While many of us are soaking up the last of summer’s sun and fun, food manufacturing supply chains are readying for the upcoming holiday food rush.

Have you ever noticed a lot of our favorite memories are surrounded by food? When we go to celebrate something like a birthday, anniversary, or special achievement, it usually involves food. It’s no surprise then that over the holiday season, nearly 165 million consumers across the U.S. purchase food and beverages to celebrate, according to a study from Cornell. As the holidays soon approach, food consumption surges, with the average American indulging up to an extra 440 calories per serving!

The increased demand and tight holiday deadlines can present challenges for many food and beverage companies with their logistics. This is in addition to already facing a competitive peak shipping season! However, by understanding the dynamics of this unique period of time, shippers can ensure success is ahead of them. First, let’s dive into some fascinating facts and insights about food during the holiday season. Then, we’ll follow that with some essential tips so your company can be prepared for the holiday food rush!

Holiday Food Supply Timeline & Stats

The Holiday Food Surge Begins with Fall

The holiday food rush first begins with the arrival of fall flavors. Pumpkin spice, now seen as the quintessential flavor of fall, has seen a 47 percent increase in sales, as reported by The Guardian, within the past five years. In 2023 alone, Datassential reported 144 new limited-time offers that featured pumpkin on major restaurant menus. From the infamous Pumpkin Spice Lattes (PSLs) to pumpkin soups and ravioli, this flavor dominates the season. But we can’t forget another fall favorite – apple. Food and beverage items with caramel apple were one of the highest-indexing flavors last fall.

Halloween Signals Significant Holiday Food Consumption Increase

Halloween is a major milestone in the holiday food timeline, with 65 percent of consumers participating in the festivities. In fact, of all 172 million that celebrate the spooky season, 95 percent of them purchase candy. Even more staggering is that a quarter of all the candy sold annually comes from Halloween sales. It’s not all about the sweets, though! Pizza is the most popular dinner staple on All Hallow’s Eve, according to Grubhub. There’s also the annual tradition of carving a pumpkin, with Statista reporting roughly 154 million Americans partaking in the activity in 2023.

Dia de Los Muertos Celebrations Begin to Trend

Datassential reports that 10 percent of consumers in the U.S. report celebrating Dia de Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. This holiday is gaining popularity, which means so are the celebratory foods associated with it! Pan de Muerto is one traditional sweet bread that’s essential to the celebration.

Thanksgiving Continues to Drive Food Supply Chain Demand

Thanksgiving remains the most popular fall holiday, with 83 percent of Americans celebrating the tradition. A whopping 46 million turkeys are consumed each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Other top holiday staples include cranberry sauce, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin and apple pies. That’s a lot of food to prepare for a meal, so 23 percent of consumers will buy a full, ready-made meal from a restaurant. Another 22 percent will supplement with some food from restaurants for part of their feasts.

Sweets, Candy & Chocolate Build Holiday Food Demand at Christmas & New Year’s

Leading up to Christmas, many enjoy hot cocoa, cookies, and other treats. 1.76 billion candy canes, a holiday staple, are made annually for this joyous time of the year. 70 percent of Americans make Christmas desserts, with frosted sugar cookies being the top ones consumed annually. Don’t forget the eggnog! 122 million pounds of it is poured and drunk each year.

When it comes to Christmas dinner, pork dishes are the most popular globally, but turkey still trumps all for the U.S. Other winter feast staples include roasted or mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, gravy, stuffing, shrimp, and lots of Christmas pudding, cookies, and pies. Sweet tooths rejoice as 83 percent of consumers fill stockings with treats like candy and chocolate.

Christmas and New Year’s are among the busiest holidays for restaurants. Both holidays also see a spike in alcohol consumption, with New Year’s Eve being the second most alcohol-associated holiday behind Mardi Gras. Champagne is the fan favorite for those ringing in the New Year.

Logistics & SHipping Tips for Holiday Food Shipping

The holiday season often brings those in logistics the gift of increased demand and decreased capacity. Like most Americans, truck drivers aim to be home for the holidays, trimming the number of available carriers down. Freight of all kinds can increase during the period, further cutting the number of trucks available. Shippers with more specialized requirements, like temperature control, can find even less capacity. Shippers also have tighter deadlines to meet at this time to make the most of the seasonal business.

Overall, the holiday season can be a time of heightened stress and disruption. Given these unique challenges, it’s crucial for food and beverage shippers to prepare thoroughly to appease customers.

Five Tips for the Best Holiday Food Shipping Logistics Outcomes

Tip 1: Keep Inventory Stocked

Running out of stock during the holiday season is a surefire way to lose customers. Track your inventory levels closely and replenish supplies early to ensure you’re well-stocked. By keeping orders moving consistently, you’ll be able to meet consumer demand and avoid causing any disappointment.

Tip 2: Have Backup Shipping Plans Ready

The chances of any disruptions or delays happening during this season are increased. Having backup shipping plans already prepared is essential to keep your goods moving.

Build relationships with multiple carriers and suppliers, or even a third-party logistics provider (3PL). This way, you’ll have known contacts ready in case you need any help. 

Look at alternate modes of transportation and be prepared to quickly shift plans should something happen. Exploring multimodal options can be a great way to diversify risk, add capacity, and protect your freight budget. Having this flexibility available and ready can help you stay on track and your supply chain running smoothly.

Tip 3: Real-Time Visibility is Needed for Success

In today’s supply chains, having access to the visibility you need is crucial. You should either work with a provider that offers it or invest in your own technology, like a Transportation Management System (TMS).

