It’s a new year. You’ve got a fresh calendar and a blank slate. It’s time to ask ourselves the same question every freight agent asks come January. What am I actually trying to accomplish this year? Setting freight agent goals is easy to talk about, but harder to do. Especially when you’re busy running loads, managing customers, juggling carriers and trying to remember if you already drank your second cup of coffee before 10 AM.
When you’re operating as an independent freight agent, your success or failure depends entirely on you. Having clear goals and actually executing them is what separates freight agents who grow year over year from those just spinning their wheels. So let’s talk about how to set freight goals in a way that’ll set you up for success in 2026.
Start With Your Why
Before you write down a single number, pause and ask yourself why. Why did you become a freight agent in the first place? More freedom? Higher earning potential? Control over your schedule? The chance to build something that is actually yours?
Your freight agent goals should support your why, not fight it. If you don’t connect your goals to your life outside of work, they will always feel like chores instead of direction. The best goals for freight agents balance income and lifestyle, because one without the other usually leads to burnout.
How to Set Freight Agent Goals That Stick
It helps to think about setting freight agent goals in two layers. The big picture and the daily steps that move you closer to it. Start with the big goal. You know, the one that stretches you a bit. Maybe it’s doubling your revenue over the next few years. Or, maybe it’s building a book of business that allows for more flexibility or room to grow a team. That’s your north star.
From there, break it down into smaller, manageable goals that you can act on right now. Think about your monthly revenue targets, your weekly prospecting goals and daily habits that move your business forward one conversation at a time. Big goals will give you direction. But the small wins will help you create momentum.
As an independent freight agent, there will always be things outside your control. Rates change. Capacity tightens. Trucks vanish at the worst possible time. That’s freight. Instead of letting those things derail you, anchor your freight goals to actions you can own, like how many calls you make, how often you follow up or how you adjust when something doesn’t land the way you hoped.
A big part of maintaining this mindset is being part of a strong freight agent program. The right support helps you stay focused on the daily actions that drive results, not just the outcomes you’re chasing.
Putting Numbers to Your Freight Goals
At the end of the day, your freight goals have to connect back to the numbers. Many agents find it helpful to start with a monthly goal. Monthly targets are close enough to feel real but flexible enough to account for freight’s natural ups and downs. Let’s say your monthly goal is $20,000 in gross profit. That might sound big at first, but broken down, it’s far more manageable at roughly $5,000 a week and about $1,000 per weekday. Suddenly, the focus shifts from a giant number to what needs to happen today.
For independent freight agents, you should always tie your financial goals to controllables. Things like:
- How many new conversations you start each day
- How often you follow up with prospects
- Your average margin per load
- The number of loads needed to support your income goal
- The number of new opportunities in your pipeline
Success in freight is rarely about one big win. It’s about showing up, making the calls and stacking enough good days together. Some days will fall short. Others will surprise you in the best way. What matters is staying hungry and adjusting your plan along the way to account for what’s working and what’s not. Tracking your progress will help you stay connected to the effort you’re putting in and course correct when needed.
Entrepreneurial Goals That Support Long-Term Growth
As an independent freight agent, you’re not just moving freight, you’re building a business. That means your goals shouldn’t stop at revenue. A common goal to consider is diversifying your book of business. Contacts move on, companies change and volume shifts, so relying too heavily on one customer can really come back to hurt you in the long run. A healthy book spreads risk and creates stability.
Another milestone some agents work toward is building a team. That path isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. Some agents thrive solo. Others want to scale. A good rule of thumb is this. When your workload consistently pulls you away from selling and relationship building, it might be time to bring in help. While hiring adds cost, it also buys back time, and time is often what can help you unlock that next level of growth.
How Tallgrass Helps Freight Agents Reach Their Goals
Setting goals is one thing, but executing them is another. That is where the right freight agent program makes a real difference. At Tallgrass, support looks different for every agent. Some want hands-on coaching, while others want room to run with support close by when they need it. What matters is knowing you’re not on an island.
From goal planning and strategy to roleplaying conversations and refining prospecting techniques, our leadership team works alongside agents to help them turn goals into action. The beauty of learning from people who’ve been in your shoes means less trial-and-error and more focused effort. And when freight agents pursue the right customers, the right niches and the right daily habits, you’ll see your hard work start to gain traction (even on the tough days).
Set Yourself Up for a Strong 2026
If you’re ready to set goals that align with your life, your ambition and your future, Tallgrass is ready to help you get there. Reach out to us today to learn more about joining our freight agent program.