Here at Tallgrass Freight Co., our vision is to build the best freight brokerage in the country. And at the core of it all are our unparalleled agents. At Tallgrass Freight, agents find both the freedom and the support they need to thrive. So what sets the best agents apart from the rest?
If you’re looking for a way to set your freight agency apart and put yourself in a position to thrive, then join us as we explore five things the most successful freight agents do each day.
1 | Have a plan
Begin each day knowing exactly what you need to tackle. As the saying goes, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” With proper planning, you’ll be more easily able to accommodate your workload. One smart way to plan your day is based on what activities will yield the most success. Find out which activities are most important to your business, and spend the most time on those.
Consider your day from an ROI perspective. If you’re finding success calling on new customers, be sure to include cold call time in your schedule. Or perhaps it’s continuing to monitor your existing loads or checking in with your team. Regardless of which task it is, identify those key factors and plan your day around accomplishing that.
2 | Update and communicate on a consistent basis
It takes time and continued effort to keep up with sustained progress. Both continually updating your loads as well as communicating any changes — good or bad — can lead to better relationships with customers and successful loads.
The most successful freight agents take a few moments each day to update the progress of their loads. Make sure everything is on time and no major setbacks have occurred. And if something hasn’t gone as planned, prioritize proactive communication. Delivering great and not-so-great news builds trust with your partners.
Updating your records and communicating with your clients should go hand in hand. Once you have the update, send it to your clients. Be prepared to problem solve and offer solutions to any setbacks when communicating with your clients.
3 | Build relationships with your customers
Successful agents understand that the best relationships with customers come as a result of hard work over time. Make it a priority to check in with your customer’s business as a whole, connecting not only when you have a project with them. By building a natural relationship with your customers, based on mutual trust, you will be top of mind when they have new business. In addition, you’ll put yourself in a better position to ask for that new business when it comes along!
Invest time in both informal and formal check-ins. Not only should you make it a point to wish them well and celebrate in their wins, but setting up formal check-ins allows you to really understand what’s working and what needs improvement in the relationship. Quarterly reviews are a great way to accomplish this, while remembering to check in between each review, even if it’s just to wish them a good weekend or happy holiday. Bonus points for handwritten notes, which cut through the clutter of inboxes and show that you’re willing to go the extra mile.
4 | Prospect for new business
You may have an excellent book of business, with great repeat customers. But the most successful freight agents don’t get comfortable: they ambitiously prospect for new business. No company is immune to ebbs and flows, and you may find yourself losing some business due to shutdowns, new personnel, marketing conditions or a whole host of reasons out of your control. Because of this, it’s important to never lose sight of new customers.
Ask your current customers for referrals and keep your finger on the pulse of the industry so you’re in the know when new business becomes available. By keeping yourself top of mind with your current customers, you can become top of mind for new customers as well.
5 | Lean on your team
Even though your title may be “independent freight agent,” that doesn’t mean you have to go it alone. At Tallgrass Freight Co, no one ever flies solo. When one of us succeeds, we all win, and we are continually striving to help our agents become successful.
Be proactive in finding mentors in the freight industry — professionals who have been in your shoes before and can coach you to new heights. Make the effort to cultivate relationships with your peers, who can keep you hanging in there on tough days. At Tallgrass Freight, agents find both the freedom and the support they need to thrive. We provide resources and encouragement every step of the way.
If you’re determined to cultivate your future in freight, you’ll make a habit of adding these five things to your task list each day. Come on over to Tallgrass Freight — where you’ll enjoy all the perks of being your own boss, plus the joys of being part of a team.
Cultivate your future and grow along with us. Join Tallgrass Freight as an independent freight agent today!