A TMS can be very helpful during the holiday season. It can help you with routing decisions by matching your freight with the best carriers, lanes, and rates. In addition, it will allow you to optimize the in-house processes of your transportation network – which can be helpful during busy and slow seasons. By selecting the best carriers and optimizing your routes, you’ll not only increase your service but reduce your risk.

Using a TMS also gives you data-driven insights to better manage disruptions, reduce downtime, and budget your logistics spend. Data analytics can help you recognize which carriers are most likely to have the capacity, saving you time arranging your shipments.

Tip 4: Communication and Collaboration

Effective communication is key to a successful holiday season. Regularly communicate with all stakeholders, including suppliers, carriers, and customers. Collaborating with your partners during the seasonal planning phase can provide valuable insights and help you identify potential issues before they arise.

Tip 5: Partner with a 3PL

Working with a 3PL can be a game-changer during the holiday season. A 3PL offers access to a larger network of carriers, advanced technology, and expertise in managing complex logistics challenges. With their support, you can ensure your supply chain remains resilient, even in the face of unexpected disruptions.

Treat Yourself with Easier Logistics This Holiday Season

Navigating the holiday food rush can be overwhelming, and that’s why Trinity Logistics is here to be your guide. Like Santa, we’ve been around a while, with 45 years of experience handling logistics during holiday seasons.

Right away, you’ll gain access to our large network of vetted, quality carrier relationships to cover your shipments. But that’s just the start! There are many more benefits to working with Trinity, including:

• Multiple modes of transportation to find the best bang for your buck, support your business growth, or just have a backup plan ready
• Best-in-class technology and customized Managed Transportation solutions available, giving you the exact visibility and data you want
• 24/7/365 support, so no matter what day or time it is, you’ll have the help you need

One benefit that tends to shine above all else? Our exceptional People-Centric service. It’s the trait that makes Trinity different from other 3PLs and keeps our customers returning time and time again. It’s truly our care, compassion, and communication that you’ll notice and appreciate.

Everyone wants to enjoy the holiday season. Why not let Trinity focus on the logistics for your business, so you can go back to doing what you enjoy – helping consumers savor holiday treats and create memorable moments with your product.

Are you a Freight Agent that stumbled across this article?

Trinity Logistics, a leading third-party logistics (3PL) provider, proudly welcomes Jimmy Bryant as its new Director of Agent Support. 

Hosting a wealth of experience in the logistics industry, Bryant previously held a Senior Director position at Rockfarm Supply Chain Solutions, where he successfully managed and developed their Agency Program for the past six years. Previously, he served as a Sales Director for a large brokerage in Indianapolis. 

“Trinity has always stood out for its exceptional agency program,” said Bryant. “What truly sets Trinity apart is its unwavering commitment to staff development and the overall growth of everyone involved. I chose Trinity because of its strong culture and supportive environment. I’m excited about the opportunities to advance our Freight Agent Program.”

“Jimmy’s ability to understand the unique challenges faced by Freight Agents quickly impressed me,” said Greg Massey, Senior Vice President of Agent Development. “His track record of achieving sustained growth while providing top-notch service and support aligns perfectly with Trinity’s mission of being the best, not necessarily the biggest.” 

Trinity is enthusiastic for the insight and experience Bryant brings to the company and its Freight Agent program. 

About Trinity Logistics

Trinity Logistics is a Burris Logistics Company, offering People-Centric Freight Solutions®. Our mission is to deliver creative logistics solutions through a mix of human ingenuity and innovative technology, enriching the lives of those we serve. 

For the past 45 years, we’ve been arranging freight for businesses of all sizes in truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), warehousing, intermodal, drayage, expedited, international, and technology solutions.

We are currently recognized as a Top Freight Brokerage by Transport Topics and as a Top Company for Women to Work for in Transportation by Women in Trucking.

How to be a Successful Freight Agent

As a Freight Agent, you might think proof of your business growth is solely measured based on your revenue size. While that’s not totally inaccurate, there’s more to be seen behind the numbers.

Hitting more tangible goals like a certain revenue or office size can be very rewarding. They’re great scorecards to keep track of your business efforts. Yet growth also involves learning to be adaptable, fostering new and creative ideas, and being resilient in the face of adversity.

Choosing to look beyond the numbers for growth and instead embracing a growth mindset can revolutionize your approach as a Freight Agent. One of the best ways to get into that growth mindset is to get curious.

The Best Freight Agents Know The Power of Curiosity

At the heart of a growth mindset lies curiosity. It’s the insatiable “why” behind every question. Curiousness causes us to explore beyond the status quo. It pushes us to find the boundary and see if we can perhaps step over it.

A curious Freight Agent isn’t afraid to ask why certain routes may be preferred. They dive deeper into understanding a customer’s pain points and challenges while keeping an eye out for industry trends. Having that curiosity will help you grow to develop a deeper understanding of logistics and help you tailor your services so you can truly shine against those Average Joe’s.

Yet, to be truly curious, you must also embrace potential failure. You must learn to accept that you might just fail and that failure itself isn’t a bad thing. Failure only becomes a bad thing when lessons are not learned from it. By instead viewing setbacks as stepping stones, you’ll be able to truly be curious and grow. It opens the door to new and valuable learning experiences. You’ll be able to learn what went wrong and how you can improve and adapt for your next opportunity.

The most successful Freight Agents aren’t afraid to fail; they learn from their failures and come back stronger.

Fostering a Growth Mindset in Freight Organizations

Curiosity can only flourish if leadership fosters a supportive environment. This doesn’t mean simply offering words of encouragement. It’s not just about pats on the back. You must be able to provide your Team with the resources and tools they need to feel empowered to be curious and grow. Examples of this can include access to industry research, subscriptions to relevant publications, or budgeting for educational conferences. This way, growth will be fostered organically.

