Worn Out

Been driving for about 20 years. Looking to get out. I am interested in becoming a freight agent for a broker. Just looking for any advice on how to get started and if someone can make any money doing it. This might not make any sense, but almost at the end of a long night and early morning. Getting older, so my thoughts don't come out so well when I'm tired. Appreciate any input or advice on the freight agent occupation. Thanks.

Welcome Kenny!

You can certainly make money in the freight brokering business but I have no idea how one gets started in it. I remember poking around the Web in the past and seeing a million "teach yourself to be a freight broker" kind of online courses but I can't imagine trying to get started in that business without being under the guidance of someone with experience. You'd want to start out working for someone before considering starting your own business I'm sure.

For me personally......whenever I want to do something new I seek out the people doing it at the highest level and ask questions until I'm blue in the face. That's what I would do. I'd be looking for advice from people with years and years in the business.

Another suggestion, in a different direction: (if you're with a company now) go into the Big House and drive a desk. Be a DM or a planner. With 20 years experience I'm sure you could have your drivers making money.

Hey Brett,

I just stumbled onto your website, cool idea. I appreciate the response. Ya, I been on the internet also. I have seen those online courses that promise the world, of course it's only $699. I am leery of those. They remind me of the CDL truck driving schools when I first started that also offered the world, but they must have been really good because they only charged like $10,000. Glad I stayed away from those schools. I have seen some companies that offer opportunities for inexperienced freight agents with no customer base. You would be working for them. Now is there a cost, I am not sure. I just really need to make it a priority and pursue it more diligently.

You are right about finding the right people to talk to. I need to dig into my truck driving past and find some of the sales reps, which I swore I would never be. But, I am at their mercy and I am at the point where I just don't want to drive anymore. I used to love it, but when you are making about the same and sometime less money than you did 20 years ago, well, something has to give. I guess that's going to be me.

I hope you don't think I got on here to discourage anyone from becoming a truck driver. I used to really love it, especially at night when the road is almost barren and finally belongs to the ones that should be on it, the people who know how to drive, ( I know,prejudiced statement). But, I am not getting any younger, tired of fighting the traffic and all of these new and improved regulations. Just looking for an opportunity where I could maybe control my own destiny.

I am trying to talk my wife into making this a joint venture. She has been in medical billing and coding for about 25 years, so she is more than qualified to keep the books. She is also in a profession where her wages have been put on a permanent hold. It must be because our economy is booming right now (another topic for another day). I am definitely venting, this could be really good therapy. I am 49, well I've been 29 for 20 years, can't seem to turn 30, even though I feel like I'm 60. Anyway, thanks for the input.

Hey Errol,

First off, I love the uniform you have on your driver cam. Wouldn't surprise me, that in a couple of years some guy who has never driven a truck will find some way to make those mandatory for all drivers. For safety of course. Ya, I actually thought about pursuing a job on the inside, but from my perspective, the burnout rate for those people is also very high. I think many of them, and not that they want it, but they become glorified babysitters.

The thing is that there is so much turnover in the industry (another topic for another day), that it is a full time position just to get and keep drivers in their trucks. I don't know if that would be very fulfilling for me personally. I am kind of looking for an opportunity to control my own destiny. Don't mind working hard, just want the reward to equal the labor. Anyway, I'll look for you on the road, while I'm still out there. You shouldn't be hard to miss.

Anyway, I've rambled enough. I think it's obvious that I am a frustrated and burnt out truck driver. Hopefully, some people much smarter than me who have made the transition from driver to freight agent might venture in here and share what they did. Unfortunately, driving a truck is about the only experienced job skill I have, so I definitely welcome any input. Thanks and take care.

I hope you don't think I got on here to discourage anyone from becoming a truck driver. I used to really love it,

No, not at all. In fact, I've never considered it my job to encourage everyone to become truck drivers. I encourage the people I feel might be right for the job to give it a shot, and I've told many people over the years that there are careers that would suit them better than truck driving would. It's all about finding what's right for you.

I loved my years on the road but I retired from it because I'm the type that always looks forward to the next adventure. I want to try everything that sounds interesting, challenging, and exciting. And believe me, there's a long list of things I haven't even tried yet. So I just felt like I had done everything there was to do in trucking so it was time to move on to new adventures.

I hope you don't think I got on here to discourage anyone from becoming a truck driver. I used to really love it,

No, not at all. In fact, I've never considered it my job to encourage everyone to become truck drivers. I encourage the people I feel might be right for the job to give it a shot, and I've told many people over the years that there are careers that would suit them better than truck driving would. It's all about finding what's right for you.

I loved my years on the road but I retired from it because I'm the type that always looks forward to the next adventure. I want to try everything that sounds interesting, challenging, and exciting. And believe me, there's a long list of things I haven't even tried yet. So I just felt like I had done everything there was to do in trucking so it was time to move on to new adventures.

Hey Brett do you think you'll ever drive again? I've read on your threads your opinions about dedicated routes where your home daily and my impression was that wasn't a good fit for you. I actually prefer the dedicated routes but I like a sprinkle of OTR mixed in with them too at this point. If I had to pick just one which I'm going to have to soon, I'd pick the home every night dedicated route. I'm still visiting cities that I've never been to before and it's still a new adventure everyday. I just know where I'm going to be sleeping every night and the pay is better too.

Hey Brett do you think you'll ever drive again?

No, I don't expect to. If I did I would have to go through schooling again, just like anyone who hasn't driven in a while. And that would be a ton of fun! I think going through school again would be more fun than driving would, just to see all the fresh faces getting into the industry and watch them try to learn the trade. That would be cool.

In fact, I'd much rather teach truck driving than be a driver again. But I do love to travel so I'd also love to get a big 5th wheel camper and Chevy Dually and head out on the highway to live on the road. That would be awesome! All the perks of travelling without the DOT in the way. That's the way to do it.

If I did drive again I think I'd get a regional route where I'm home on weekends. That way you're able to run about a 1,000 mile radius out from home so you still see a lot of new stuff all the time, you turn great miles so you're making about as much as OTR , but you're home weekends for some time off. That would be my preference at this point.

Hey Brett do you think you'll ever drive again?

No, I don't expect to. If I did I would have to go through schooling again, just like anyone who hasn't driven in a while. And that would be a ton of fun! I think going through school again would be more fun than driving would, just to see all the fresh faces getting into the industry and watch them try to learn the trade. That would be cool.

In fact, I'd much rather teach truck driving than be a driver again. But I do love to travel so I'd also love to get a big 5th wheel camper and Chevy Dually and head out on the highway to live on the road. That would be awesome! All the perks of travelling without the DOT in the way. That's the way to do it.

If I did drive again I think I'd get a regional route where I'm home on weekends. That way you're able to run about a 1,000 mile radius out from home so you still see a lot of new stuff all the time, you turn great miles so you're making about as much as OTR , but you're home weekends for some time off. That would be my preference at this point.

I see ads on craigslist in regard to teaching/training via roadmaster. The trainer that teaches backing at prime east training pad definitely seems to enjoy his job. I think that'd be a cool gig too down the line.