<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/" xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/" > <channel> <title>freight broker | Test Drive</title> <atom:link href="https://antibroker.com/category/freight-broker/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" /> <link>https://antibroker.com</link> <description>The Anti-Broker</description> <lastBuildDate>Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:55:25 +0000</lastBuildDate> <language>en-US</language> <sy:updatePeriod> hourly </sy:updatePeriod> <sy:updateFrequency> 1 </sy:updateFrequency> <generator>https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.8</generator> <image> <url>https://antibroker.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/favicon.png</url> <title>freight broker | Test Drive</title> <link>https://antibroker.com</link> <width>32</width> <height>32</height> </image> <item> <title>Expedited Partnerships: Streamlining Carrier Onboarding for Maximum Efficiency</title> <link>https://antibroker.com/expedited-partnerships-streamlining-carrier-onboarding-for-maximum-efficiency/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Anthony Conforti]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 16 Oct 2024 12:55:25 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[freight broker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[carrier onboarding]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://antibroker.com/?p=1124</guid> <description><![CDATA[Why not streamline carrier onboarding and achieve maximum efficiency by allocating the task to a company that does the matching and vetting for you — and enables you to test the carrier without a long-term commitment? ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Finding, vetting, and onboarding carriers can be a time-consuming process. Why not streamline carrier onboarding by allocating the task to a company that does the matching and vetting for you — and enables you to test the carrier without a long-term commitment? </span></p> <h2><b>Onboarding Carriers Can Be Risky Business</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Onboarding untested carriers can be painstakingly slow — and risky. Here are just three reasons why it’s not a good idea for shippers to directly contract with carriers that have not been vetted by a trusted third party.</span></p> <h3><b>Traditional Freight Brokers May Not Deliver</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For years, shippers have taken carrier selection off their plates and delegated the process to freight brokers. But brokers may not have shippers’ best interests in mind. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you’re looking for the right trucking company, you’ll want to make sure that you’re working with professionals you can trust,” a JRC blog said. “While many turn to brokers to utilize a network of carriers and equipment, it may be best to work with a trucking company or carrier that’s capable of providing the resources and communication you need for a more </span><a href="https://www.jrcded.com/why-its-better-to-work-with-a-direct-carrier-than-a-broker/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">direct relationship</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.” </span></p> <h3><b>Lack of Load Visibility</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The growing number of companies that have joined the U.S. Department of Transportation’s </span><a href="https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/john-deere-flow-freight-logistics-optimizations-works-dot/723221/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Issue:%202024-08-07%20Supply%20Chain%20Dive%20%5Bissue:64680%5D&utm_term=Supply%20Chain%20Dive"><span style="font-weight: 400;">data-sharing platform</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the Freight Logistics Optimization Works (FLOW) program, demonstrates shippers’ requirement for greater visibility. </span></p> <h3><b>Untrustworthy Carriers Are On the Roads</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your freight could even be locked up in a law enforcement investigation if a trucking company is part of a criminal enterprise. Federal prosecutors said in July that a California trucking company that gave “the appearance of being a legitimate transportation business” actually was in the drug trafficking business, often hiding </span><a href="https://www.siliconvalley.com/2024/07/18/they-purportedly-shipped-vegetables-into-california-from-mexico-but-this-trucking-company-was-secretly-moving-tons-of-meth-feds-say/amp/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">meth in boxes of vegetables</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <h2><b>Trusted Carriers Are Out There</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With Test Drive, shippers can find trustworthy partners to haul their freight. We do exactly what we say we do — we facilitate shipper tests of carriers. Here are just three ways onboarding carriers with </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/5-strategies-to-streamline-onboarding-and-reduce-risk-with-carrier-vetting/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive maximizes efficiency</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <h3><b>Advanced Technology</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive’s </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/what-is-an-anti-broker/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">advanced technology</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> ensures optimal carrier matching and facilitates seamless transitions to direct shipping contracts, ensuring fairness and efficiency for all parties in the logistics process. </span></p> <h3><b>Ensured Compatibility</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We enable shippers to “test drive” carriers before long-term commitments are drawn up. This testing process allows shippers to evaluate carrier performance and ensure compatibility before directly contracting. </span></p> <h3><b>Complete Transparency</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Test Drive model removes the middleman, empowering long-term, direct relationships between shippers and carriers. Complete transparency allows shippers to know who is hauling their freight and where that freight is, and it gives carriers the power to build direct relationships. </span></p> <h2><b>Test Drive Expedites Onboarding of Carrier Partners</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With Test Drive, shippers don’t have to go through the painstaking process of finding carriers. We lay the groundwork for them, expediting the onboarding process by matching carriers with shippers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive is the </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/test-drive-llc/?originalSubdomain=in"><span style="font-weight: 400;">industry’s first anti-broker</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. We don’t charge broker fees — we operate with a fixed margin. That transparency extends to the honest and open relationships we facilitate between shippers and carriers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We are a platform where shippers can test carrier performance with actual shipments moving under our authority. With our carrier testing, Test Drive is a strategic resource for shippers to procure trusted transportation providers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The goal is for shippers to onboard tested carriers to their permanent rosters. Test Drive has no timetable for onboarding to contracts. We leave that to shippers to decide when contracting makes sense. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With Test Drive, the long road ahead just got shorter. Request a </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/#learn-more"><span style="font-weight: 400;">quote from Test Drive</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> today.</span></p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Problem, Solution: Building Better Operations with the Right Carrier</title> <link>https://antibroker.com/problem-solution-building-better-operations-with-the-right-carrier/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Anthony Conforti]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Fri, 11 Oct 2024 12:35:35 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[freight broker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Operations]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://antibroker.com/?p=1119</guid> <description><![CDATA[At Test Drive, our platform allows shippers to test carrier performance moving shipments under our authority. We operate with a fixed margin, utilizing advanced technology for optimal matching and facilitating seamless transitions to direct contracts. ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a problem today with freight operations: a disconnect between shippers and carriers because the moves are managed by freight brokers. But there is a solution, a way to facilitate direct collaboration between shippers and carriers and build better operations without freight broker interference.