When Team Members feel empowered, they take ownership of their own growth. They may start taking calculated risks or experimenting with new approaches. With their curiosity supported by Leadership, you’ll see them begin to find and drive growth and success for both themselves and the business.  

Freight Agents Have an Individual Responsibility for a Growth Mindset

While Leadership should support their Team Members in their curiosity, it doesn’t mean a growth mindset is automatically bestowed upon them. Your Team Members must embrace it on their own. Part of this comes down to who you select to join your Team.

You want Team Members who actively seek out new knowledge and challenges. You want colleagues who are okay with stepping outside their comfort zones and looking to achieve more. They must be committed to continuous learning and improvement.

Growth is a continuous process. Ensure those you take along on your business journey don’t wait for you to tell them to try or learn something new. Even better, be the driver of your own personal development. Be the example and show them how you take on that initiative, and they will likely follow suit.

Growth is a Continuous Journey for Freight Agents

The thing about growth is that it’s not a destination; it’s a continuous journey. It’s not limited to a single, particular result or achievement. It’s not just about getting bigger but constantly striving to be better. That’s why you need to develop that growth mindset to reach your fullest potential.

A crucial part of developing a growth mindset is surrounding yourself with the right people. Here’s where partnering with a company like Trinity Logistics becomes invaluable.

Embrace a Growth Mindset with Trinity Logistics

At Trinity Logistics, continuous improvement is ingrained in our culture and we extend this commitment to growth to the Freight Agent businesses we partner with. That’s why many of our Freight Agents see a 50 percent increase in business within the first two years of joining our network.

Here are some of the key ways we support your growth every step of the way:

Easy Diversification

Let’s say you currently specialize in full truckload freight. However, the freight market is constantly evolving so you could use more logistics solutions to offer your customers. Trinity Logistics has you covered. We have full Operations Teams available that can assist our Freight Agents so you can offer more than just truckload to your customers. We offer multiple modes of transportation including less-than-truckload (LTL), drayage, international, and expedited, along with warehousing and transportation management solutions available. 

Continued Education

What if you don’t know much about the other transportation modes Trinity offers shippers? Don’t worry! Trinity has an in-house Education Team that provides you with many opportunities to continue your education and training. We hold monthly mode training classes so you can learn and be confident in what you sell, but there’s also education on sales skills, business strategy, leadership, and any other skill sets you may need.  

One-on-One Support

When you join Trinity’s Freight Agent network, you’ll immediately learn and meet your dedicated Agent Support Team. These Team Members work with you to learn about your goals, offer suggestions, encourage you, and help you stay on track. You’re sure to adapt and stick to a growth mindset with the support of your own Team!

Connect With Like-Minded Freight Agents at Our Freight Agent Conference

Trinity regularly holds their Freight Agent conference, giving you the chance to connect in person or virtually with other like-minded individuals. You’ll often hear from speakers including members of our own Trinity Leadership, Sales Directors, our Platinum Agents, and other industry professionals. There are also workshops on sales and operations processes, providing you the chance to hone your skills and understanding. Of course, there’s plenty of time to network included!

Take the First Step in Your Freight Agent Career Growth Today

While we can boast all day about our Freight Agent program, what really makes the difference are the people behind it. It’s our shared commitment and dedication to helping you grow and be as successful as you want to be.

Let us help you embrace growth in your Freight Agent business, in both culture and revenue.

Call 800-846-3400 X 1908 or click the button below to get started.

Successful goal-setting is a necessity for Freight Agents to run prosperous businesses. If you’re feeling stuck with your goal setting, the Fresh Start Effect could help you achieve what you want.

If you perform a web search on the “Fresh Start Effect”, you’ll find a lot of articles and studies on the impact that a Fresh Start Date has on goal setting.  

What is a Fresh Start Date? 

It’s a date that signifies a clear end and a new beginning. New Year’s Day is the epitome of a fresh start date because you’re ending one year and starting a new one. However, a Fresh Start Date doesn’t have to be as well known as New Year’s Day. It can be any day that signifies a new beginning such as your birthday, Mondays, the first day of a new month, etc. 

Why Is a Fresh Start Date Important in Goal-Setting?

Studies show that people are more likely to commit to their goals when centered around a Fresh Start Date. It gives a boost to let go of the past, whether it’s a behavior that you would like to let go of or a new behavior that you would like to start.  

Tips for Freight Agents to Achieve Their Goals

If you’re looking to really set yourself up for success when setting your goals, here are some tips you can put into place.

1. Set Your Fresh Start Date  

Choose your Fresh Start date to give yourself an extra chance at committing to your goal!

2. Make It S.M.A.R.T.  

Using this tried-and-true goal setting method can help you become specific in what you are trying to accomplish. Make sure your goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely, giving you a greater chance at seeing success. 

3. Know Your Why 

Make it personal. Why is this goal important to you? How will your life look different when it is accomplished? Goals that don’t have a personal why behind them can seem arbitrary and make it very easy to quit.

4. Write It Down and Share It!  

Writing down your goal in a place that you can see often, such as a daily planner, helps keep you focused on the goal. Having someone else aware of your goal also helps you stay accountable to yourself!

5. Plan Ahead 

This is the beauty of a Fresh Start Date. By knowing when you are going to start, you can put in the work ahead of time to close out your current chapter and begin the new one.  Whether it’s transitioning and delegating responsibilities or researching and learning so that you can hit the ground running on your fresh start date, having some pre-planning time will allow you to focus on the goal ahead.  

