Fill the Trucks.
It's a commodity market. The winners are the ones who pick up the phone first. In 2026, logistics sales is about "Rate Transparency" and "Real-Time Tracking." Prove you can deliver, and you win the lane.
View the 20 Strategies
Load Boards are Leads
DAT and Truckstop are not just for booking. They are lead lists. If a company posts a load, they have freight. Call them not for that load, but for the *next* 100 loads.
Import Records (Bill of Lading)
Use data tools (like ImportGenius) to see who is bringing containers into the port. You know exactly what they are shipping and how often. Call them: "I see you have 20 containers landing next week."
20 Ways to Move Freight
1. Cold Calling "Shipping Managers"
It's a numbers game. 100 dials a day. "Do you have any difficult lanes right now?" Solve the headache.
2. LinkedIn Networking with VPs of Supply Chain
They don't book the trucks, but they sign the contracts. Share content about "Supply Chain Resilience."
3. Target "Factory Expansions"
Set a Google Alert for "New Manufacturing Plant Opening." They will need outbound logistics immediately.
4. Conferences (Retail Supply Chain)
Go to where the shippers are, not where the truckers are. RILA, NRF. Shake hands.
5. SEO: "Refrigerated Transport [City]"
Niche down. "Hazmat," "Reefer," "Flatbed." General "Trucking" is too broad. Specialized freight pays more.
6. "Carrier Packet" Automation
Make onboarding easy. If it takes 2 days to set you up as a vendor, they move on. Digital onboarding is sales enablement.
7. Gift Sending to Dispatchers
Send donuts to the shipping dock. The dock foreman often tells the manager who to use. "Use Dave, his drivers are never late."
8. Email Drip: "Market Rate Updates"
Send a weekly email: "Here is what flatbed rates are doing this week." Be their source of market intelligence.
9. Partnerships with Customs Brokers
They clear the goods; you move the goods. It's a natural handoff. Build a referral network.
10. "Drayage" Specific Marketing
Port congestion is a pain point. Market your ability to get containers OUT of the port fast. "Avoid Demurrage Fees."
11. ZoomInfo Intent Data
Filter by companies searching for "3PL" or "Freight Forwarder." Call them while they are looking.
12. Case Studies: "Crisis Management"
Publish a story about how you moved a critical load during a snowstorm. Reliability sells better than price.
13. Target "Seasonal Shippers"
Christmas trees in November. Produce in Summer. Know the seasons and pitch 3 months early.
14. Warehouse "Overflow" Marketing
"Need temporary storage?" Use warehousing as a foot in the door to get the transportation contract.
15. Google Ads: [Competitor] Login
Bid on "CH Robinson Login" or "TQL Login." People logging in are current customers. Offer an alternative.
16. Directory Listings (ThomasNet)
Get listed in industrial directories. Procurement managers still use ThomasNet to find vendors.
17. Referral Program for Truck Drivers
Drivers know which docks are busy. Pay drivers $50 for a tip on a busy shipper looking for capacity.
18. Retargeting: "Quote Request"
They asked for a quote but didn't book. Retarget with: "We will beat any written quote by 5%."
19. "Last Mile" E-commerce Focus
Pitch Shopify brands. "We handle the delivery from the warehouse to the porch." Huge growth sector.
20. Direct Mail: "The nice swag"
Send a high-quality die-cast truck model to the Logistics Manager. It stays on their desk. You stay top of mind.
The Logistics Stack
Apollo.io
Find "Shipping Manager," "Logistics Coordinator," and "VP of Supply Chain."
Explore ApolloLindy
Train Lindy to do "Check Calls." She calls the driver: "Where are you? ETA?" Automate the tracking.
Get LindyKeep it Moving.
The world stops without logistics. Find the freight effectively. Explore our full library of tools.
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