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The solution is an </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">anti-broker</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <h2><b>What Freight Brokers Don’t Want You to Know </b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Old-school freight brokers want shippers to think they’re indispensable. Shippers are led to believe:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Freight can’t move without a broker.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Freight brokers are the only way to contract with carriers.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Freight brokers aren’t gouging them with hidden fees.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But carriers and shippers can work together effectively to ensure that goods are transported safely and efficiently — without broker intervention. ShipScience said this “involves </span><a href="https://www.shipscience.com/blog/what-is-the-difference-between-a-carrier-and-a-shipper"><span style="font-weight: 400;">clear communication and coordination</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> between the two parties, as well as adherence to industry regulations and safety standards. Additionally, carriers and shippers must stay up-to-date with advances in technology and transportation methods in order to remain competitive in the industry.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Today, there is a way for shippers and carriers to achieve communication, coordination, and compliance goals through direct collaboration via a platform designed to develop those relationships and build better operations. </span></p> <h2><b>The Right Carrier Is Obtainable</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a way to find the right carrier — a tested carrier — for your freight without relying on a freight broker.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">ShipScience said shippers should take a prospective carrier’s reputation and track record into consideration. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">You want to work with a company that has a history of delivering cargo on time and in good condition,” it said. “You can research a carrier or shipper’s reputation by reading online reviews and checking their safety record with the </span><a href="https://li-public.fmcsa.dot.gov/LIVIEW/pkg_carrquery.prc_carrlist"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (FMCSA).”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shippers can also find the right carrier for their freight by “test driving” that transportation provider. </span></p> <h2><b>Test Drive Brings Carriers and Shippers Together</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Test Drive, our platform allows shippers to test carrier performance moving shipments under our authority. We operate with a fixed margin, utilizing advanced technology for optimal matching and facilitating seamless transitions to direct contracts.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We empower shippers to build direct, profitable, and long-term relationships with carriers. We help hundreds of shippers move thousands of loads every month — and help them save time and money by connecting them with reliable, vetted trucking partners.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Those shippers and carriers are singing Test Drive’s praises. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Test Drive is a no-brainer for us,” a shipping manager from Philadelphia said in a client testimonial, adding that the platform helps his company “locate carriers rather than preventing us to do so as most brokers do through back solicitation clauses. Test Drive just makes so much sense if it’s important to grow relationships with asset-based carriers.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On the carrier side, a fleet manager from Atlanta said the truckload provider was “struggling to find good, direct business without a sales force and found ourselves hauling more and more broker freight. We approached Test Drive to help change that — and six months later, we are doing direct business with multiple new customers and growing contracted business by the week.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test the </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/#learn-more"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive difference</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for yourself. </span></p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Logistics Beyond Brokers: Achieving Cost Savings Through Direct Carrier Contracting</title> <link>https://antibroker.com/logistics-beyond-brokers-achieving-cost-savings-through-direct-carrier-contracting/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Anthony Conforti]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 09 Oct 2024 21:39:45 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[freight broker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Direct Carrier Contracting]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://antibroker.com/?p=1115</guid> <description><![CDATA[Bypass the freight brokerage middlemen, contract carriers yourself, and avoid paying unnecessary fees. Test Drive, the industry’s only anti-broker, can set shippers on the path to direct carrier contracting and avoidance of indirect transportation costs. ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shippers today are looking to find cost savings wherever they can. One way to do that is by direct carrier contracting. Bypass the freight brokerage middlemen, contract carriers yourself, and avoid paying unnecessary fees. </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, the industry’s only anti-broker, can set shippers on the path to direct carrier contracting and the avoidance of hidden transportation costs. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive helps shippers and </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/5-strategies-to-streamline-onboarding-and-reduce-risk-with-carrier-vetting/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vetted carriers</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> avoid the </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/test-drive-llc/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">volatile — and risky — brokerage industry</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by connecting them directly, paving the way for mutually beneficial relationships that can weather the ups and downs of the freight market. We also help shippers save money because they will not be paying fees to what could be fly-by-night freight brokers. </span></p> <h2><b>How an Anti-Broker Connects Shippers and Carriers </b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive directly connects shippers and carriers, eliminating broker fees and ensuring transparency. As an </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/what-is-an-anti-broker/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">anti-broker</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, we operate with a fixed margin, using advanced technology for optimal matching and facilitating seamless transitions to direct carrier contracts.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive acts in the best interests of both shippers and carriers — and eliminates third-party freight brokers. We completely remove the middleman, empowering long-term, direct relationships between shippers and trusted carriers. Our model provides complete transparency to both parties, giving shippers the ability to know who is hauling their freight and giving carriers the power to build direct relationships.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Bypassing the middleman saves shippers money because they don’t have to pay high brokerage costs. </span></p> <h2><b>Bypass the Freight Broker with Test Drive</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive’s mission is to bring shippers and carriers together — without the involvement of a freight broker. We are a platform where shippers can test carrier performance moving actual shipments via Test Drive’s authority. Simply put, we enable shippers to “test drive” carriers before long-term contracts are signed. This process allows shippers to easily evaluate carrier performance and ensure compatibility before direct contracting. By eliminating the freight broker, Test Drive reduces shippers’ costs and enhances overall logistics efficiency. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">By partnering with Test Drive, shippers do not have to spend resources to build relationships with carriers. Test Drive does the work for them. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With Test Drive, the long road ahead just got shorter. </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/#learn-more"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Request a quote</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> today.