6. Celebrate! 

Having a significant reward or way to signify the achievement of a goal can help maintain motivation. For example, one goal that many of Trinity’s Independent Freight Agents have each year is to achieve Platinum status. This is a designation set aside for Agents that hit production goals in a calendar year. The reward for our Platinum Agents is an all-expense paid vacation for two! It’s a great way to recognize success, celebrate, and network with other Platinum agents so that you can start getting motivated for the next year!

One thing many people forget is that goals don’t just have to be professional; they can be personal, too. Whether you want to strengthen your relationships or learn a new skill, use these tips to get yourself there.  

How Trinity Helps Freight Agents Get a Fresh Start for Their Business

At Trinity, we plan our goals around our monthly periods. This gives us the opportunity to evaluate regularly to ensure that we are staying on track and adjust quickly if needed. With our Independent Freight Agents, we work with them based on their personal business needs. Depending on the particular goal of a Freight Agent office, we may review these monthly, quarterly, or annually.  

For instance, many of our Agents set the goal to achieve Platinum Agent status. Because of this, we have a Platinum Agent tracking tool that we can send out at any time to help them track their progress toward this important goal. 

A Fresh Start Date is just one tactic to setting your Freight Agent business up for success and always a great time to re-evaluate your current brokerage partner.  In fact, Freight Agents who partner with Trinity Logistics often see an average of 20 percent growth within their first two years of joining. 

Check out the details of Trinity’s Freight Agent program to see if making a change at your next Fresh Start Date may be right for your business. 

We have learned that anything can happen in the last three-plus years when it comes to transportation. Currently, we are seeing interest rates above seven percent, and the future freight market is not clear. Being uncertain about what the future brings can make people afraid of it, but being engulfed in that fear is bad for everyone.

As a Freight Agent, what should you be doing in this uncertain freight market? What do you need to offer the best support to your shipper and carrier relationships?

When the freight market is uncertain, when things are not clear, people look for certainty, for comfort that everything will come together alright. Like a warm blanket on a cold night.

For this article, I want to talk to you about how to bring that sense of comfort and confidence in your service for shipper relationships, your carrier relationships, and even for yourself.

1: Have Access to Data and Know It

The first part of this tip should be simple. The second part takes a little more work.  

When we’re unsure, it just means we don’t know enough. As a Freight Agent, this is where you can come in as a valuable resource for your shipper and carrier relationships. This is where they need you most.

You should be getting your freight market information from a reputable source. Ideally, your third-party logistics provider (3PL) should be providing this for you, but if not, some good resources to check out are FreightWaves, Transport Topics, or Supply Chain Dive.

Once you’ve found your source, a great tip is to make your own printable data slides or documents that you can have on hand to share as needed. Always keep these on you, either easily accessible via your phone or computer or printed and in a folder that you carry with you. Take these to every meeting or consultation you have. These can help you visually show your expertise and confidence, as being shown something always goes further in building credibility than just being told, especially in something as complex as logistics.

That’s only the beginning. You also need to know this information inside and out. You need to be able to explain the facts in the clearest and most effective way, so make sure you thoroughly study and understand the freight market information you are looking to share. Always be ready to answer any questions your relationships may have so you can share your confidence and build their trust.

2: Contact Your Prospective and Current Relationships

Do it. Do it now, as Arnold Schwarzenegger says. Contact your current relationships and your leads.

No matter what you do, this should be a constant in your business. Look at any successful Freight Agent, and they will tell you that keeping in contact with your relationships is a very important part of the process (if not the lifeblood), no matter how much you have going on. Plan in time to do this.

For example, we have a very successful Freight Agent in our network who makes an amazing living and has a lot of very predictable freight shipping every day. This person stays so focused on consistently contacting their relationships because they know you’re only as good as the last load that was delivered.

Your relationships will know that now is a good time to do business with you if they see you reaching out to them and trying to teach them about current freight market conditions versus pulling away and not being that trusted resource to them.

3: Build Up Your Confidence

Time to give yourself, your skills, and your work an honest look. What do you do well, and what do you need to work on?

The areas you should pay attention to and do well in as a Freight Agent should be generating new business, cold calling, maintaining your customer and carrier relationships, and keeping updated on the freight market. If you’re lacking in any of these, of course you won’t be as confident, so it’s time to get to work on improving your skills or knowledge. Seek out resources to help you. Our Freight Agent blog articles are a great starting point!

4: Take Responsibility

A great coach is more likely to be successful in carrying out the team’s plans when they hold themselves responsible for their players, especially when those players are holding them accountable for their game plan.

Set some business goals and tell your family and friends about them. Tell everyone about your big goals. Not only does this help you keep yourself accountable, but those you told will likely check in from time to time, helping you keep your goals front of mind and continuously check in on them.

If you end up reaching them, celebrate! Setting goals, working towards them, and eventually meeting them are great ways to build more confidence in yourself and see business success.

5: Partner with a Great 3PL

A great 3PL will help you stay confident regardless of freight market conditions. While the freight market may present challenges at times, the key to thriving lies in forging the right partnership. When you partner with a reliable and experienced 3PL like Trinity Logistics, you’re taking a significant step toward confidence and success.

Here’s briefly how Trinity can help you stay at the forefront of the industry and your business as a Freight Agent.

Continuous Education

We understand the importance of staying updated with the latest industry trends and knowledge. That’s why we provide a wealth of resources and training opportunities to keep our Freight Agent network well-informed and ahead of the curve.

Goal Setting and Achievement

Setting and achieving your business goals is easier when you have dedicated support. Our Agent Support Team works closely with Freight Agents to help them establish realistic goals and create a roadmap to success. We’re committed to seeing your business grow and prosper.

Team Support

At Trinity Logistics, we’re more than just your business partner. Our dedicated Team Members are here to support you, from compliance to technology to sales. Our Team is your Team, ready to provide you with the assistance and guidance you need.

