Freight Agent vs. Freight Broker: Insights with Brian AuBuchon, VP of Logistics at TAB LLC

In this week’s episode of The FreightCaviar Podcast, we sat down with Brian AuBuchon, Vice President of Logistics at TAB LLC (a subsidiary of Artur Express). He breaks down the difference between a W2 and a 1099, guides us through the steps to becoming an agent at TAB, and shares insights on the company's future.

From Business Administration to Logistics

Like many others, Brian fell into logistics, having initially pursued a career in Business Administration and Management. After starting a family, he realized that the path he chose was not very conducive to working in retail management and decided on a different career: logistics. It’s been 10 years since he joined the TAB team and 30 years since he got his start in the industry. Having been in the company for so long, Brian is the perfect candidate for taking us behind the scenes. 

W-2 vs. 1099 Agents

He explained the difference between a W2 and a 1099 agent.

“It depends on whether you just want to maintain or manage business at an expert level, or you really want to expand what you're doing.”

Brian also highlighted the advantages of working with 1099's.

"The 1099s are going to be out there. They need to. They don't have any income if they're not moving loads. I try to push people to 1099. There's a comfort level with a W2. They know they're going to get paid every two weeks whether they move any loads or not. So that's a blessing and a curse from my perspective."

The Importance of Financial Reliability

Brian also explained the importance of being financially reliable.

“We are very financially solid, which is the most important thing. If you're an agent or even a logistics company or a W-2 person, you're only as good as the carrier that you pay on time.”

The Future of TAB

He also shared the company’s future goals.

“The landscape, where we were then versus where we are now, is light years ahead. When we walked in that first day, our immediate goal was to hit a million dollars a month. We weren't there. And now? $100 million. Our next goal is to become a $250 million logistics company.”

Becoming an Agent at TAB

He walked us through the steps of becoming an agent at TAB.

“We recently developed a website that's been out there now for about four or five months, and it's tab-llc.com. Our website is really based on agent development. On every single page, there are at least two buttons that say ‘Contact Now.’ That will send us an email letting us know that you are interested. It also gives you contact information. There's a questionnaire on there. You can download the sheet, and it'll allow you to compare and contrast us versus any other agency you may be considering, too.”

Brian’s journey into logistics highlights the adaptability and resilience required in the industry. With a strong focus on agent development and ambitious goals for the future, and dedicated team members such as Brian, TAB is positioned for continued success.

Listen to the entire interview on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch it on our YouTube channel.