</span></p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Leveraging an Anti-Broker for Shipper Diversification</title> <link>https://antibroker.com/leveraging-an-anti-broker-for-shipper-diversification/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Anthony Conforti]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 09 Oct 2024 13:30:19 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[freight broker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Shipper Diversification]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://antibroker.com/?p=1112</guid> <description><![CDATA[Test Drive acts in the best interests of both the carrier and shipper, eliminating the third-party freight broker and empowering long-term, direct relationships between carriers and shippers. ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That old saying about not putting all your eggs in one basket applies to carriers, too. Imagine if you only hauled freight for Bed Bath & Beyond, which went </span><a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/04/24/1152070914/bed-bath-the-great-beyond-how-the-home-goods-giant-went-bankrupt"><span style="font-weight: 400;">bankrupt</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and closed its stores in 2023. There’s a host of retailers that have gone </span><a href="https://stacker.com/business-economy/major-retail-chains-no-longer-exist"><span style="font-weight: 400;">belly up</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in the 2000s, from department store Ames to toy store Zany Brainy. You wouldn’t have wanted to only haul for them — or the now-defunct Circuit City, Sports Authority, or The Limited. </span></p> <h2><b>The Anti-Broker Model: Direct Relationships for Streamlined Diversification</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">DAT Freight & Analytics said shippers choose to work with freight brokers because it’s easy, even though it </span><a href="https://www.dat.com/resources/establish-relationship-with-direct-shippers"><span style="font-weight: 400;">can cost 15-20% more</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> than working directly with carriers. For freight brokers, it’s easy to work with the same group of carriers, even though another transportation provider could be better suited to a shipper’s needs. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But there’s another way – and it’s just as easy. An </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/what-is-an-anti-broker/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">anti-broker</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> connects vetted carriers with shippers wanting reliable service without paying those hefty freight broker fees. Carriers that partner with Test Drive, the only anti-broker in the industry, can quickly be connected with those shippers and grow their portfolios.</span></p> <h2><b>Test Drive Helps Carriers Bring On More Shippers</b></h2> <p><a href="https://antibroker.com/story/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> eliminates freight broker fees and promotes transparency, fostering honest and mutually beneficial relationships between carriers and shippers. As an anti-broker, we operate with a fixed margin, utilizing advanced technology for optimal matching and facilitating seamless transitions to direct contracts, ensuring fairness and efficiency for all parties in the logistics process. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive helps carriers diversify their shipper portfolios by:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Giving them an opportunity to prove their capabilities in a test run.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Providing complete transparency, including pricing.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Making the path to direct contracts an easy one. </span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive acts in the best interests of both the carrier and shipper, eliminating the third-party freight broker and empowering long-term, direct relationships between carriers and shippers. We are a platform where shippers can test carrier performance, moving actual shipments via Test Drive’s authority. We serve as a </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/5-strategies-to-streamline-onboarding-and-reduce-risk-with-carrier-vetting/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">strategic resource</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for shippers to procure carriers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’ve upended the old-school freight brokerage model with a new way of doing business. Find out for yourself. </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/#learn-more"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Request a quote</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> today.</span></p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Spot Market Fatigue: Is There a Better Path Forward for the Transportation Industry?</title> <link>https://antibroker.com/spot-market-fatigue-is-there-a-better-path-forward-for-the-transportation-industry/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Anthony Conforti]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Tue, 08 Oct 2024 13:06:30 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[freight broker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[spot market]]></category> <category><![CDATA[spot market trucking]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://antibroker.com/?p=1108</guid> <description><![CDATA[Test Drive is a platform where shippers can test carrier performance, moving actual shipments under our authority. We serve as a strategic resource for shippers to procure vetted, trusted carriers. ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Truckload spot market rates fluctuate due to factors such as supply and demand, fuel prices, and supply chain crises caused by disasters like </span><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/supply-chain-issues-hit-hospitals-dialysis-centers-following-hurricane-helene/ar-AA1rxQc4?ocid=BingNewsSerp"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hurricane Helene</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The spot market is the Wild West of the trucking market,” said FreightWaves’ Zach Strickland. “It represents the </span><a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/news/freight-market-green-shoots-fade-003000206.html"><span style="font-weight: 400;">most extreme levels of volatility</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and the polarized edges of the industry.” </span></p> <p><a href="https://www.ttnews.com/articles/ftr-truckload-spot-rates-rise#:~:text=Truckload%20contract%20rates%20are%20expected%20to%20fall%203.5%%20in%202024"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Truckload spot rates</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are expected to increase overall by only about 1% this year, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence, which forecasts a much bigger jump – 6.5 to 7% – in 2025. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shippers could find more stability – and avoid spot market fatigue – if they contracted with tested, trusted carriers. </span></p> <h2><b>The Spot Market Can Be Wearisome for Shippers</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The spot market rate is the price to move freight soon. Thus, </span><a href="https://serioustruck.com/decoding-the-dynamics-of-trucking-spot-rates-unraveling-market-trends-and-pricing-strategies/#:~:text=Spot%20rates%20fluctuate%20due%20to%20several%20reasons.%20Firstly%2C,a%20decrease%20in%20demand%2C%20spot%20rates%20may%20decrease."><span style="font-weight: 400;">trucking spot rates</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> “are typically negotiated between shippers and carriers on a case-by-case basis, often influenced by prevailing market rates,” SeriousTruck.com said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Booking carriers on a case-by-case basis can be tiresome – not to mention time-consuming and risky. A safer proposition is to contract with a vetted carrier that can serve all your shipping needs. </span></p> <h2><b>What Causes Spot Market Fluctuations? </b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The </span><a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/05/05/1096809705/an-economic-indicator-sheds-light-on-the-trucking-industry#:~:text=There%20is%20an%20economic%20indicator%20that%20can%20reveal%20the%20state"><span style="font-weight: 400;">spot market in trucking</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is super dynamic, with prices rising and falling all the time, as supply and demand fluctuates,” Paddy Hirsch said on NPR’s Morning Edition. “But during the pandemic, of course, we saw a massive surge in demand for goods, and that led to a surge in demand for truckers to ship those goods, and, of course, that led to a surge in transportation prices.”</span></p> <h3><b>Supply Chain Crises</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">COVID-19, of course, falls into the supply chain crisis category. So do natural disasters like Hurricane Helene, which has </span><a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/despite-google-maps-notice-there-is-no-date-set-for-when-i-40-will-reopen/ar-AA1rAQXL?ocid=BingNewsSerp"><span style="font-weight: 400;">closed part of Interstate 40</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, for instance, for perhaps a year. </span></p> <h3><b>Supply and Demand</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“</span><a href="https://truckstop.