It is thirty minutes past office hours and the phone is still ringing. Dinner was cooking on the stove; the soup was just about ready to serve. Should I answer the phone or let it go to the answering service?
Working out of a home office there is always the temptation to answer the phone. One thing about using updated tools in the office is it allows us see who is calling. One of our dependable auto shippers was calling in about his pick up and delivery status. Knowing this driver, it would be a short conversation. I took the call.
After giving me his location the conversation shifted to nationwide auto transport routes. He wanted to know if I knew what the going prices were for different interstate routes. In order to continue to run a profitable business he had to watch his bottom line.
These business owners must go where the money is. If there are no vehicles to ship or the shipping rate is not sufficient to profit from the job, they will leave it behind. Profitability depends on the brokers doing their job, educating the customer about market rates. If they do not follow through and schedule fair rates, there will be no dependable auto shippers.
After my brief conversation with the driver ended, I turned off the phone. Closing the door behind me, I left the office so my husband and I could sit down to a delicious dinner.
But, my thoughts drifted back to my earlier conversation with the driver. I started thinking…if our preferred carriers did not realize we provide a nationwide service, maybe our customers do not either.
Our experience shows there are two types of people who use auto transport.
One type of customer is one that knows how to ship a car and does so all the time. Maybe they are moving for a job change. Possibly, they need a car transported for their student going off to school across the country. Maybe they purchased that dreamy hot-rod they have been wanting for years. The problem is the car is on the opposite coast. Whatever the case, these people are well informed, nationwide auto transport customers.
The second type of customer is one that knows absolutely nothing about how to ship a car. The terminology and process is foreign to them. These customers need a nationwide auto transport broker who cares about them and their car. The newbie customer needs tender loving guidance to help them do their research. Patience and understanding goes a long way toward helping the customer come to trust the auto transport broker who is going to ship their car cross country.
Many times when customers call in for an auto transport quote, they think we are a local company. The majority of auto transport brokers have a toll free phone number. The receiver of the call does not know where the company is located.
Most customers ship their cars only once in a lifetime. For most people contacting a local tow company is the only experience they will have when it comes to transporting their car. Unlike some dependable auto shippers who run only local routes, auto transport brokers provide service nationwide.
The Department of Transportation regulates the service area of both trucking companies and auto transport brokers. Trucking companies purchase permits and tags to transport in each state. Using their authority auto transport brokers serve the public in all 50 U.S. states.
Our office has provided quality nationwide auto transport both locally and coast to coast. We have built relationships with some of the most dependable auto shippers in the business. This has allowed us to serve our customers in a timely manner. Because of those relationships, we are not afraid to compete for business in a very competitive market.
By providing these details, we hope that the word will get out to those who take charge making their decisions. Everyone is so busy, there seems to be less time to do the research needed. If we can be the endless source of information, our customers will have more time to spend with their family and friends. We get this refreshing sense of satisfaction when we help our nationwide auto transport customers.
So share this post with all of your friends, family and neighbors. Our job is to help the person searching so desperately for real first class service.
Here to Serve,
Carla J Gardiner
Carla J Gardiner is an ex-banker turned entrepreneur who built an auto transport brokerage and dispatch center from the ground up. With half a days training and little else Carla learned the business inside and out the hard way…by doing it. Her passion and purpose lies with the people she works with daily; the client, dispatcher, broker and truck driver. Her frustration within the industry has birthed a new division of her company; one to properly train, encourage and mentor other professionals in auto transport.
Carla Gardiner is a wife, mom, and grammy. She left the corporate world of banking in 2004 hitting the ground running with Bullseye Auto Transport in 2005. She diversified her business in 2010 adding dispatch services to car-hauler owners/operators. Carla is on a mission to positively impact people's lives she serves with truths untold about living life better; gaining optimal health and healthy weight loss. Carla has written as The Fiery Grandma since 2010 and this title describes her personality perfectly!
There is so much peace and comfort in owning your own business, especially for us mom’s and grandma’s who want to be there for our family… or to take those vacations when they come up! Freedom is precious – it is worth getting the knowledge and investing in ourselves to have this liberty of working from home! Thanks for sharing, Carla… you are a great leader!
Susan McKenzie
Carla, bravo. I admire for what you stand for. You have the experience, integrity and ‘heart’ that the industry is lacking.
Claudia Looi
That’s pretty amazing. In addition, do I understand that you are going to be showing people how to set themselves up in the auto transport broker business? If it’s set up right and the right level of service is provided, I would imagine it could be an interesting work-from-home business!
Sharon O’Day
Awesome post! It is truly appealing, if one is passionate about the work the individual is doing then there is no scope for it being menial or boring or whatever. A business is where you are the boss and you are the slave, no bossiness stuff.
Anusha
I learned something new! I had no clue what a “snow bird” was before this. In addition, great tips about budgeting. Sometimes I get my head in so many places; I have to remind myself to get back to basics. After all, I cannot expect God to bless me with more if I do not properly manage what is already in my hand. GREAT ARTICLE!