The cradle-to-grave model has been a staple business model in logistics brokerage for years. And with the rise of the agent model across North America, it’s seeing a bit of a glow-up.

Everywhere you turn, there’s another post selling the dream: Be your own boss. Work from anywhere. Build your own book. Keep more of your commission.

Sounds great, right? And to be fair, it can be, it’s how I started my entrepreneur journey. Cradle-to-grave can offer freedom, autonomy, and a chance to build something of your own. But let’s not romanticize it. Because when you’re the one selling the freight, booking the truck, tracking the shipment, handling the fallout, chasing paperwork, and invoicing the customer… that’s not freedom. That’s a one-person logistics department. And it burns people out.

The freight’s delivered, the truck’s empty, and the driver’s already asking about their next load.

You’re done, right?
Not even close.

This is where a lot of dispatchers coast, but this stage can make or break your margin, customer relationships, and ability to get paid. It’s not glamorous, but post-delivery is where the smart teams pull ahead. Tie off the loose ends now, or deal with the fallout later (usually in the form of disputes, denied accessorials, or annoyed billing staff).

Here’s your checklist for after delivery.

Driver Inc. is a business model in the Canadian trucking industry where commercial drivers, who do not own their vehicles, are classified as independent contractors rather than employees. This setup requires drivers to establish their own corporations, allowing them to invoice the trucking company for services rather than receiving traditional wages with benefits. Under this model, drivers avoid standard deductions like taxes and CPP (Canada Pension Plan), while carriers sidestep obligations such as overtime pay, Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) contributions, and other employee protections.