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-spot-market-rates/#:~:text=Here%20is%20what%20you%20need%20to%20know%20about%20spot%20market"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Spot market rates</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> are directly impacted by supply and demand – if demand for a product is high and supply is low, spot market rates go up. If the demand for a product is low and supply is high, spot market rates go down,” Truckstop.com said. “Furthermore, when you factor in the number of trucks and drivers that are available on the road at any given time, spot market rates can really fluctuate.” </span></p> <h3><b>Seasonal Variations</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Spot rates typically are higher during peak holiday shipping season and harvests, when there is increased demand for transportation services. Fall hurricanes and winter blizzards also can affect spot rates. </span></p> <h3><b>Fuel Prices</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The price of diesel affects spot rates because it directly impacts carriers’ operational costs. Carriers will try to pass those costs on to shippers in the spot market. </span></p> <h3><b>Economic Conditions</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Economic conditions play a crucial role in trucking spot rates,” SeriousTruck.com said. “During periods of economic growth, spot rates may rise as demand for goods and transportation services increases. Conversely, during economic downturns, spot rates might decrease due to reduced demand.”</span></p> <h2><b>Shippers Can Avoid the Spot Market with Tested Carriers</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Emergencies happen, but shippers can avoid the spot market as much as possible by contracting with tested carriers. That’s where </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> comes in. We utilize advanced technology for optimal matching and facilitating seamless transitions to direct contracts.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive is a platform where shippers can test carrier performance, moving actual shipments under our authority. We serve as a strategic resource for shippers to procure vetted, trusted carriers. </span></p> <h2><b>Test Drive Offers a Better Path Forward</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive is an </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/what-is-an-anti-broker/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">anti-broker</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/a-new-era-building-transparency-between-shippers-and-carriers/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">promoting transparency and fostering trust</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> between shippers and carriers while operating with a fixed margin. We also provide open lines of communication, full accountability, and paths to increased profits. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We empower our shipping partners to get off the spot market trucking roller coaster and build direct carrier relationships. We enable shippers to save money and time by connecting them to vetted trucking companies to develop a procurement strategy to weather market ups and downs. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Experience the Test Drive difference. </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/#learn-more"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Request a quote</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> today. </span></p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Broker Overdependence: A Major Vulnerability for Today’s Shippers</title> <link>https://antibroker.com/broker-overdependence-a-major-vulnerability-for-todays-shippers/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Doug Fox]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 02 Oct 2024 13:42:32 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[freight broker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[anti-broker]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://antibroker.com/?p=1101</guid> <description><![CDATA[Test Drive is the freight industry’s first anti-broker. Our platform enables shippers to test carrier performance, moving actual shipments via our authority. With our carrier testing, we are a strategic resource for shippers to procure trusted transportation providers.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Overdependence on anything isn’t good. For shippers, overdependence on freight brokers isn’t good for business.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There are more than </span><a href="https://www.thinkfreight.io/blog/fmcsa-active-freight-brokerages-in-july-2024#:~:text=The%20number%20of%20active%20freight%20brokerages%20in%20the,is%20a%20decrease%20of%2011.6%25%20compared%20to%202023."><span style="font-weight: 400;">26,500 freight brokerages</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> operating in the United States, and they’re all competing for shippers’ business. It’s risky to hand over all your freight to one or two brokers – or even spread out among a variety of brokers with the majority of your spend.</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Freight brokers are not transparent in their pricing, and shippers likely won’t know what carriers are getting paid. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Freight brokers are trying to make as much money as they can. They may even award your freight to the worst-in-class carriers just to secure the cheapest pricing. Not only are these carriers unproven, they’re likely to be unsafe and have inadequate insurance. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s a one-sided relationship as brokers typically only care about themselves. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The freight brokerage industry is crowded. Shippers can be left high and dry if they are overdependent on one freight brokerage if it suddenly shutters.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shippers lose visibility when going through brokers, which means a higher risk for potential freight theft. </span></li> </ul> <h2><b>Freight Brokers Promise — But May Not Deliver </b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What happens when freight brokers overpromise but underdeliver? Let’s use Convoy as an example. When the </span><a href="https://fortune.com/2023/10/19/convoy-trucking-tech-startup-shuts-down-jeff-bezos-investor/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">digital brokerage closed</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> its doors in October 2023, some carriers weren’t paid for delivered freight. Some went to the shippers in an attempt to get compensated for completed work. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ikea is one of those shippers. </span><a href="https://landline.media/ikea-asks-federal-court-to-settle-500000-dispute-between-convoy-and-truckers/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ikea filed a federal lawsuit</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, asking a judge to decide who should pay for more than $500,000 worth of shipments brokered by Convoy. It’s a messy situation — but not an unusual one in the volatile freight industry. </span></p> <h2><b>Shippers Don’t Need to Depend on Brokers</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There’s another way for shippers to get their freight covered without depending on brokers. Anti-brokering is a simple concept. It’s surprising that no one has done it before. But, it is possible for shippers to connect directly with tested carriers and depend on them to deliver.</span></p> <p><a href="https://antibroker.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> is the freight industry’s first anti-broker. Our platform enables shippers to test carrier performance, moving actual shipments via our authority. With our carrier testing, we are a strategic resource for shippers to procure trusted transportation providers.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive provides:</span></p> <h3><b>Cost Transparency</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Freight brokers can charge hefty hidden fees. As an anti-broker, Test Drive operates with a fixed low margin. Our full disclosure platform includes a 100% pass-through of all accessorial charges to the carriers. </span></p> <p><b>Vetted Carriers</b></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive partners with </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/5-strategies-to-streamline-onboarding-and-reduce-risk-with-carrier-vetting/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">tested and trusted carriers</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on steady lanes.. Shippers can depend on Test Drive to connect them with reliable transportation providers. </span></p> <h3><b>Advanced Technology</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our advanced AI technology enables optimal matching between shippers and carriers and facilitates seamless transitions to direct contracts.