If you’re looking to boost your confidence and lead your Freight Agent business to new heights, consider becoming a part of Trinity’s Freight Agent network. Together, we can navigate the challenges and seize opportunities that the freight market throws at us.

To learn more about the benefits of joining our Freight Agent network, call 800-846-1908 or email [email protected].

Find your Purpose to re-engage in your Freight Agent business. Then seek out Trinity Logistics to help you live your Purpose and grow to your fullest potential.

We recently held our Virtual Freight Agent Conference and had the pleasure of hosting Ken Coleman of the Ramsey Group as our featured keynote speaker. He customized his presentation specifically toward Trinity’s Freight Agents with great tips for small business owners on how to “Re-Engage In Your Freight Agent Business”.

His message focused on finding your passion and working within that area as much as possible. It’s all about fueling up on “the juice” – the enthusiasm that comes from doing what you were put on this planet to do!

In the spirit of development and continuous improvement, our Agent Support Team followed up by taking the “Get Clear! Career Assessment” by Ken Coleman to clarify our top talents, passions, and professional mission. From there we created a purpose statement to identify the work we most excel at and most enjoy.

Talent (what you do best) + Passions (work you love) + Mission (results you care about) = Your Purpose Statement

TALENT – WHAT YOU DO BEST

Every workplace skill is grouped into 12 categories of Talent. Those 12 are then segmented into three subgroups: Super Talents, Solid Talents, and Subpar Talents.

Super Talents

Think of your top three talents as high-performance tools. You want to spend the majority of your time on work that involves these talents!

Solid Talents 

Your six Solid Talents are valuable because they support your Super Talents and can be improved upon.

Subpar Talents 

Everybody has weaknesses! You want to be aware of your three Subpar Talents. These are talents that you can let someone else be super at so you don’t have to waste too much of your time trying to develop them.

PASSION – WORK YOU LOVE TO DO

All work can be grouped into 15 categories of Passion. This is work that excites you and makes two hours feel like 20 minutes.

I Love It!

You’ll be most fulfilled when you spend about 75 percent of your day working within your Top three passions. You’ll be engaged, enthusiastic, and effective!

I Like It!

Spending 20 percent of your day on this work is about the right mix. Too much of it will make you frustrated and unhappy.

I Could Take It or Leave It!

Let’s face it – there are some things you don’t like to do. No more than five percent of this work is the goal for the greatest satisfaction.

MISSION – RESULTS YOU CARE ABOUT

The results of work can be grouped into six categories of mission. Discover the contribution you want to make through your work and the “why” behind it. There are three possible feelings about the results of your work to consider.

I Care Deeply

It’s personal! You see the results of your work as a crusade that must be waged and won. Your work is providing a vital solution to a big problem that specific people have.

I Connect With It

It’s cool. You see the results of your work as an important and valuable solution to a problem some people have.

I Couldn’t Care Less

It’s whatever. You see the results of your work as the basic need to keep getting your paycheck.

TIME TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER

The puzzle comes together when you align all these into your Purpose Statement.

Working with Talent only can make you successful.

Working with Talent and Passion can give you job satisfaction.

Working with Talent and Passion and Mission will lead you to your Purpose. This is where you can achieve success, experience satisfaction, and find significance in your work and in your life.

LET US TAKE THE HARD STUFF OFF YOUR PLATE

Once you know what these are, how can Trinity Logistics help you focus on what you’re best at and handle or help those subpar skills?

From our experience, we’ve found that most Freight Agents excel in skills like communication, building relationships, and managing many priorities. They love talking to others, learning about their needs, and finding solutions to meet those needs.

But what often slows them down or drains them are those non-revenue generating activities. These are the ones where they’re not really connecting with a person or fostering a relationship. Tasks like vetting carriers, handling invoices and bills of lading, or dealing with claims when they happen.

We understand that these tasks take you away from what you excel in and love and that’s why Trinity has full Teams ready to take those off your plate.

Now, what about those other skills that you want to grow in? Things like goal setting, prospecting, or strategy. Well, we take care of that too by giving you several opportunities to expand and grow your skills. Trinity has an in-house Education Team that provides you with many opportunities to continue your education and training in classes like sales skills, social media, industries, or modes. Virtual classes are held every month, giving you the same opportunities to learn and grow as our own Team Members receive. Additionally, we offer you access to our learning management platform offering classes that can be taken in your own time on an array of topics such as leadership, cybersecurity, and customer service.

You’ll also have the support of our Agent Support Team, who will work with you to learn about your goals, offer suggestions, encourage you, and help you stay on track. We also encourage you to spend time one-on-one for direct planning support and accountability reviews with our Agent Support Leadership Team Members.

So, if you’ve been looking for a 3PL partner that offers you more time to focus on what you love to do, take care of the rest, AND help you grow to be the best Freight Agent that you can be, then look no further. Trinity Logistics has over 30 years of experience aiding in the success of Freight Agent offices. We realize that Freight Agents are an integral part of Trinity’s business, which is why we aim to support and invest in them so they can grow their business to its fullest potential.

To start talking to one of our Freight Agent recruiters, call 800-846-3400 ext. 1908.

If you’d like to learn more about our Freight Agent Program, click the button below.

Shipping scams have increased exponentially in the past few years. Is your Freight Agent business taking all the steps needed to prevent them?

As a Freight Agent, your days are busy servicing your customer and carrier relationships and managing shipments. The last thing you need on your plate is a scam artist wreaking havoc and getting your business (or one of your relationships) into trouble.

