At D&L Transport, we understand a thing or two about teamwork. Since 2005, we have built teams at our headquarters and with our Freight Agents nationwide. Being based in Kansas City and growing up here, we pay close attention to basketball’s NCAA Tournament. ‘Rock Chalk Jayhawk’ is common in our office, along with a few other Texas-based chants of ‘Hook’em Horns’ and ‘Sic’em Bears!’
Basketball Talent and Teamwork
If you examine those teams involved in the March tournament more closely, you’ll discover many talented players. However, the teams that advance through each stage not only possess skilled players but also develop a team that understands exactly what is expected, when it is expected, and how to mesh with those around them to achieve victory.
That team extends beyond the basketball court to include everyone on the coaching staff, team managers, and scout teams, to providing the right jerseys and driving the team bus. The same applies to Freight Brokers and Agency Offices. It takes everyone working together to achieve success.
Freight Agency Talent and Teamwork
For Freight Agencies, like basketball or any other sport, success requires a team of individual performers equipped with essential skills. They must also support one another and consistently look for opportunities to step up and make a difference in critical moments. You’ve seen this during March Madness; the unsung player often makes the clutch play that turns the tide or even wins the game. In sports, this is referred to as the ‘Utility Player, the Glue Guy, the 6th Man and the 12th Man,’ to name a few.
Here at D&L, we often call it ‘all hands on deck.’ That’s when everyone steps up to meet the current challenge or to address our day-to-day tasks for transitioning a new Agent onto the D&L Team, which we promise to do in 24 hours or less.
Leveraging Your Freight Broker’s Talent for the Ultimate in Teamwork
That last example was a not-so-subtle reminder that your Freight Broker needs to not only support your team but be on your team. It’s simply essential that everyone step up to make critical events happen. That’s the only way to reach your full potential.
What is your Freight Broker doing to support your team? Let’s examine what they should be doing and compare that to D&L Transport’s Family in Freight.
What Your Freight Broker Needs to Provide for Team Success
Here’s a short list of what any Freight Broker needs to bring to the team for success.
Team-Driven Business Relationship. If your Broker is on your team, there shouldn’t be on-going hassles about what’s covered and not covered in your contractual agreement. It’s like consulting the contract before you toss the ball to a teammate for a layup. Can’t. Be. Done.
D&L’s approach begins with a firm NO. No non-competes, long-term contracts, red tape, games, or gimmicks. These don’t exist at D&L. Instead, it’s a simple written agreement that protects the Agent and ensures that you always own your business whether you’re with D&L or move on to someone else. The Agent’s book of business remains with them, always. That leads to confidence that the action you’re taking, with the full support of your Broker, will lead to a successful outcome for the entire team. You’ve built the equity in your book of business, and no Broker should claim ownership of this.
Open Communication and Full Transparency. When you and your Agency are driving toward the basket, there needs to be plenty of communication, full transparency, and no hidden agendas. To do otherwise is to lose the moment and fall apart before taking a shot.
D&L’s motto is ‘Honesty. Transparency. Respect.’ This is how we operate and have operated since day 1. We’ve worked as Freight Agents, and we know what it’s like to be out on your own. That’s why we started our Freight Agent Program: to provide the tools you need and remove barriers for you to achieve success. We don’t pretend to know your operations. We adapt to YOUR needs. We are on your team, supporting you in every way we know how.
Total Team Support. Your team needs everyone’s full effort for the entire game. Plus, they need to be there in the crunch when the going gets tough. You can’t compete consistently throughout a competitive season if half your team would prefer to sit on the bench and take it easy while you put in the hard work.
D&L brings support when your team needs it, not just during 9-5 business hours. Instead, it’s round-the-clock phone support, lightning-quick response times, and a back office filled with expertise and resources, from carrier support and human resources to accounts payable/receivable and readily available top management insight and problem-solving. And it doesn’t stop there. We have dedicated teams for Claims Disputes and LTL shipments. We also have a dedicated Carrier team focusing on compliance, support, and quick onboarding of new Carriers. We have your back at every position.
Team Culture. A favorite phrase is ‘all for one and one for all.’ If it’s instead ‘everyone for themselves,’ your team will flop and do so big time, in the biggest moments, when the game is on the line. That culture should be based on open communication, team support, and a team-driven business relationship.
D&L demonstrates this with a work-hard, play-hard mentality that celebrates successes and encourages people to do their best. We also continually work hard to find a win-win solution for everyone involved. Plus, our culture is based on dealing with everyone openly and honestly, having fun, and doing what we say we’ll do every time.
Team Strength. Every player provides one or more elements of strength to make up the team. Likewise, the supporting infrastructure, from coaches to assistants to the equipment manager, makes up the team structure. Without all that, you won’t build or be able to sustain momentum throughout the long haul. It’s what makes the difference between a good and a great team.
D&L brings financial stability and strength to your team, which shows up in credit ratings, instant customer credit, and quick Carrier payments. We also bring strong brand recognition and market share to help you grow your business.
Team Compensation and Commission. Even with the excitement of college basketball’s March Madness, there is significant compensation in direct payments and name-image-likeness (NIL) deals. Identify the right balance and level of compensation, and the top players will join your team.
Fair, market-level compensation is essential for any Freight Agency program. This includes commission level, structure, payment timing, and the written agreement. It must also consider fees for load boards and TMS subscriptions. D&L pays 70% Commission on all FTL and LTL. Commissions are paid weekly at the time of invoice; there are no fees for TMS or Load Board Access.
Your Team Needs the Right Broker for Success
When it’s all-hands-on-deck you want the best players on your team. Also, why wouldn’t you want the best players on your team, no matter the circumstances? After all, day-to-day success leads to program success. For that reason alone, you need a best-in-class Freight Broker.
It’s Time for a BETTERLIFE® at D&L
Of course, we feel that our Freight Agency program is the best in the business. To see for yourself, look at our Agent Opportunities page. You can also hear directly from our successful Agents. Then, get in touch, and we can get started.
It’s better here. It’s a better life with D&L. Join The Best Freight Agent Program Today!
Call toll-free: 866.559.0203. Or complete the form at D&L Agent Requirements.
D&L Transport. Your Family in Freight.