</span></p> <h3><b>Load Visibility</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With Test Drive, shippers and carriers know exactly who is on the other side of the shipment. Our tools also provide real-time visibility so shippers know where that freight is. We then enable shippers and carriers to build direct relationships providing a longterm benefit to both the shipper and the carrier.</span></p> <h2><b>Shippers Can Depend on Test Drive </b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive acts in the best interests of both the shipper and the carrier — and </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/what-is-an-anti-broker/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">eliminates overdependence on freight brokers</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Our mission is to bring shippers and carriers together to help them find synergies that improve our industry – ultimately leading to better cost, service, and capacity metrics. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test us. </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/#learn-more"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Request a quote</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> today.</span></p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>Direct Relationships for Carrier Growth: The Benefits of Direct Contracting With Shippers</title> <link>https://antibroker.com/direct-relationships-for-carrier-growth-the-benefits-of-direct-contracting-with-shippers/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Doug Fox]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Thu, 12 Sep 2024 20:22:33 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[freight broker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Carrier Growth]]></category> <category><![CDATA[Direct Contracting With Shippers]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">http://antibroker.com/?p=1085</guid> <description><![CDATA[Test Drive is the freight industry’s first — and only — anti-broker. We are a platform where shippers can test carrier performance by moving actual loads via our authority. ]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It is possible for carriers to grow their businesses by forming direct relationships with shippers rather than going through a traditional freight broker. An </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/#anti-broker"><span style="font-weight: 400;">anti-broker</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> lays the groundwork for those direct relationships and business growth — and then steps aside.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The result is mutually beneficial business relationships without hidden fees or feelings of distrust and with clear communication and transparency.</span></p> <h2><b>The Traditional Route Is a Winding One</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“With a brokered shipper, your communications will pass through the broker,” DAT Freight & Analytics advised carriers. “If you want to negotiate a rate, you’ll need to let your broker know. Then, they’ll let the shipper know and get to work to find a solution that keeps you and your shipper satisfied. If something goes wrong, updates will be slow on either side because communications will need to pass through your broker.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There is a better way. An </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/what-is-an-anti-broker/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">anti-broker facilitates direct communication</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, transparent pricing, and load visibility. </span></p> <h2><b>The More Direct Path for Carriers and Shippers </b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For carriers, the benefits of working directly with shippers are many, including:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Increased profits</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">No load board cheap freight</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Consistent, contracted freight </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Deeper relationships so any issues can be addressed quickly </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ability to quickly respond to capacity and market shifts</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Taking the time to establish a </span><a href="https://www.bobtail.com/blog/best-way-to-establish-a-relationship-with-direct-shippers/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">relationship with direct shippers</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will open the door to more business in the future,” DAT said. “If you </span><a href="https://www.dat.com/resources/establish-relationship-with-direct-shippers"><span style="font-weight: 400;">work directly with a shipper</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and provide reliable, cost-efficient service and prove a trustworthy partner, they’ll likely turn to you the next time they need freight delivered. Freight brokers cost more, so if a shipper knows you’re trustworthy, why not use you and save more money? Once you have strong relationships with a few shippers, you’ll likely have a steady flow of work and won’t need to scour load boards for high-paying loads in a sea of low-priced freight.” </span></p> <h2><b>An Anti-Broker Can Connect Shippers and Carriers</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An anti-broker can connect shippers and carriers with: </span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fixed, transparent margins </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Mutual agreement on the specific carriers or shipper in testing </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Advanced technology for optimal matching </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Seamless transitions to direct contracts</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Training for carrier operations groups prior to direct handoff (to ensure immediate success) </span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive is the freight industry’s first — and only — anti-broker. We are a platform where shippers can </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/5-strategies-to-streamline-onboarding-and-reduce-risk-with-carrier-vetting/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">test carrier performance</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by moving actual loads via our authority. That testing lays the groundwork for carriers to secure direct contracts between shippers and carriers who agree they want to move forward together. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our model provides complete transparency to all parties, giving carriers the power to build direct relationships and giving shippers the ability to know who is hauling their freight. </span></p> <h2><b>Test Drive Makes Direct Contracting Easy</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the only anti-broker, Test Drive eliminates hefty broker fees, promotes transparency, builds trust, and fosters direct relationships between carriers and shippers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive acts in the best interests of both the carrier and shipper, removing the freight broker middleman and empowering long-term, direct relationships.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We charge only a small fixed fee over the carrier’s quoted rate while a carrier is being “test driven” to cover operational costs. This fee is eliminated when shippers directly contract with carriers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test us for yourself. </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/#learn-more"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Contact Test Drive</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> today. </span></p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>5 Strategies to Streamline Onboarding and Reduce Risk with Carrier Vetting</title> <link>https://antibroker.com/5-strategies-to-streamline-onboarding-and-reduce-risk-with-carrier-vetting/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Doug Fox]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Mon, 15 Jul 2024 20:53:48 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[freight broker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[carrier vetting]]></category> <category><![CDATA[freight brokerage]]></category> <category><![CDATA[freight brokerage companies]]></category> <category><![CDATA[freight brokerages]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://antibroker.com/?p=1081</guid> <description><![CDATA[We help our shipping partners save time and money by connecting them to reliable trucking providers and enabling them to build direct, profitable, and long-term carrier relationships.