Common Types of Shipping Scams

Double-Brokering

Double-brokering is a sticky mess that Freight Agents should aim to avoid. The double-brokering of shipments has been in the industry for many years. As a refresher, double-brokering is when a carrier accepts a shipment under the pretense that it will be moving on their assets, and then gives that shipment to another carrier to move the freight. Often what happens is the carrier that double-brokered the shipment gets paid, either by the broker or the shipper, but has no intention of paying the carrier that physically provided the transportation service.

Carrier Identity Theft

More recently, we have seen carrier identity theft become more commonplace. This is when a scam artist assumes the identity of a reputable motor carrier with the intent of stealing the freight or getting advances of cash but with no desire to deliver the freight to its intended destination.

Best Practices for Preventing Shipping Scams

Preventing shipping scams from interrupting your Freight Agent business starts with your initial conversations with a carrier. One must be cautious and use a little bit of super sleuthing when negotiating rates and booking available shipments. 

Here are some best-demonstrated practices to help you sniff out a potential shipping scam:

Check the DOT AND MC Number 

Carriers with the intent to do things fraudulently will attempt to purchase an MC number that is less than seven digits long. Currently, most new carriers registering are seeing MC numbers that start with 14 or 15 and are seven digits in length.

By checking the age of the DOT number and MC number, you could see a possible red flag if the DOT number is relatively new, but the MC number is one that was originally issued several years ago.

Is the Person Booking the Load Using the Mute Button Frequently?

This is a possible red flag to be aware of. Often, this happens with shipping scam artists because they have other people in the “office” attempting to “sell” the shipment to another carrier and they don’t want you to overhear.

Immediately Accepts the Rate

Negotiating a rate with a carrier is pretty much expected. If a carrier just blindly accepts the rate as is, that could be a possible red flag. Shipping scam artists don’t care what the rate is because they are intending to re-sell it to another carrier.

Always Check the Registered Phone Number

Does the phone number match what is listed through Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)?  You can quickly check a carrier’s profile via SAFER Company Snapshot. If it doesn’t match, that’s a possible red flag. Call the FMCSA registered phone number and verify the number you were talking to works for them before you finalize any details with the shipment.

Carrier’s Communication is Odd

Does the carrier try to rush you off the phone when booking the load?  Is their communication only done via email? Do they provide you with the phone number of the actual driver or try to avoid giving that information? These all can be red flags.

Shipment Updates are Not Consistent

Do the updates they give not match what you’re hearing from the shipper? If they claim the truck is on-site, but the shipper states otherwise, another possible red flag that this could be the work of a scam artist.

Can You Get Ahold of the Driver?

Speaking of the driver, does the driver actually answer their phone? Does the driver agree to tracking via many of the tracking apps that are commonplace in the industry now? 

Don’t Let Your Freight Agent Business Fall for Any Shipping Scams

Taking the extra few minutes to fully vet the carrier you look to entrust your customer’s shipment with will help you avoid a potential situation that could cost you and your company thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars. If your gut says something seems a little bit shady, or too good to be true, it usually is right, and best to move on to the next carrier you’re considering.

You Can Trust Trinity’s Carrier Relationships

Here at Trinity, we work hard to proactively avoid shipping scams affecting our business, which includes your Freight Agent business, too. We make sure to consistently verify who we are working with and build strong, solid relationships, as well as offer state-of-the-art tracking technology, so you know where your customer’s freight is every step of the way.

With our People-Centric Team and technology at the ready to support your business, you can spend less time on back-end tasks like initial carrier vetting, and more time focused on growing your customer and carrier relationships, and ultimately, your revenue.

To learn more about the world-class support you can receive from Trinity Logistics, call 800-846-3400 ext. 1908 or click the button below.

Partner with Trinity Logistics and easily expand the shipping services offered by your Freight Agency.

There are so many benefits to being an Independent Freight Agent. You have the flexibility to run your business in a way that works for you while having the support of a large brokerage behind you, you’re able to work from anywhere that has Wi-Fi, you have the potential for unlimited income, and more! The benefits of being a Freight Agent are too many to list!

There can also be challenges. One of these challenges is the feeling that you must know it all when it comes to moving freight. Perhaps you’re a truckload shipping expert that has a customer with less-than-truckload (LTL) or drayage freight to move. Maybe you know LTL like the back of your hand, but you see warehousing opportunities with one of your shipping customers.

Now, how can you learn all you need to know to serve each of your unique customer’s shipping needs while still maintaining a thriving business? One option is to hire people for your office that have expertise in all the different modes of transportation. Or, an easier and less costly option, you can partner with a freight broker that has subject matter experts in all modes at your disposal!

Expand Your Shipping Solutions with Trinity Logistics

Trinity Freight Agents have access to supportive Operations Teams that specialize in all the modes and specialized shipping services we offer:

• LTL
• Drayage
• Expedited
• Air
• Ocean
• International
• Intermodal
• Warehousing

If it’s transportation-related, Trinity has experts ready to help support and grow a Freight Agent’s business. It doesn’t stop at just educating our Freight Agents. These Operations Teams can both educate you and manage the freight! 

Our Teams Are Ready to Support Your Freight Agent Business

Less Than Truckload (LTL)

Trinity has a fully trained and equipped Operations Team to handle your customer’s LTL needs. The Team handles quoting through delivery including tracking and tracing and delivery notifications. You, as the Freight Agent, maintain your customer relationship while this Team takes care of the rest! You can even give your customer direct access to our LTL operating system to quote and track shipments.   

Expedited/Drayage/Intermodal/International/Warehousing

Trinity’s Advanced Services Team is a one-stop shop for quoting any of these services. With established carrier relationships in these complex modes, this Team can quote, dispatch, and manage the cargo through transit.

