Anotherway
Seasoned Expediter
Let me start by saying I love this Forum. I frequently visit the open forum to check on new threads but I have something to ask my fellows expediters.
My father made the mistake of alot of newbies; he quit his job, bought a cargo van and thought magically he would get all the contracts and make alot of money. Well, as you know things didn't work out like that and it took me me awhile to convince him that his way was wrong so lets try my way.
I work in the transportation industry and I just graduated from college with a degree in business and minor in marketing. I noticed how alot of newbies expect tons of work from other companies and to tell you the truth, there was no work out there for my father. Yeah he scored a contract delivering windshields but that still barely paid the billls. Here is what I suggested.....
I suggested that we think outside the box and do some direct marketing. Now, I am not suggesting none of you market but from experience, I noticed that everyone was expecting work from other couriers, brokers or local businesses.. That was not working so I setup a marketing campaign targeted at LTL companies that don't give a darn about frieght. I worked for a major distributor and atleast 3 times a week, we had damage freight of some sort. So my marketing strategy was to send out marketing kits to companies in the area that dealt heavily in LTL. My marketing slogan was...."GOT DAMAGE FREIGHT?"
Oh yes, that slogan got us many phone calls and with that...we tried our best to compete. We found our niche and we're doing very well. Our niche? I think our success is based on what we were willing to give up. Let me explain...
Personally, I didn't want to run 48 states just to make a living. I don't mind 4 or 5 but thats my max. We specialized in Georgia and we made it our concern to cater to businesses that shipped freight or packages within Georgia. And then once we got more requests to travel out of state; we strategically planned our routes and added the The Carolinas.
My father made the mistake of alot of newbies; he quit his job, bought a cargo van and thought magically he would get all the contracts and make alot of money. Well, as you know things didn't work out like that and it took me me awhile to convince him that his way was wrong so lets try my way.
I work in the transportation industry and I just graduated from college with a degree in business and minor in marketing. I noticed how alot of newbies expect tons of work from other companies and to tell you the truth, there was no work out there for my father. Yeah he scored a contract delivering windshields but that still barely paid the billls. Here is what I suggested.....
I suggested that we think outside the box and do some direct marketing. Now, I am not suggesting none of you market but from experience, I noticed that everyone was expecting work from other couriers, brokers or local businesses.. That was not working so I setup a marketing campaign targeted at LTL companies that don't give a darn about frieght. I worked for a major distributor and atleast 3 times a week, we had damage freight of some sort. So my marketing strategy was to send out marketing kits to companies in the area that dealt heavily in LTL. My marketing slogan was...."GOT DAMAGE FREIGHT?"
Oh yes, that slogan got us many phone calls and with that...we tried our best to compete. We found our niche and we're doing very well. Our niche? I think our success is based on what we were willing to give up. Let me explain...
Personally, I didn't want to run 48 states just to make a living. I don't mind 4 or 5 but thats my max. We specialized in Georgia and we made it our concern to cater to businesses that shipped freight or packages within Georgia. And then once we got more requests to travel out of state; we strategically planned our routes and added the The Carolinas.