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The carrier vetting and onboarding process traditionally has been long and drawn out. It also can be a risky operation if transportation providers are not properly vetted before being onboarded. </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/test-drive-llc/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> changes that, providing strategic tools for shippers with complex supply chains to locate, qualify, and test new asset partners. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We help our shipping partners save time and money by connecting them to reliable trucking providers and enabling them to build direct, profitable, and long-term </span><a href="https://antibroker.com/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">carrier relationships</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Test Drive, based in Ada, Michigan, our mission is to bring shippers and vetted carriers together, helping them find synergies to improve their cost, service, and capacity metrics. We are what we say we are: a platform where shippers can test carrier performance moving actual shipments via Test Drive’s brokerage authority. With our carrier testing, we serve as a strategic resource for shippers to vet and onboard new transportation providers. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We agree with the viewpoint of transportation provider Roadrunner, which said that freight carriers should see themselves as an extension of the shipper’s brand. It said shippers are “motivated to build their reputation for dependability and customer service to maintain and </span><a href="https://www.shiproadrunnerfreight.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/RR-Positive-Shipper-Carrier-Relationship_Article.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">build relationships</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that will benefit their businesses in the long term. With so much riding on the successful transport of goods, every decision, action, and response matters.”</span></p> <h2><b>5 Strategies for Effective Carrier Vetting and Onboarding</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Macho Vibes blog post titled “The Essential Guide to Streamlining </span><a href="https://www.machovibes.com/streamlining-carrier-onboarding-for-maximum-efficiency/#:~:text=To%20achieve%20efficient%20carrier%20onboarding%2C%20it%E2%80%99s%20essential%20to,significantly%20reduce%20onboarding%20times%20and%20enhance%20process%20efficiency."><span style="font-weight: 400;">Carrier Onboarding</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for Maximum Efficiency” said traditional transportation provider vetting and onboarding methods “often encounter challenges such as protracted paperwork processes and inefficient communication channels, which can not only delay operations but also inflate costs. The digital era presents an opportunity to revamp these methods, streamlining the process to be more efficient and less burdensome.” </span></p> <h3><b>1. Standardize the Onboarding Process</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Test Drive encourages the onboarding of asset fleets after testing, becoming a strategic rather than reactionary resource for procuring new transportation providers. This bridges the gaps between freight carriers and shippers – and creates a win-win for all parties in the supply chain. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our standardized process also relieves many of the headaches associated with traditional carrier vetting and onboarding. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Macho Vibes carrier guide said that “identifying bottlenecks is the initial step toward optimizing carrier onboarding. Common pain points include extensive paperwork, a lack of procedural standardization, and ineffective communication channels.” </span></p> <h3><b>2. Leverage Technology for Efficient Vetting</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Technology has transformed the carrier vetting and onboarding process, and Test Drive has taken advantage of the opportunities those tech advancements have afforded. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Automation not only reduces the likelihood of human error but also leads to more efficient operations by allowing for the reallocation of resources to more critical tasks,” the carrier onboarding guide said. “The strategic application of technology in carrier onboarding is a game-changer, facilitating a smoother, faster, and more accurate process.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Test Drive, we operate with a</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">fixed margin, utilizing advanced technology for optimal carrier matching and facilitating seamless transitions to direct contracts with shippers, ensuring fairness and efficiency for all parties in the logistics process.</span></p> <h3><b>3. Conduct Comprehensive Background Checks</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An article on </span><a href="https://truckstop.com/blog/carrier-vetting/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vetting freight carriers</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> advised checking:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Registry Monitoring Insurance Services (RMIS) database.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Experience levels.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">On-time performance and reliability.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s CSA (compliance, safety, accountability) scores. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Insurance certificates.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">FMCSA authority. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Watchdog reports from the Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA).</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Compliance with legal and regulatory standards is a cornerstone of the carrier onboarding process. Rigorous compliance checks and regular audits ensure that all carriers meet the necessary industry standards, safeguarding the company against legal and financial risks,” Macho Vibes said. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An Inbound Logistics article published in January titled “How Shippers Can </span><a href="https://www.inboundlogistics.com/articles/how-shippers-can-manage-risk-during-the-great-trucking-recession/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Manage Risk</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> During the Great Trucking Recession,” said, “Beware of carriers that have had their authority less than 90 days or have an unexplained lapse in their authority. Make sure their safety rating is not conditional or unsatisfactory with the FMCSA. This status may indicate a carrier operating with unsafe equipment or fraudulently reporting their drivers’ information. Services like TIA Watchdog can also help identify brokers or carriers that have operated unethically or fraudulently with another company. Onboarding and compliance providers, such as Carrier411, Highway, and RMIS, can help weed out unsavory providers.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Test Drive, our thorough carrier vetting process ensures that no unsavory transportation providers ever make it into our system and will never be matched with our shippers’ freight. </span></p> <h3><b>4. Implement Continuous Monitoring and Evaluation</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Monitoring carriers’ performance on an ongoing basis is essential for long-term success. Continuous evaluation is standard business at Test Drive, and we keep shippers informed with carrier performance metrics. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“For carrier onboarding processes to remain efficient and effective, continuous improvement and regular evaluation are essential,” the carrier guide said. “Setting key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly assessing the onboarding process against these benchmarks allows companies to identify areas for enhancement.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Inbound Logistics advised, “Once a great carrier is onboarded, keep using them. The more business you direct toward a carrier, the better overall pricing and service you will receive.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A Roadrunner report on cultivating the relationships between shippers and freight carriers included a reminder that those relationships require attention to endure. It said the “partnership is a two-way street, and … the strongest and most lasting business relationships require a lot of honest communication and a healthy dose of thoughtful and constructive feedback.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Test Drive, we work to make sure that the relationship between shipper and freight carrier will be one that will last for years.