🎣 10 Things to Look Out For If You're Looking to Change Brokerage Jobs

Happy Hump Day. Today's feature story is from our newest contributor, TruckBoy Problemz, the pen name of a freight brokerage veteran sharing his wisdom: "10 Things to Look Out For If You're Looking to Change Brokerage Jobs." If you're thinking about switching jobs, this guide is a must-read.

TOP LANE MOVERS POWERED BY GREENSCREENS.AI

*Greenscreens.ai, forecasts real-time truckload buy prices that are suited to each freight brokerage's purchasing power using AI and machine learning. Its engine takes into account over 130 attributes and data points in each rate forecast.

🐔 WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN FREIGHT

💰 $200M to Put AI Self-Driving Trucks on the Road in 2025. Waabi just raised a massive $200M Series B led by Uber to launch fully driverless trucks by 2025 using its pioneering generative AI technology. The Canadian startup's AI can "reason" like humans and requires far less training data than other approaches. Combined with Waabi's ultra-realistic simulator, their trucks could be hauling loads autonomously on roads next year - an industry first. With backing from giants like NVIDIA and Volvo, the fundraising gives Waabi the runway to pull off a true milestone.

💼 150 Fired as Forward Air's Merger Gets Uglier. Forward Air slashed around 150 jobs, including many in sales and tech, as it scrambles to digest its controversial Omni Logistics buy. The debt-laden deal drew investor backlash and customer worries. New CEO Shawn Stewart now must merge systems, retain customers, fend off activists - all while servicing $1.4B in Omni debt. A daunting task after the stock crumbled. Can Forward right the ship or is this whole thing doomed?

🚚 Werner CEO: Freight Market Near Normalization. Werner CEO Derek Leathers says the freight market is nearing an inflection point. Retailers have normalized inventories, entering a stable replenishment cycle, which could boost the trucking industry out of its two-year recession. Despite steady consumer demand, this year's bid season showed less price pressure and churn, another sign of stability.

TOGETHER WITH ISOMETRIC TECHNOLOGIES (ISO)

Unpredictable service erodes margins. ISO gives brokers access to a network of thoroughly vetted, high-performing carriers, complete with historical performance data for lanes, consignees, facilities and more.

👉 Book a demo to learn more.

10 Things to Look Out For If You're Looking to Change Brokerage Jobs

Today's feature story was written by our newest contributor, TruckBoy Problemz, a pen name of a freight brokerage veteran who knows a thing or two about what to look for at a brokerage if you're looking to switch companies.

The grass isn't always greener, but it's worth a look. After years at big brokerages like Echo, TQL, CH, or Coyote, you might consider moving. A down market, lack of upward mobility, or commission changes might push you to job hunt.

I worked at two of the larger, more reputable brokerages and left them for smaller shops. I learned that the grass isn't always greener. Smaller brokerages aren't always going to have the same resources and training as the big ones do. But what they can offer is more opportunity.

10 Tips For Finding the Right Place

1. Competent Carrier Team and Capabilities: Ask about their carrier network size and strengths in various lanes and equipment types. You’re only as good as your carrier team.

2. Upward Mobility: Discuss your career goals with hiring managers and understand the path to achieve them. Smaller companies can offer rapid advancement.

3. Current Customer Base: Gauge the type of customers the company works with. Ensure they handle accounts that align with your goals and capabilities.

4. Opportunity to Work with Large Customers and Carriers: Understand if you'll get a chance to work with larger enterprise and mid-market accounts. Smaller companies might offer these opportunities more readily.

5. Leadership: Believe in the company’s leaders. Long conversations can help you understand their vision and management style.

6. Compensation: Ensure the compensation structure is clear and competitive. Ask about opportunities for equity now or in the future.

7. Runway: Confirm how long you have to establish new business. Ensure your book of business can transfer smoothly.

8. Tech: Learn about the TMS and CRM systems in use. Make sure you’re comfortable with their tech stack.

9. Funding: Check the company’s financial stability. Ask if they are privately funded, cash flow positive, or bootstrapping.

10. Underpromise and Overdeliver: Manage expectations. Don’t promise big numbers immediately; focus on showing up and contributing positively.

Leaving for a new company can be both exciting and scary. Use this guide to navigate your job search and ensure you land at the right brokerage. Avoid a toxic dumpster fire.

This insider content has been edited for length and clarity. Read the full unedited post here.

TOGETHER WITH DYNAMIC LOGISTIX

At DLX,we’re passionate about making a positive impact on our carrier partners. That means offering competitive rates, constant communication, matching profile preferences with available loads, and automated payments that are processed within 48 hours of shipment delivery. 

We’ve pledged to be a champion of change and we’ll never stop working toward better solutions for our carrier partners. Learn more here.

🌎 AROUND THE FREIGHT WEB

🚚 Road Inspection Impact. Greenscreens.ai data shows DOT Blitz has a minor impact on prices, averaging a 1-2% increase, partially offset by a 4-5% volume dip. The effect, mostly on long hauls, varies yearly but isn't tied to market conditions.

⚠️ Unlicensed Driver's Fatal Crash. Driver in deadly Colorado wreck had been deported 16 times before the accident. He reportedly drove, without a CDL, for Monique Trucking LLC.

💰 Triumph Partnership. C.H. Robinson partners with TriumphPay to enhance payment processing for carriers.

💸 BNSF's Big Penalty. Railway must pay $400M to Washington tribe for trespassing oil trains.

🚫 Export Ban Warning Shot. An Oregon freight-forwarder was hit with 3-year prohibition as regulatory caution.

🎣 THE FREIGHT CAVIAR PODCAST

In this week's episode, we sat down with Andy Tomka, VP of Product at MVMNT, a Chicago-based TMS founded in 2020. He takes us through the evolution of Echo and its TMS and shares his thoughts on the importance of differentiation, as well as the future and impact of AI on the industry and jobs.

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on YouTube.

FREIGHT MEME OF THE DAY

Also, check out:

• 🎧 The FreightCaviar Podcast. Listen to this week's podcast on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.
• Looking to reach a highly targeted freight broker and transportation audience? Sponsor the FreightCaviar newsletter and connect with over 10,300 newsletter subscribers, 38,000+ Instagram followers, and 46,000+ LinkedIn followers. We're only accepting a couple more sponsors for the next year—spaces are limited! Contact Paul at pbj@freightcaviar.com to learn more.