How to find shippers as a carrier or freight broker

Broker loads and direct shipper freight

Where shippers look for capacity

• Their existing carrier list and freight brokers they already use.
• Requests for proposal (RFPs) for regular lanes, often once or twice a year.
• Industry directories, trade associations and local business networks.
• Referrals from carriers and brokers they trust.

How to approach a shipper

1. Pick lanes you already run and list the shippers that load or unload there: manufacturers, distributors, farms, building suppliers.
2. Find the person who books freight, usually logistics, shipping or purchasing.
3. Show what you offer on their lanes: equipment, capacity, availability and your safety and insurance documents.
4. Start with one load or a trial lane and deliver it cleanly before asking for more.

Freight brokers looking for shippers

Brokers win shippers the same way, by specialising in lanes, equipment or industries and proving they can cover loads reliably. A load board helps a broker on the other side of the trade: finding carriers for the freight once a shipper has given it to them.

• A load board for freight brokers

Where GigFreight fits

GigFreight is a load board. Loads are posted from broker-type accounts, which freight brokers, forwarders and shippers all use, so the board does not separate shipper loads from broker loads. Use it to keep trucks loaded while you build direct shipper relationships, and to plan the reload from each delivery area.

Broker and shipper contact details on a load are shown only to members with a fully paid, active subscription. A trial gives access to the platform but not to load contact details.

Frequently asked questions