Managed Services/TMS

Is your customer interested in a transportation management system (TMS)? With Trinity, you can offer just a TMS, a fully outsourced Managed Transportation solution, or anything in-between. We can fully customize a Managed Transportation solution to meet your customer’s unique needs. Now you can take your customer from solely working with you for truckload shipments to fully outsourcing their logistics to you!

Wait, Don’t Forget Our Education Team

Trinity’s internal education department, Trinity University, offers classes so you can learn all modes offered as well as sales, negotiation, technology training, and more! Virtual classes are held every month, giving you the opportunity to increase your sales skills and introduce you to any new Trinity Technology. Most importantly, we offer our Freight Agents the same opportunities as our Team Members. In addition, there are many virtual courses offered outside our monthly classes through our learning management platform. That means you can take these courses in your own time, and they cover various topics, such as leadership, cybersecurity, and customer service.

Join Trinity’s Freight Agent Network and Start Growing

We realize you have a choice of who you’d like as your Freight Agency’s partner. So now is the time to ask yourself – is your current 3PL partner offering you the support and education you need to expand your shipping services and grow your business?

If that answer is no, then perhaps Trinity Logistics may be able to help. Trinity has over 30 years of experience aiding in the success of our Freight Agent offices. We realize that Freight Agents are an integral part of Trinity’s business, which is why we aim to support and invest in our Freight Agent network to offer our relationships the opportunity to grow to their fullest potential.

So, if you’re looking for a long-term 3PL partnership that is supportive of your growth, offers you continued education and operations support to keep you competitive, and most of all, is made up of a Team of people who are passionate, dedicated, and striving for excellence, then Trinity Logistics may be the Freight Agent program for your business.

If you feel like you’re leaving opportunities on the table because you can’t handle it all yourself, reach out to a Freight Agent representative to learn more about how Trinity’s Operations Teams can help support your business.

Call Trinity’s Agent Support Team at 800-846-3400 ext. 1908.

If you’d like to learn more about our Freight Agent Program, click the button below.

Are you leading a team within your Freight Agent office and want to be a more effective leader? Do you often feel like you don’t have the time?

There may be issues with the way you’re running the team. I don’t mean to be harsh, and I certainly don’t mean to imply that you’re not doing enough. If you look at the bigger picture, the issue is probably the opposite: you’re probably doing too much.

For most leaders, their issues lie in the delegation. Delegation is one of the most crucial aspects of leadership. It can also be one of the most difficult because it’s tough to relinquish control when you oversee the bottom line.

What kind of habits do you have? What holds you back from delegating more?

There are three key reasons why you may struggle with delegating tasks:

You’re Not Sure That Your Team Members Are Up to It.

Leaders can struggle to believe that their Team Members are capable and willing to take on some of their tasks. However, your role is to push and uplift your Team Members to be and do more than they think they can do.

You’re Used to Doing Everything on Your Own.

Even if you’re used to doing everything yourself that doesn’t mean that’s the best avenue to take. If you don’t begin delegating tasks, you’re likely to burn out. Isn’t that why you hired your Team, to help support your business?

You Believe Your Skills are the Best for the Task.

While this may be true, you won’t know what your Team is capable of until you give them a chance. And even if they don’t quite have the same skills as you, skills can be learned. You want your Team to become experts at what they do, don’t you?

Take a moment for some self-reflection and see if any of these ring true for you. It could be one or a mixture of them all, but regardless of which specific reason is keeping you from delegating work, the overall theme is fear. You’re afraid of what might happen if you let go. But as Andrew Carnegie said, “No person will make a great business who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit.”

LEADING A TEAM POST-DELEGATION

Now that you understand why you should be delegating some of your work, let’s look at some strategies for supporting your Team after you’ve begun delegating tasks.

Prepare a Training Plan in Advance

Have you ever had a job where you had no idea what you were doing and all you ever heard from your supervisor was that you were doing things the wrong way? Most individuals have, and they usually don’t survive long in these occupations. Nobody likes to feel unsure and alone.

Typically, if you’re not recruiting someone who is an experienced professional, it’s always good to provide an initial training session for every new employee to shadow or watch you. Let them watch you and ask questions. They need to understand your expectations, work habits, and preferences.

This is something that doesn’t happen overnight. In most training situations, it’s recommended to devote two weeks to a month to this and allow your new employee to start doing their specific job when they are ready.

If you put in the time now, you’ll get a lot more later.

Allow Them to Own Their Responsibilities

We’ve already discussed your need to delegate work; now let’s talk about your role after giving a task. People are most devoted to and involved in something when they feel responsible for what they are doing. So, how can you make someone care about their job performance and feel accountable for it?

It all starts with trusting them. I’m not suggesting you won’t be available to help them when they need it, but you should be willing to give someone an assignment and let them see it through to completion.

This will result in three important outcomes:

1. Increasing your team’s self-confidence and helping them to continue progressing at a faster rate
2. Building trust with your Team
3. And most importantly, allow you to focus on your bottom line

Don’t Be High-and-Mighty

This one should be self-evident, shouldn’t it? But it may be difficult for you to see it. Again, we must consider many views and be very aware of our own actions. And, while I’m not suggesting you let your staff heavily criticize you, you should be open to input. As you gain their trust, your Team should feel comfortable enough to approach you with any concerns or feedback. If they’re not doing that, consider re-evaluating.

Show Appreciation and Celebrate Success

Morale is no laughing matter. One study says 69 percent of employees in an office said they would work harder and take their jobs more seriously if they felt more appreciated. Make employee appreciation a regular part of your weekly calendar. Think about it:

Feeling valued = confidence = working harder = learning faster = taking on more responsibility = leading an effective Freight Agent Team

Don’t Overwhelm Them

Delegation is a balancing act. You delegate jobs due to a heavy workload, but delegating too much work to others who are already overwhelmed puts vital items in danger of falling through the cracks or creating a burned-out team.

