Truckers and Travelers

Hello, Fellow Truckers!  Today we are going to finish up our blog with the last three essential ways to grow your trucking business. 

4) Make decisions with your head, not your heart.  It is crucial in today’s trucking industry that you make intelligent decisions about who you partner and do business with.  If your trucking business specializes in hauling aggregate, find a group of customers that focus on just that.  If you haul with a flabed trailer, focus on customers that require their equipment to be hauled only in that manner, such as the military or equipment companies.  The most important point here is to focus on what makes you excell.  Do what is best for your trucking business that also benefits your customers. 

5) Expand your target market.  Stay focused on the customers that are within your niche market.  Focusing on what you do the best will help separate you from the competition in the trucking industry.  To take care of your clients you will have to expand your field of expertise.  For instance if all you give your clients is your business card, why not include a brochure of what you can provide your customers and why they should consider your trucking business as an ally.  When you pass out your card, do you give them a pen with your trucking business name as well?  Do you send them special occasion cards or small tokens of appreciation for their continued business such as free coffee from Starbucks?  These are just ideas to set you apart and build loyalty with your client base. 

6) Evolve.  Changes in the trucking industry, new DOT compliance issues, and safety regulations will require that you alter the way you run your trucking business.  Do you have a trucking industry consultant that you can call to assist you with ideas on keeping current with these changes?  Do you attend or are you involved in any organizations or activities that will keep you on the cutting edge of the trucking industry?  Be ready for an challenge that comes your way with the knowledge to meet that challenge.  Step back, focus on your business. 

Remember, grow your local presence.  Stay current of the new DOT regulations.  Finally, increase your referral base.  Get out of the box and think like a super successful trucking business.  Think, act, become.  Be safe out there!