What Characteristics A Freight Agent Should Have

One of the industries that is currently booming and that’s showing no signs of slowing down is the freight industry. If you’re looking to get into an industry that is growing and is expected to continue to grow for at least the next five years, you may be looking at how to get started in freight. But, before you even cross that line and invest too much time looking to break into the industry, you should first learn some of the characteristics this type of professional should have. This can help you determine if you have the personality type and character traits to be successful in this industry. Here are some of the key traits a freight agent should possess and the reasons why each trait is so important.

Professionalism

In order to be a great freight agent, you need to be professional. You’re responsible for connecting individuals and businesses that need their freight transported with transportation companies that transport goods and materials. If you simply do not look or act professional, individuals and businesses may not trust you with large and expensive loads. This can negatively impact your business. You work as an independent agent, so you need to be professional to bring clientele in.

Strong Communication

It’s important to have strong communication skills in the freight industry as a whole. There are a lot of moving parts in this industry, and you need to be able to communicate between the party having the goods transported and the company doing the transporting. You need to be able to communicate effectively with both parties to ultimately ensure that both parties have their needs met through the process. If you are not a strong communicator, you may find that you will struggle in this field.

Multitasking Skills

As was mentioned above, there are many moving parts in the freight and transportation industries. In order to be a great freight agent, you need to have multitasking skills. You also need to be able to prioritize the tasks you need to complete, in order to ensure you are prioritizing the most important elements, instead of focusing on lesser important elements. Having a strong understanding of the transportation industry and being able to multitask is a must to becoming a successful freight agent.

Problem-Solving Skills

Unfortunately, things don’t always go right in this industry. There are many elements that the shipper and the transport company cannot control, including weather, traffic, and accidents. When this happens, you, as the freight agent, may have to use your problem-solving skills to come up with a solution that is achievable and satisfactory to both parties. As such, you should have a strong understanding of the transportation industry to know what can and cannot be done based on the circumstances. You also need strong problem-solving skills so you can come up with creative, out-of-the-box ideas, to help one or both parties involved in a transaction.

Driven And Motivated

Finally, in order to be a successful freight agent, you need to be driven and motivated. One of the more unique elements of working as a freight agent is that you are working for yourself. Freight agents are independent and they work for themselves. If you aren’t finding clients or working hard to bring business in, your business won’t last long. You need to have drive, motivation, and determination to get the job done on your own.

Having the right personality type and traits can be vital to your success working as an independent freight agent. If you don’t have these traits innately, you can work on sharpening those skills so that you can be a better fit for this position. If you have the skills that you need to work in this industry, now is a great time to learn how to get started in freight. From there, you can start working on your new career path.