So, your Freight Agent business is running along nicely. You’ve laid down a solid foundation with steady freight flow and strong carrier relationships. Congrats! That’s no small feat and we’re proud of you. 

However, you may be asking yourself, how do I get to that next step – going from Freight Agent to Freight Agency owner? 

The answer to that is by hiring sub-Freight Agents and support staff. It’s the most efficient way to grow your business without burning yourself out. With the right support in place, you can go from a one-person show to a high-performing Freight Agency in no time. The old adage, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” has never been truer than in growing your business. 

What is a Sub-Freight Agent’s Role Within Your Freight Agency?

Freight Agents you hire will act as independent contractors while working under your Freight Agency and freight brokerage partner’s authority. They’ll use the brokerage’s tools and systems to book freight and earn commission, all while helping you grow your customer base and revenue.

Your Sub-Freight Agents Will Be Responsible For:

• Finding and onboarding new shippers
• Booking and tracking loads
• Communicating with carriers and ensuring timely delivery
• Handling customer service issues related to their accounts
• Working under your Freight Agency and using your freight broker’s tools

Since they’re independent contractors, you don’t pay a salary or benefits. Instead, they’ll earn a percentage of the profits on each load they move.

When Is the Right Time to Start Hiring Sub Agents?

Wait, but how do you know when you’re REALLY ready to take that next step?

You’re Ready to Hire Sub-Freight Agents When:

• You’ve built steady revenue streams and operational processes
• Your bandwidth is maxed out moving loads daily
• You want to scale beyond your current reach
• You want to grow into new geographic regions, industries, or niches
• You have the infrastructure to support onboarding and oversight

Scaling too early without the right tools, support, or structure can lead to frustration and high Freight Agent turnover. But be mindful that waiting too long can also lead to burnout!

How to Find and Recruit the Right Sub-Freight Agents

There are a lot of Agents out there looking for the right home, but finding the right match will take more than just posting a job opening.

Where to look:

• LinkedIn – Search for freight brokers or Agents and send direct messages
• Freight industry Facebook groups and forums
• Referrals from your carrier or shipper network
• Agent recruitment companies that specialize in logistics placements
• Industry job boards 

Now that you know where to find potential sub-Freight Agents, what qualities, skills, and experience should you be looking for?

What to look for in a Sub Agent:

• Previous experience in logistics or freight sales
• Existing book of business with shipper or carrier relationships
• Ability to work independently and manage accounts
• Strong communication and negotiation skills
• Motivated, entrepreneurial mindset, with a hunger to grow

Pro Tip – It’s ideal to hire sub-Agents with a book of business, as they can generate revenue from day one!

Have Onboarding That Sets Your Sub-Freight Agents up for Success

Even the most experienced sub-Freight Agents need to learn your systems and how your Agency operates. A strong onboarding process helps them feel confident and productive, setting them up for success.

Key Areas Your Onboarding Should Include

• Your systems and how to book/manage their loads
• Required carrier compliance and documentation
• SOPs and communication expectations
• Billing, invoicing, and payment tracking
• Sales strategy and cold-calling techniques
• Marketing materials/tools available
• CRM use 

When your sub Agents feel supported, they’ll perform better and stick around longer.

Retaining Your Sub-Freight Agents

Hiring is only step one. Once you hire good sub Agents, your next focus will be to keep them engaged and motivated for the long run – because that’s where the magic happens.

Ways To Keep Your Sub Agents

• Consistent communication, check-ins, and performance reviews
• Access to qualified leads or marketing tools
• Recognition for wins, both big and small
• Incentives, like bonuses or increased commission splits
• Access to ongoing support
• Opportunities to grow

Top Agents value flexibility, growth opportunities, and support. If you provide that; they’ll help scale your business fast.

Build an Agency Structure to Support Growth

As your freight agency grows, so should your structure. Think beyond hiring agents and hiring a true team.

Consider Creating Roles:

• Lead Agents or Regional Managers to train and mentor new hires
• Back-office team to manage paperwork, billing, and compliance
• Sales trainers to coach and develop newer Agents
• Recruiters to onboard and grow your team

When making the transition to Freight Agency owner, you need to think of your business as a unit with systems that run smoothly, even when you’re not in the day-to-day.

Scale Your Freight Agency the Smart Way – With Trinity Logistics

Becoming a successful Freight Agent is a huge accomplishment. But growing into a full-fledged Freight Agency is where the real legacy is built. It’s your chance to create opportunity for others, increase your true earning potential, and build a business that doesn’t depend on your personal hustle every single day.

Taking this big step can be overwhelming, even scary, but you don’t have to do it alone. Trinity Logistics can help.

We’ve helped hundreds of Freight Agents just like you go from solo to leading a team as an Agency owner.

Reap the benefits of our 30+ years of experience aiding Agents, nationwide brand awareness, and more. We’ll help you find the right strategy so your Agency can see success and scale.

Trinity Logistics Empowers Freight Agents to Meet Their Goals

• Agent Support Team dedicated to support your business
• Continued education opportunities
• Back-office support covered
• Multiple modes of transportation available
• Quick pay or factoring service available for Carriers
• Carrier vetting tools

With the right recruiting strategy, you can build a powerful team that drives consistent revenue and expands your reach. With Trinity Logistics by your side, you can gain the support and confidence you need to accelerate that growth. 

Ready to build your dream team of Agents? Let’s talk about your Freight Agency goals.

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