As a motor carrier, is the declining capacity negativity affecting your bottom line? Do you wish there was a way to increase business during this disconcerting time? Are you experiencing empty back-hauls? There is a simple solution to increase your business while weathering the declining capacity storm, build a relationship with a licensed freight broker.
A quality broker offers shippers access to equipment fleets that they might not otherwise have the time and resources to find themselves. With thousands of fleets to draw from, a good broker can provide more equipment and different modes of transportation. Brokers offer an objective mode and service recommendations to their customers, their services are built around the shippers need. What does this mean for you? More business!
After you make this important business decision to work with a broker, the first thing you need to do is ensure that the broker is properly licensed to operate by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), has a $75,000 bond in place, and has filed their BOC-3 form designating their process agents. All this information can be obtained through the FMCSA's Safety Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) System.
Additionally, it would be important to run a credit check on the broker, find out how long the broker has been in business, investigate the broker's carrier selection process, ensure that the broker utilizes written contracts, and ensure they are a member of the Transportation Intermediaries Association.
When you use a TIA member, you can be rest assured that you are working with the industries' leading ethical companies. TIA members have been provided a number of helpful hints to facilitate business with carriers. These include:
- Best broker practices;
- TIA code of ethics;
- TIA bond program;
- Model contracts;
- TIA watch-dog; and
- Certified Transportation broker status for individual broker employees.
As customers demand more efficient solutions for their logistics needs, the brokerage industry continues to grow in size and stature. A broker can help its carriers maximize business opportunities by offering industry-leading technology products and services to set their businesses apart from the crowd.
To find out more about TIA and its members, please visit our website at www.tianet.org