little info about dealing with brokers would be greatly appreciated

You need to get qualified with larger brokers that offer 2 day pay first off, landstar and ch Robinson are examples. Last thing you want to do is start factoring truckstop loads, you would be better off hauling 90 cent a mile dart freight. It's going to be challenging, work on getting direct customers it will take time. The broker will send you a rate confirmation to sign and fax back, don't move without it. You don't have time to deal with people who may or may not pay you, book a good load with a reputable broker that will pay you fast. Keep in mind when you call about rates they are looking to profit, make sure you will profit also. If all you will clear is driver pay or less leave it alone. Farm2fleet has a pretty good basis for a lease carrier to get your feet wet with brokers if you need some knowledge before you dive in. Seriously you will be broke and hungry within two weeks running load board freight using a factoring company.

 

loadboards - Member's Edge and Internet Truck Stop. Member's Edge mostly for access to DAT database to check broker credit. Basic subscriptions $31.95 and $35 I think is all you need. All those other boards will seldom have a load not already on Member's Edge or ITS, even these two are 95% same loads.

documents - the first time you work with a broker you will get a contract. Most of them read about the same. (let me just note here, while it is standard practice to basically sign and return, you CAN at this point ammend the contract, have them agree to detention, TONU, or any other items you would like. You're not working FOR the broker, you have as much right in contract negotiation as them, unfortunately most carriers do not exercise this power and therefore forfeit most power by signing contract. But you are still protected by FMCSA guidelines somewhat) Okay, in addition to the base contract, a contract for each load usually a rate confirmation will be signed and returned. Keep copies of these on file, you will need them for collections purposes.

getting paid - default for me is still snail mail an invoice (find a form online or get a book of them), Bill of Lading sign, date, print by reciever and you, and the rate confirmation. any other relevant paperwork. Some brokers will offer you options to email, use transflo, etc... Sometimes you can even take a pic and text it. Some brokers will offer quickpay options. Don't get in the habit of it, you should not have to pay for your money. Keep in mind you can use this to negotiate the rate as well. One of my favorites is after a rate is decided but before rate confirmation is sent, ask if they can pay within 7 days. If they try to charge for quickpay add the percentage to the rate, say sorry I'm not a bank. You can also offer your own quickpay terms, I did this several times when I got a little strapped for funds. I just put it in the comment box on my invoice, give them a point or two off if they send payment postmarked within 7 days. They're not dumb, it can be an easy $30 or $40 for them. lot's of ways to skin cats.

I think if you look at other posts in this section you will find a thread in which Double Yellow explains very well the process of filing on a brokers bond if they do not pay. This is where you will need a copy of the contract, any email communication, rate confirmation, copy of BOL, really the more documentation the better for collecting bills. Also, very important in all business calls really, but especially collections calls to write down time of call, who you spoke with, and what their position is with the company, make them commit to a date for sending the check and write it down.

Oh, and have fun !

 

Some of the load boards show the brokers score and payment time.

 

You should have a good idea how to play this game, running for 6 years already.
You look at load board. Decide to call broker. Some have the posted price they want to pay, most don't.
You offer your price to broker or accept what he has posted.
You will get a broker packet. I always have it emailed. Broker contract is the base contract between you and the broker. READ it.
Broker will ask for a copy of your W-9, MC authorization, and insurance. Most will ask to be a certificate holder, this your agent will do.
You get them all this paperwork, then they will send you a Rate Confirmation. READ it.
Sign it send it back the load is yours.
Do your thing.
When delivered send a copy of BOL.POD. RC. and Invoice to the broker they will pay you in what ever terms are described in either the Orignal Broker Contract or in your Rate Confirmation.
Now Wait to get paid.
SOme pay within a couple days, to a couple months. I ALWAYS send a text, email or call to verify they have received all paperwork required to process my payment.
I ALWAYS call them after 14 days to see if payment is being processed. Don't ##### your not paid yet. Just call say who you are and ask when your payment is due to be sent to you.

I will wait 7 days from when payment is due. Whether that is 7,14,30,45, whatever the contract stipulates.
I ALWAYS contact their Broker Bond company when the payment is late. How ever many days you choose to wait, its your game. I only wait one day after the initial 7. So really I give them an additional 8 days from when I should have it in my hands.
I have only had to do this 5 times in the last 6 years. I have always been paid within a couple days of contacting Broker bond company.

