Yamal Sandoval successfully navigated the pivotal Driver to Broker Transition, shifting his career from the open road to an office setting. This radical change was ultimately driven by a desire for a different lifestyle.
The Motivation for Change
First and foremost, Sandoval found that a truck driving career meant he “passed a lot of time away from the family”. He realized he lacked a normal daily life and the freedom to connect with loved ones. He recalls:
“I had a very good job, but I did not have that freedom to be able to live with my family, friends, or co-workers; everything was lonely”.
This solitude and lack of family time became the primary catalyst for his Driver to Broker Transition.
Preparation and the Trucker Advantage
Consequently, Sandoval took proactive steps toward his new career. He constantly demonstrated initiative and curiosity, beginning by asking brokers he knew well about the job requirements, how they found clients, and if their companies hired people without prior experience. Thus, he gradually educated himself.
Sandoval quickly leveraged his trucking background as an immediate advantage. His past experience gave him knowledge about trucks and repairs, allowing him to “see the equipment and identify if something is missing or if at first sight one can notice that something is wrong”.
Furthermore, having physically driven the routes provides crucial insight. Sandoval states that this knowledge allows him to negotiate “de igual a igual con el carrier” (on equal footing with the carrier). The driver’s perspective also reshaped his approach to carrier relations. Significantly, he now understands the stress a driver faces, ensuring he treats them with respect and never calls repeatedly, instead sending messages to avoid interrupting them, especially when they might be sleeping.
If a driver calls with a breakdown, Sandoval emphasizes the need for empathy:
“First, you must have empathy with them, because that is a very frustrating and stressful situation”.
He would inquire about the problem and offer assistance based on his own superficial mechanical experience.
Essential Broker Skills and Final Advice
On his first day as a broker, the shift was immediately inspiring. He enjoyed the office environment and listening to the numbers, noting:
“What impressed me is how one can also make so much money being from an office… that’s what impressed me, to see what a broker can generate being at home, seeing their family around, and that is an inspiration”.
Yamal identifies three essential skills for a successful career in the Driver to Broker Transition:
- Charisma: A broker must “have charisma when talking to a client. To know how to talk, to know how to entertain the call, how to have that engagement with the client”.
- Negotiation Strength: Maintain a “strong character when negotiating, to stay strong and to maintain the price and not go down”.
- Continuous Learning: Always “learn from each broker in your office”.
Ultimately, Sandoval strongly recommends the Driver to Broker Transition for others seeking change. His advice is simple: Do what you have to do. He encourages drivers to save money and “give time to their work”. He concludes that while it is:
“…a radical change, but in the long term it is very feasible and I would recommend it”.
Ready to Drive Your Career in a New Direction?
If you are a driver considering your own Driver to Broker Transition, share your biggest motivation for making the change in the comments below!