</span></p> <h3><b>5. Foster Strong Communication and Relationships</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The foundation of a successful onboarding process is the establishment of strong relationships with carriers. A collaborative approach to problem-solving can significantly improve the efficiency</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">of the onboarding process, creating a more positive experience for all parties involved,” Macho Vibe’s “Essential Guide” said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“By providing carriers with the necessary support and resources, companies can foster a sense of partnership and mutual respect. This collaborative mindset not only enhances the onboarding experience but also sets the stage for long-term, productive relationships with carriers, which are crucial for sustained operational success.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Kent Williams, LTL carrier Averitt’s executive vice president of sales and marketing, told Logistics Management, “Many shippers do understand the value and </span><a href="https://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/top_50_trucking_companies_2023_is_this_normal"><span style="font-weight: 400;">competitive advantage</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that’s created by partnering with carriers who offer reliable, on-time service and low incidents of exceptions and claims, as well as the competitive advantage that can be created by working with a carrier that truly acts as an extension of their business.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Strategies For Building </span><a href="https://otrsolutions.com/strategies-for-building-strong-relationships-with-shippers-and-carriers-in-trucking/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Strong Relationships</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> With Shippers And Carriers In Trucking” said, “In the freight business, a strong bond between shippers and carriers is the backbone of every successful haul. It’s not just about loading up and hitting the road; it’s about trust, clear communication, and understanding each other’s needs. This understanding ensures that goods get where they need to go, on time and in good condition.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The article went on to say that in the trucking industry, “things change, sometimes in a heartbeat. Roadblocks, weather challenges, vehicle issues, you name it. But through all these uncertainties, one thing remains crucial: communication. An open channel, where shippers and carriers freely share information, can make all the difference. This dialogue is not just about relaying information, but about sharing concerns, discussing potential solutions, and navigating challenges together. When both parties communicate openly, they build a bridge of understanding, making it easier to face any bumps that come their way.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Test Drive, we know that clear communication prevents stormy relationships. We build relationships with shippers of a vast array of products and needs. We build relationships with thoroughly vetted, trusted carriers. We foster honest and mutually beneficial relationships between those shippers and freight carriers.</span></p> <h2><b>Trust Test Drive to Find the Best Vetted Carriers</b></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Test Drive, we don’t claim to build relationships with freight brokers. We’re an anti-broker. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As the transportation and logistics industry’s first anti-broker, we act in the best interests of both the shipper and carrier, eliminating the third-party freight broker. Test Drive completely removes this middleman, empowering long-term, direct relationships between shippers and carriers. Our model provides </span><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/test-drive-llc_introducingthe-anti-broker-https-activity-7204120568072196096-TQ-3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop"><span style="font-weight: 400;">complete transparency</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to all parties, giving shippers the ability to know who is hauling their freight and giving carriers the power to build direct relationships – without brokers’ involvement. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Test Drive, we provide:</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Complete transparency.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Open lines of communication. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Full accountability.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Opportunities to save time.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paths to increased profits.</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fewer headaches.</span></li> </ul> <p><a href="https://antibroker.com/#learn-more"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Request a quote</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> from Test Drive today. </span></p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> <item> <title>What Is an Anti-Broker?</title> <link>https://antibroker.com/what-is-an-anti-broker/</link> <dc:creator><![CDATA[Doug Fox]]></dc:creator> <pubDate>Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:03:05 +0000</pubDate> <category><![CDATA[freight broker]]></category> <category><![CDATA[freight broker companies]]></category> <category><![CDATA[freight brokers]]></category> <guid isPermaLink="false">https://antibroker.com/?p=1077</guid> <description><![CDATA[As the transportation and logistics industry’s first anti-broker, Test Drive acts in the best interests of both the shipper and carrier, eliminating the third-party freight broker.]]></description> <content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Antifreeze protects your vehicle’s engine from seizing up in frigid weather. Antivirus software safeguards computer systems from hackers. An “anti-broker” prevents the feelings of distrust (and sometimes disgust) shippers and carriers often harbor when dealing with traditional freight brokers.</p> <p>Since the freight brokerage industry emerged with the <a href="https://www.freightcaviar.com/freight-broker-industry-history-deregulation-pioneers/#:~:text=With%20deregulation%2C%20the%20freight%20brokerage%20industry%20emerged%2C%20connecting,just%20two%20years%20before%20the%20Motor%20Carrier%20Act.">deregulation</a> of the trucking industry as a result of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, the traditional freight broker has served as a middleman between shippers and carriers, arranging transportation with someone else’s assets and keeping a high percentage of the accessorial pay, including fuel surcharges that should be going to the carrier hauling the freight. Distrust arises from the lack of transparency and greed of freight brokers’ camouflaged fees, resulting in lower profits for trucking carriers and eventually weakening available capacity.</p> <p>As the industry’s first <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/test-drive-llc/?originalSubdomain=in">anti-broker</a>, Test Drive eliminates greedy fees and promotes transparency, fostering honest and mutually beneficial relationships between shippers and freight carriers. As an anti-broker, we operate with a<b> fixed margin</b>, utilizing advanced technology for optimal matching and facilitating seamless transitions to direct contracts, ensuring fairness and efficiency for all parties in the logistics process.</p> <h2><b>Today’s Shippers and Carriers are Forced to Operate in a Broken Transportation Landscape</b></h2> <p>Antiperspirants, of course, prevent sweating. An anti-broker prevents relationships that stink, instead providing transparency to create more harmonious communication between shippers and carriers.</p> <p>Traditional freight brokers often operate with opaque pricing, inflating costs for shippers and reducing earnings for carriers, leading to mistrust and misaligned incentives due to a lack of transparency and hidden fees.</p> <p>For shippers, the cons of using a freight broker, according to Express Freight Finance, include:</p> <ul> <li aria-level="1"><b>Lack of control over a shipment.</b> “Once the load is given over to the broker, the shipper’s ability to manage that load [is] hindered,” it said. You don’t even know who the carrier is that is hauling your freight!</li> <li aria-level="1"><b>Little or no transparency.</b> Express Freight Finance said that “there’s always the potential for a loss of transparency if a broker doesn’t communicate well.”</li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://expressfreightfinance.com/freight-broker-pros-cons/#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20biggest%20downsides%20to%20using%20a,for%20a%20load%20than%20they%E2%80%99re%20paying%20the%20carrier."><b>Middleman fees.</b></a> “Freight brokers must make money somehow,” it said. “They do that by charging more for a load than they’re paying the carrier. … The markup is simply part of doing business with a broker. Some brokers may also charge fees related to various tasks in the freight cycle.”</li> </ul> <p>Drawbacks for carriers working with freight brokers include:</p> <ul> <li aria-level="1"><b>Reduced earnings, </b>which are particularly detrimental during a time in which the freight industry “continues to grapple with <a href="https://www.fleetowner.com/news/article/55055096/trucking-market-reports-find-declines-across-the-board-in-april?