Continuous personal growth and development have a direct impact on your success as a freight agent. Here are some skills to master in 2024.

Posted & filed under Authorized Agents.

As a freight agent, there are many skills that you need to be successful. From excellent client service to problem-solving and multitasking, the skills that you use daily are varied and interconnected. The most important ones to master also happen to be foundational to overall success and business growth.

 

Communication

The number one most important skill to master as a freight agent is communication. Clear communication is an essential part of providing excellent client service. As a freight agent working with shippers and carriers, communicating with each group well and building strong relationships with them will help you to be successful. Expert communication skills create more value for your client and can help to set you apart from the competition. Clients will remember how helpful you are and the ease of your interactions and will be happy to work with you in the future. Acting as a consultant can also create value as you offer guidance and advice during the selling process. This can help you build trust as you strengthen the relationships you have with your clients.

In addition to client and carrier relationships, developing networking skills is a powerful way to grow your business and further develop other skills on this list. The best way to get better at networking is to attend conferences or other events where you can get to know more people. England Logistics’ Agent Conference is one event you won’t want to miss.

 

Strategic Planning

To maximize your success as an independent freight agent it is vital to develop skills like market analysis and strategic planning. Staying up to date on market trends and understanding how to best use the information you gather is a valuable skill to master. Becoming a knowledgeable advisor to your clients can help set you apart through market shifts and regulatory changes. Strategic planning based on seasonality or other key market indicators can allow you to provide valuable insight to your clients and can help you stay ahead of important deadlines and shifts in demand for capacity.

You can also use the strategic planning and analysis skills you develop to identify new opportunities for your clients. You may also uncover potential problems with their current strategy that they may not have been aware of. Using this information can help you to create value and direct strategic adjustments.

Learning from others such as industry leaders or other freight agents in your network can help you to master these skills. Additionally leaning on the experience and insights of a 3PL can help give you the support you need to further develop your strategic skills and long-term planning process. Seeking advice and actively researching current trends will help you to expand your knowledge and hone your skillset.

 

Resilience

You may not think of resilience as one of your most valuable skills but mastering this one makes developing any other skill easier. Mastering critical skills takes years of experience, dedication, and trial and error. Resilience is key to this process. The mental strength to stay motivated to improve while experiencing failure or rejection is something that is important not only to personal growth but also to your daily work. This job is not easy, and the effort and commitment that it takes to be successful is worthy of recognition.

 

Efficiency

Making your process more efficient allows you to spend your time where it counts the most. Utilizing technology to help automate repetitive tasks is a useful technical skill that will help you refine your focus and grow your business. Organizational skills go hand in hand with becoming more efficient and are another beneficial focus to have. Increased efficiency also comes with cultivating each of the essential skills discussed previously. Mastering these things and building confidence in your ability can help you move from task to task quickly and solve problems that arise with ease.

 

Continuous personal growth and development have a direct impact on your success as a freight agent. By mastering key skills, you will be able to better assist your clients and have the flexibility to adapt to market changes. The resilience you gain from continuing to work on these skills throughout your career will help you grow your business and expand your client base.

 

Want to learn more about the England Logistics Authorized Agent program? Fill out the form below!

     
     

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    Thank you for your interest in the England Logistics Authorized Agent program. We are looking for at least 2 years of experience, but we'd still love to talk to you to find out how you can still join us in some capacity. Please call us at 866.476.7012. Thanks!
     
     
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    The England Logistics Freight Agent Program provides companies with information and tools to expand and allow them to manage their business. Backed by the England Logistics brand, participating agents enjoy increased market visibility and established business connections. Our dedicated team also delivers consistent support for day-to-day operations. This allows freight agents to expand their portfolios while being reinforced by a reliable team.