It is possible for carriers to grow their businesses by forming direct relationships with shippers rather than going through a traditional freight broker. An anti-broker lays the groundwork for those direct relationships and business growth — and then steps aside.
The result is mutually beneficial business relationships without hidden fees or feelings of distrust and with clear communication and transparency.
The Traditional Route Is a Winding One
“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.”
There is a better way. An anti-broker facilitates direct communication, transparent pricing, and load visibility.
The More Direct Path for Carriers and Shippers
For carriers, the benefits of working directly with shippers are many, including:
- Increased profits
- No load board cheap freight
- Consistent, contracted freight
- Deeper relationships so any issues can be addressed quickly
- Ability to quickly respond to capacity and market shifts
“Taking the time to establish a relationship with direct shippers will open the door to more business in the future,” DAT said. “If you work directly with a shipper 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.”
An Anti-Broker Can Connect Shippers and Carriers
An anti-broker can connect shippers and carriers with:
- Fixed, transparent margins
- Mutual agreement on the specific carriers or shipper in testing
- Advanced technology for optimal matching
- Seamless transitions to direct contracts
- Training for carrier operations groups prior to direct handoff (to ensure immediate success)
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. That testing lays the groundwork for carriers to secure direct contracts between shippers and carriers who agree they want to move forward together.
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.
Test Drive Makes Direct Contracting Easy
As the only anti-broker, Test Drive eliminates hefty broker fees, promotes transparency, builds trust, and fosters direct relationships between carriers and shippers.
Test Drive acts in the best interests of both the carrier and shipper, removing the freight broker middleman and empowering long-term, direct relationships.
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.
Test us for yourself. Contact Test Drive today.