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter+Weekly+Roundup:+Trucking+Dive:+Daily+Dive+06-01-2024&utm_term=Trucking+Dive+Weekender">low rates</a> and volumes,” according to Fleet Owner.</li> <li aria-level="1"><a href="https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/valuation/opaque-pricing/"><b>Opaque pricing</b></a><b> models</b>, which cheat the carriers of needed revenue while maximizing revenue for the broker and driving up cost to the shipper.</li> <li aria-level="1"><b>Misaligned incentives</b>. Harvard Business Review said companies involved in the supply chain can actually boost their bottom lines by aligning their partners’ incentives. “Thus, the fates of all supply chain members are interlinked: If the companies work together to efficiently deliver goods and services to consumers, they will all win. If they don’t, they will all lose to another supply chain. The challenge is to get all the firms in your supply network to play the game so that everybody wins. The only way you can do that is by aligning incentives.”</li> <li aria-level="1"><b>The volatility of the transportation industry</b>.</li> </ul> <p>Regarding the last bullet point, 2024 is turning out to be another rough year for carriers as well as freight brokers, according to Brush Pass Research, which said the number of active U.S. freight brokerages “<a href="https://brushpassresearch.blog/2024/06/04/june-data-shows-continuing-slump-for-freight-brokerages/">continues to spiral</a>.”</p> <p>Brush Pass Research said the ongoing <a href="https://brushpassresearch.blog/2024/04/16/2023-freight-brokerage-revenues-decline-15-1/">freight recession</a>, which “has created a sharp drop in gross and net revenues for the freight brokerage industry,” has forced thousands of freight brokers to close up shop over the last couple of years. That includes the once golden child, <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2023/convoy-collapse-read-ceos-memo-detailing-sudden-shutdown-of-seattle-trucking-startup/">Convoy</a>, with CEO Dan Lewis blaming the digital freight brokerage’s demise on an “unprecedented freight market collapse.”</p> <p>As is the case with most bankruptcies, Convoy carriers have had to <a href="https://www.overdriveonline.com/business/article/15665402/convoys-unpaid-carriers-where-to-seek-payment">fight to get paid</a>. In fact, the court cases continue, as it’s estimated that the now-defunct freight brokerage still owes millions of dollars to carriers.</p> <p>Overdrive said that while the courts “will have to decide what money goes where in the wreckage of Convoy’s contracts and agreements, the buck may ultimately stop with [venture capital bank] Hercules, who assumed ownership of Convoy’s assets, or the shippers themselves, who may or may not have paid Convoy for loads moved by carriers that went unpaid.”</p> <h2><b>Introducing Test Drive: The Anti-Broker</b></h2> <p>The anti-broker is like an anti-inflammatory drug. It relieves the pain of both shippers and carriers from dealing with traditional freight brokers and reduces cost swelling.</p> <p>As the transportation and logistics industry’s first anti-broker, Test Drive acts in the best interests of both the shipper and carrier, eliminating the third-party freight broker. Test Drive completely removes this middleman, empowering long-term, direct relationships between shippers and carriers. Our model provides <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/posts/test-drive-llc_introducingthe-anti-broker-https-activity-7204120568072196096-TQ-3/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop">complete transparency</a> to all parties, giving shippers the ability to know who is hauling their freight and giving carriers the power to build direct relationships – without a broker’s involvement.</p> <p>At Test Drive, our mission is to bring shippers and carriers together helping them find synergies to improve their cost, service, and capacity metrics. Our name isn’t some silly made-up moniker. We are what we say we are: a platform where shippers can test carrier performance moving actual shipments via Test Drive’s authority. With our carrier testing, we serve as a strategic resource for shippers to procure new providers.</p> <p>The goal isn’t to keep a carrier in testing forever but to move it to onboarding for the shipper’s permanent roster when the shipper decides that is justified. There is no expected timetable for onboarding to permanency. We leave that to the shipper to decide when onboarding of the carrier makes sense.</p> <h3><b>Transparent Pricing Model</b></h3> <p>Test Drive charges its customers a very small fixed margin over the carrier’s quoted rate while a carrier is being “test driven” to cover operational costs. This benefits both shippers and carriers – and goes away at the time of direct onboarding.</p> <p><a href="https://www.dcvelocity.com/blogs/2-one-off-sound-off/post/51332-the-3-secrets-freight-brokers-dont-want-you-to-know">Hidden fees</a> were No. 1 of “The 3 Secrets Freight Brokers Don’t Want You to Know,” according to DC Velocity, which said that “it’s common for brokers to hide fees elsewhere in the billing process – resulting in much higher costs than what the upfront price may seem to be. Therefore, shippers must go beyond just the fee pricing level and find out exactly what’s in their invoices when partnering with a broker.”</p> <h3><b>Direct Relationships and Seamless Transition</b></h3> <p>Test Drive facilitates direct working relationships between shippers and freight carriers. We enable shippers to “test drive” carriers before long-term commitments are agreed to. This process allows shippers to evaluate carrier performance and ensure compatibility before direct contracting.</p> <p>By eliminating the middleman, Test Drive reduces costs and fosters trust, transparency, and stronger partnerships between shippers and carriers, enhancing overall logistics efficiency.</p> <p>A Houston Chronicle article said the traditional <a href="https://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-eliminating-middleman-19042.html">middleman</a> is “facing extinction” in some industries.</p> <p>“In this global, information era, businesses can enjoy many of the middleman benefits without involving a third party if they have the time and energy to build key alliances,” it said.</p> <p>By partnering with Test Drive, shippers do not have to spend the time or energy to build those key alliances with freight carriers. Test Drive lays the groundwork for them.</p> <h3><b>Advanced Technology for Optimal Matching</b></h3> <p>Test Drive already utilizes advanced technology to match shippers with carriers. Now, we’re taking it a step further, building a custom AI-powered software platform that will help shippers capitalize on synergies in the marketplace regardless of market demands.</p> <p>A technology gap was the third freight broker secret in the DC Velocity article. “Despite data science and technology being central to business decisions today, there’s a significant technology gap in today’s freight broker market,” it said. “For example, many brokers still heavily rely on manual, labor-intensive systems, which are prone to human error. This leads to major inefficiencies occurring in the procurement process.”</p> <h2><b>Move Past the Middleman with Test Drive</b></h2> <p>DC Velocity said that thanks to technology, shippers and carriers “are no longer beholden to the broker market.”</p> <p>“Given the long-term negative experience, high costs, and lack of transparency, shippers and carriers may start to move away from the brokers market and towards more advanced solutions that give them more power in freight procurement,” it said.</p> <p>At <a href="https://antibroker.com/">Test Drive</a>, we empower our shipping partners to build direct, profitable, and long-term carrier relationships. We help hundreds of companies move thousands of loads monthly — enabling shippers to save money and time by connecting them to reliable trucking partners and offering a deeper level of strategy and procurement that has never been experienced before. We’ve saved our customers tens of millions of dollars in shipping expenses and helped asset fleets make more money by avoiding reliance on traditional freight brokers.</p> <p>At Test Drive, we provide:</p> <ul> <li aria-level="1">Complete transparency.</li> <li aria-level="1">Open lines of communication.</li> <li aria-level="1">Full accountability.</li> <li aria-level="1">Opportunities to save time.</li> <li aria-level="1">Paths to increased profits.</li> <li aria-level="1">Fewer headaches.</li> </ul> <p>Think of the anti-broker as anti-establishment. We’ve uprooted the established old-school freight brokerage industry with a new way of doing business. The middleman is past his prime. (Remember how unhelpful the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzo73jYl3Ew">Middle-</a>Aged<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzo73jYl3Ew"> Man</a>’s advice was in the old “SNL” skits?)</p> <p>With Test Drive, the long road ahead just got shorter. <a href="https://antibroker.com/#learn-more">Request a quote</a> today.</p> <p> </p> ]]></content:encoded> </item> </channel> </rss>