Are You Prepared to Buy Direct?

How many people have actually bought an unmanifested truckload before?

And how many of those same people say it’s important that the load be “direct” and “raw”?

I’ve been in the business of selling liquidation truckloads for years, and I can tell you this: most customers ask for raw, untouched loads straight from the source, unseen by me or my team.

But those same customers are often the first ones calling, upset, when a load turns out to be subpar.

Here’s the reality…

Unmanifested returns are part of this industry. You don’t have to buy them. But if you choose to take that route (ordering directly from return facilities), you need to understand what you’re signing up for:

You are taking a risk.

Your broker is not an insurance policy.

At the end of the day, brokers are there to connect you to inventory—not guarantee the outcome. If the load is represented honestly, they’ve done their job.

And let’s be honest…

I’ve never had someone call me after a great load and offer to pay me more.

Right now, we’re also entering a seasonal shift. Retailers are clearing out inventory, and that cycle happens every single year. The quality mix changes, and if you’ve been around long enough, you know exactly what that means.

So here’s the takeaway:

Learn the industry

Do your homework

Work with brokers who educate, not just sell

And if you’re buying unmanifested loads… understand you’re rolling the dice

Sometimes it pays off big. Sometimes it doesn’t.

That’s the game.