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Transport Pierre la Rouche Ga to ON 5X5X10'3'' offered 700 Cdn it was really paying 1200US St Lambert was a little better They offered 1000 CDN
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- Thread starter Canadian Bacon
- Start date
10
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Ex-Rockman employee ... no kidding ....
You know what's unbelievable? How is it a transport brokerage company doesn't have a website? Are we as transport brokers not marketers of transport services?
You'd think people would have a clue when a so-called broker doesn't have a website that maybe they're not in it for the long haul or trying to make a serious run at being a legit freight broker ...
A broker without a website should be a HUGE RED FLAG.
You know what's unbelievable? How is it a transport brokerage company doesn't have a website? Are we as transport brokers not marketers of transport services?
You'd think people would have a clue when a so-called broker doesn't have a website that maybe they're not in it for the long haul or trying to make a serious run at being a legit freight broker ...
A broker without a website should be a HUGE RED FLAG.
theman, I find that I am usually in agreement with your posts, and have developed respect for your postion on things, however this one compels me to respond.
I suppose that most of us, over the years, develop various tools and thinking patterns that we use to form judgments about those we think about doing business with. If they work well for you, then by all means stick with them. However, we all think differently.
You asked in your post "How is it a transport brokerage company doesn't have a website?"
My answer: How many businesses actually learn what the true cost/benefit of a website, Facebook or Twitter account actually is? One of the reasons for my position is that I am happy and more than satisfied with the size and volume of my business. It absolutely suits my purposes to a tee. If I thought that having a website would make me happier, I'd get on in a heart beat. It's just that I don't need to have lots more money or to have my ego stroked by doing things just for the optics.
You also asked"Are we as transport brokers not marketers of transport services?"
My answer: You can bet the house that I am, but not to any businesses that fail to appreciate the value of the services provided by the carriers that work with me or my own efforts, especially if they have poor payment habits. There are no circumstances whereby I'll accept being paid after 60 days when my terms are 30. One deliberate occurrence by a customer is enough to cause me to terminate the business relationship.
You also stated" that maybe they're not in it for the long haul or trying to make a serious run at being a legit freight broker ...".
I am in business for the long haul, and I am deadly serious about developing mutually beneficial relationships with carriers and customers. Yet I don't have a website, nor am I currently contemplating getting one. If this is the sole basis of someone deciding whether or not to do business with us, then that is their prerogative, and I respect that. However, I think a good reputation and payment track record would be a better indication of what to expect. I think that legitimacy in business is not something that anyone or any particular entity can magically bestow upon anyone else. My belief is that it comes from a good reputation and repeat business.
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Good point Activet. I can honestly say that I don't believe my web site has generated even one potential customer, but I still feel it is a useful tool in getting my company's name into the marketplace. Themans post regarding a website was, I believe, more of a warning to carriers. Along with the other items that I and other contributors have mentioned such as; a trust account, an active US Brokers authority, membership in a trade association, good trade references, etc., can help a carrier determine the bona fide brokers from the "fly-by-night" operators. Having or not having a website however will never take the place of a solid reputation and good business ethics.
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Loaders - you hit the nail on the head.
I do believe that for carriers, having a website is not so important unless they are putting on a marketing push to expand or have a sales force.
Activet, I believe I know which carrier you are, and agree that you probably wouldn't get much out of a website.
However, a transportation broker of any size does need it, because by definition we are transportation marketers, whereas trucking companies are transportation providers. A trucking company that operates say 10 trucks will generate about $2 million annual revenue or so, and can do so by working with a relatively small network of customers and/or brokers. A broker, on the other hand, to generate $2 million revenue, has to have a larger network of customers in general and has to get its name out there ... these days it happens more by phone and email (yikes) than in person when you compare to 5, 10, etc years ago. The website is a tool to use once we already have contact with a customer to elaborate on what we do ... and in many cases offers electronic solutions or at least other info.
The brokers that don't have websites in general are the old type of 'double broker' operations where they are presenting themselves as carriers even though that's not what they are. Trust me, I've been around long enough to know that's the case.
That's why for a BROKER or even as a carrier that has any meaningful brokerage operations, if there is no website and/or marketing, you can be pretty sure nowadays that they are not legit.
I do believe that for carriers, having a website is not so important unless they are putting on a marketing push to expand or have a sales force.
Activet, I believe I know which carrier you are, and agree that you probably wouldn't get much out of a website.
However, a transportation broker of any size does need it, because by definition we are transportation marketers, whereas trucking companies are transportation providers. A trucking company that operates say 10 trucks will generate about $2 million annual revenue or so, and can do so by working with a relatively small network of customers and/or brokers. A broker, on the other hand, to generate $2 million revenue, has to have a larger network of customers in general and has to get its name out there ... these days it happens more by phone and email (yikes) than in person when you compare to 5, 10, etc years ago. The website is a tool to use once we already have contact with a customer to elaborate on what we do ... and in many cases offers electronic solutions or at least other info.
The brokers that don't have websites in general are the old type of 'double broker' operations where they are presenting themselves as carriers even though that's not what they are. Trust me, I've been around long enough to know that's the case.
That's why for a BROKER or even as a carrier that has any meaningful brokerage operations, if there is no website and/or marketing, you can be pretty sure nowadays that they are not legit.
I think a website does offer a bit of credibility to a broker's business. Let's face it, if you took the time to design and put up a website and pay the couple of bucks it takes to keep the website up and running, then it demonstrates a certain amount of seriousness. When I opened up shop as a freight broker, one of the first things a couple of carriers asked was "Do you have a website?". So, I put up a website.
The other thing that builds up a broker's credibility (especially companies that are just starting out), is to quick pay your carriers for the first few transactions. I did this for the first six months and my company now has a pretty solid reputation.
Once you establish trust, most trucking companies will be happy to receive payment by the 35th day. Not only that, but quite a few of them will e-mail or call me with their truck line up every day.
The other thing that builds up a broker's credibility (especially companies that are just starting out), is to quick pay your carriers for the first few transactions. I did this for the first six months and my company now has a pretty solid reputation.
Once you establish trust, most trucking companies will be happy to receive payment by the 35th day. Not only that, but quite a few of them will e-mail or call me with their truck line up every day.