Good Luck in the entrepreneurship.

 

They'll send you a carrier packet to fill out, you'll return it with some/all of the following documents:

Certificate of authority
Certificate of insurance wifh them as a named certificate holder
W9
Worker's comp info or exemption documentation
banking info for direct deposit

Like Danny said, you can modify the carrier packet -- I do so about half the time (mainly striking through onerous insurance requirements). Rarely will they care, especially if they have a load they need you to move asap.

I recommend listening to the following podcasts, particularly those featuring trucking attorney Henry Seaton:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rates
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/truckingauthority
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/brokers (poor production quality but sometimes useful info)


Anyway, once you fill out the carrier contract packet, they'll send you a rate confirmation. Double check PU & Delivery locations/times, the number of stops, any special instructions, & the rate. I have to make a correction maybe 1 in 3 times (usually amending a PU time because they didn't meet my rate until the load was already late).

Some carriers, particularly TQL, will not "dispatch" you until you call/email after you've already returned the rate confirmation. They won't pay TONU if you haven't been "dispatched," so be sure to do so before rolling.

You can, you can also upgrade Member's edge from the basic (~$35) to the plus (~$45) plan. ITS also charges $35 extra for a credit check subscription. These are handy for speed/convenience, but you probably could find that same info for less elsewhere (something I should do to save a few bucks, but haven't).

You can. Most "standard payments" are 30 days from receipt of invoice & proof of delivery (signed BOL), but there is nothing that stops you from negotiating faster payment. Sometimes a broker really doesn't have any more in it, but they may be able to waive their quick pay charges and pay you in 3 days for "free."

For standard 30 day payments, about half will send a check & half will offer direct deposit. They may offer other options like comdata too.

I highly recommend sending everything from the receiver -- it makes a very good impression and gets you paid that much faster. What I do:

Email myself a copy of the signed rate confirmation and my invoice for the load. Then I can download them to my phone, & reattach them to an email to the broker (and often CC'd to billing/accounting -- info usually in carrier packet or on the rate confirmation). I can then take a picture of the signed BOL and attach it as well.

Boom -- sent within minutes of delivery. Some brokers are particular about image scans (Landstar) so for them I bust out my doxie go ( https://www.google.com/search?q=dox...AUoAQ&biw=640&bih=279#spd=1748192867232680832 ) which takes a couple minutes to then transfer to my hotspotted laptop & send.

Some brokers won't accept email, but they will accept a fax. For them I use efax (there are cheaper services) and just email the documents to 1(234)567-8910@efaxsend.com -- or whatever the fax number. Again -- done in minutes.

There are still some brokers, or some accounts within certain brokers, that will require mailing in the original documents. Because these are rare and space limited, I don't carry a printer in my truck but instead fax a copy of the rate confirmation & my invoice to a truck stop and use their fax as a $2/page printer (Be sure to check the "Challenge" magazines at Pilots for free 1 page fax coupons). I carry a few envelopes & a bunch of stamps, & mail it out at the next truck stop offering outbound mail.

TQL is very good about this, almost everyone else sucks in this regard. TQL will send you an email when they receive your paperwork, & another one when they've processed it and have assigned a payment date.

For everyone else, I usually call a few hours after sending my paperwork to confirm they got everything they needed. Some (Landstar) won't be able to tell you for weeks which is just awesome imo. Then I keep an eye on the age of my invoices in Quicken Home & Business and start making calls when I notice something over 30 days unless I know they just pay slow (certain Landstar divisions).

Absolutely. For most brokers I wouldn't let something get 60 days from invoice date, but there are some I use that are notorious slow payers. For them, I charge extra up front into my rate knowing it'll take a while to be paid -- reverse factoring I suppose.

 

Thanks for the step by step.

Any tips on getting a truck office setup?

 

Truck office - smartphone, laptop, mifi hotspot, printer/scanner/copier

 

I have been looking for a compact printer/ scanner/copier without much luck. I don't have much space

 

I too failed in my pursuit of a compact all-in-one machine for over the road use, and so bought the Epson WF-100 wireless mobile printer and the new Doxie Go WiFi. Both are extemely compact and both work well with the ipad Air2. Early days..., but as yet, no complaints...

http://www.amazon.com/Epson-WorkForce-WF-100-Wireless-Printer/dp/B00NR1GW5Q

http://www.getdoxie.com/product/doxie-go/techspecs.html