{"id":18374,"date":"2023-08-01T08:03:52","date_gmt":"2023-08-01T15:03:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dat.com\/resources\/?post_type=resources&p=18374"},"modified":"2025-03-08T04:44:18","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T12:44:18","slug":"establish-relationship-with-direct-shippers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dat.com\/resources\/establish-relationship-with-direct-shippers","title":{"rendered":"Best Way to Establish a Relationship with Direct Shippers"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you employ other truckers, you\u2019ll have even more work, from keeping track of their fuel and maintenance expenses to ensuring they\u2019re paid on time. On top of all that, you must make the time to find freight. After all, you can\u2019t keep the lights on and turn a profit unless you actually deliver loads and collect payments!<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, finding freight worth delivering can sometimes be easier said than done. Sure, you can search for freight online, but many loads are priced extremely low \u2014 and even those can be hard to find. Wading through countless cheap loads to find good-paying ones and finding stats to bring to the negotiation table can consume hours of your valuable time before you know it. That\u2019s where direct shippers trucking comes in.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll go over what working directly with shippers means, its pros and cons, the difference between brokered and direct shippers, and the best way to establish a relationship with direct shippers. You\u2019ll learn everything you need to know about establishing direct freight services to determine if it\u2019s the right choice for your business.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is direct shippers trucking?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Taking a direct shippers trucking approach means contracting direct shipper loads. Instead of working with a broker, you will work directly with your shipper.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since many truckload <\/span>shippers<\/span><\/a> don\u2019t have the time, money, or expertise to hire, train, and manage their own logistics team, they often outsource work to 3PLs and brokers. After all, working with a <\/span>broker<\/span><\/a> is easy and allows shippers to concentrate on their business instead of on logistical minutiae like handling carrier insurance or determining the best rates. All of that takes time and energy that truckload shippers don\u2019t necessarily have, so brokers seem like the perfect solution.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though using a broker costs 15-20% more than working directly with trucking companies, shippers will use brokers in certain specific circumstances, like if something has gone wrong with their routing guide, if they have an unplanned shipment, or if they\u2019re a very small business that ships too infrequently to contract their shipments out to carriers. However, truckload shippers typically prefer to contract carriers. That\u2019s because, above all else, shippers want reliable, predictable service from their transportation providers. Direct freight services are typically the best way to attain that.<\/span><\/p>\n

A great way to make those connections is to reach out to the shipper first, work to build a solid relationship with them, and generally make their job easier. Know that even if your first attempts don\u2019t lead to contracts, there are still plenty of other truckload shippers out there looking for that reliability and predictability in addition to the lower costs that come with direct shipping. <\/span><\/p>\n

What are the benefits of using direct shippers?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Using direct shippers can be a strategic move for many carriers, as direct shippers trucking offers plenty of benefits, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n