Thank you... I have already made a little... hopefully I can get out of freight...

Sales Agent in Tulsa, Oklahoma said: Everyone needs to have something on the side for the "just in cast". Myself I have started a network marketing business that is going to hit the market Jan 2009 it is a health product. Good timing for this is when everyone makes the New Years Resolutions plus I still have my CDL to fall back on.

Just curious what your product is called; we might be able to help each other out b/c i am in the same line of work.