Beyond the Cold Call:
Why Most Freight Sales Tactics Are Garbage
I joined Marco Vargas-Avila from Dole and Christian on the FreightCaviar podcast recently. We discussed something every freight professional struggles with: how to actually land shippers without being another annoying cold caller.
The Problem: Everyone's Doing It Wrong
Here's what Marco and I agreed on: this industry has a reputation problem. Too many brokers are still doing the "spray and pray" thing – blasting generic emails, making pointless cold calls, and bidding on everything that moves. Shippers hate it. It wastes their time and shows you didn't do your homework.
What Actually Works
At linehaul.ai, we do things differently. Marco nailed it when he said you need to understand network synergies. Don't bid on lanes where you can't add value. Do your research. Be strategic.
This is where our AI comes in. I've been tuning our LoadCognition GPT model for months. It's not about replacing people – it's about improving our team. Real-time tracking updates, dynamic ETA recalibration, proactive delay notifications. Shippers don't have to chase us down for information.
We also built Load Life Transparency and Predictive Delivery Insights. When something's going wrong, we know before the shipper does. That matters when late deliveries cost thousands in fines.
And here's something most people don't know: we offer drop trailers through our DROP-IT® network. Shippers think only asset carriers can do this. Wrong. We can be just as flexible.
The Market Reality
The freight market right now? It's like 2019 but worse. That's exactly what I told Marco on the podcast. When times are tough, being genuine matters more than ever.
We're using AI and common sense to streamline operations. Not because it's trendy, but because it works. Better service, lower costs, happier customers.
The Bottom Line
Want to hear the full conversation? Check out the FreightCaviar podcast episode. And if you're a shipper tired of dealing with brokers who waste your time, reach out to linehaul.ai.
We've got your backhaul.
Watch the full conversation on FreightCaviar's YouTube channel: "E159: Marco Vargas-Avila and Anthony Fecarotta: How to Land Shippers"
Like the video, subscribe to FreightCaviar for more content, and follow linehaul.ai on LinkedIn for updates on our journey to innovate the truckload industry.