You must maintain track of each person’s workload, especially if you have numerous employees in your Freight Agent office, to ensure that everyone is working at their maximum potential. This necessitates first learning about each employee’s talents and capabilities.

If you aren’t already using task management software, I strongly advise you to do so. Task management software programs like Salesforce and Hubspot can show you how many tasks each team member has, their task timeline, and deadlines, so you’ll know how much you can assign them.

LEAD A SUCCESSFUL FREIGHT AGENT OFFICE WITH THE SUPPORT OF TRINITY LOGISTICS

Leading a team means going as a group rather than alone. As a team, you’re there to learn from each other and draw strength from one another. As a leader, it’s your sole responsibility to support your team, help them develop, set the direction, and remove obstacles.

“Delegating doesn’t mean passing off work you don’t enjoy, but letting your employees stretch their skills and judgment.” – Harvey Mackay

At Trinity Logistics, we know all the challenges there are for growing Freight Agent offices in leading a team efficiently and handling delegation. That’s why we have a whole Agent Support Team available to help. They’re a Team dedicated solely to the support of our Freight Agents to help you set and achieve your professional goals, provide constructive feedback to succeed in your business, offer learning opportunities to grow your skillset, and so much more.

Trinity Logistics has over 30 years of experience aiding in the success of our Freight Agent businesses, with many of our Freight Agents seeing a 50 percent increase over a two-year period from joining. If you’d like support and see a similar kind of growth within your Freight Agent business, then get connected with one of our Team Members to get started. 

Proper carrier selection may be one of the most important tasks for Freight Agents to keep their business safe.

I remember the first time I dispatched a driver to pick up a shipment thinking, “Wait, I just met this carrier for the first time. I’ve sent their driver to pick up a shipment for one of our top customers.”

Needless to say, I made about 10 calls to the driver, carrier, and shipper to verify everything was legit. It still boggles my mind to think that a shipper, whom I have never met, will entrust thousands of dollars in THEIR freight to a company that will then send a driver, whom they may have never met, to haul it away.

This scenario happens thousands of times daily across the U.S. and the world. Most of the time, everyone involved does what they say they will do correctly. But there are times, albeit very rarely, when one of the parties is involved for the wrong reason.

First, let me say Trinity Logistics and other logistics companies in our space get the chance to work with great carriers each day. Yet, there are still some bad actors out there. They want to involve themselves in our industry and do things the wrong way, often at the expense of hard-working and trustworthy carriers and Freight Agents.

So, Freight Agents, what can you do to protect your small business and the business of your customer, when arranging shipments with carriers? This is where having a carrier selection process is key to best serving your customer and mitigating any risk. Here are some items you should verify every time you arrange a shipment with a carrier to ensure its success.

CARRIER SELECTION PROCESS

Always Ask This Question

“What’s the name on the side of your truck?”

While this seems like a simple question, it’s the number one question that can identify a potential double-brokering situation. Now, there will be times when the name on the side of the truck doesn’t match the carrier with whom you booked the load. Leased-on drivers are a great example of this.

What do you do if the answer to this question is different from what you expected?

Well, it gives you the opportunity to ask follow-up questions to investigate. It’s far better to find out this information before versus after the shipment has been picked up. I‘ve also heard of some requiring the driver to text a picture of the side of the truck door for added assurance.

Does it Match?

Does the email and phone number match what is registered with FMCSA?

Again, there may be legitimate reasons for the phone number or email not matching the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) website. Maybe the carrier’s contact information has recently changed for valid reasons. Perhaps it’s an owner-operator that registered with their home or office phone number but is on the road and calls from their cell phone.

In any event, it gives you a reason to pause and ask more questions to ensure you have confidence that this is the actual carrier with whom you trust to handle your customer’s freight.

Other Carrier Selection Vetting Freight Agents Should Consider

What about the stuff you can’t see by looking at the FMCSA website?

You can quickly see things like liability insurance coverage or a carrier’s operating authority history on the FMCSA website. But what about referrals – good or bad – from other logistics companies?

Luckily there are tools available to see beyond the information reported by the FMCSA. There are platforms like CarrierWatch, Carrier 411, or Highway that provide a glimpse into any skeletons that may be hiding in the closet. It’s important to note that these are pay-to-play platforms. Freight Agents that choose to partner with an experienced logistics company, like Trinity Logistics, have access to a Carrier Compliance Team that continuously monitors these comments to protect you and your customer’s best interests.

FREIGHT AGENTS, DON’T OVERLOOK YOUR CARRIER SELECTION

Carrier selection is important as you are placing your trust in them to meet your customer’s shipment needs. Doing a little bit of homework and, when necessary, trusting your gut with your carrier selection, will save you future headaches and, ultimately, protect your Freight Agent business.

TRUST OUR QUALIFIED CARRIER RELATIONSHIPS

We’re here to help your Freight Agent business succeed all around, and that includes your carrier selection. Safety and exceptional service are our highest priority, and so our Carrier Compliance Team takes care of our rigorous carrier vetting to verify that the carrier you select is qualified and experienced.

With our People-Centric Team and best-in-class technology applications at the ready, Freight Agents working with Trinity Logistics can spend less time on back-end tasks like carrier selection and more time growing their business.

Go ahead and choose to get in touch with a Trinity Freight Agent Representative today so you can start receiving world-class support to get ahead of your competition. Call 800-846-3400 x 1908 or click the button below to begin your conversation with Trinity.