Dealing with the brokers - what's the best way?

I agree in some cases deadheading can cost more than taking the actual load. If you deadhead too far or wait in a bad area for too long it could cost you more than taking a cheaper load. HOWEVER,that doesn't mean you should grab whatever cheap load comes along in a hurry either. I used to post my truck well before going into a bad area and believe it or not even in those areas a truck can back out of a load or break down at the last minute leaving a broker needing a truck asap. Or some miscommunication happened with the shipper. In cases like that I have gotten over 3.00 a mile if there was detention involved in it too. However that isn't always the norm. I have seen some shippers offer less than brokers.

 

They just calling you not knowing where your at or area in? How do they know? Or they just taking a shot your near where they need ya to negotiate a load?

 

Post your truck up on the loadboard as available: city, state, date, where you prefer to go or just all inclusive 48 states... No-one will call if you don't post it until you develop contacts who know you and your lanes. If you post it and get slammed with calls, great. Of course 19 out of 20 will be lousy no-gos, maybe worse chances than that, or maybe better - just depends on the circumstance. If the calls don't come in or only 2 or 3 in a day's time, well, that just sucks.

 

So while on way to certain area you can post your there and open for a load in that area tho in reality your only half way there? Your doing that to line up your next load besides actually being there? Of course just saying if your ONLY using load boards.

 

You can post it ahead of time and show the date you will be empty. Posting it doesn't mean you are ready right than and there unless you post it on the same day you get empty.

 

Oh Ok. Thanks. What Boards are largest and best to work with? And brokers? Do some boards you have to pay to use? Are those better than most?

 

Most brokers used to look at Internet truckstop and getloaded.com. Back when I used them they were 35.00 a month. That was over 4 years ago. Not sure if they are the same now. I used to have and post trucks on both boards. I don't know of any loadboard that is free except maybe for the ones posted at truckstops.

 

Yeah, definitely. That's how you stay loaded. It's also how you get a feel for a market. If it's any good the phone will blow up. Another tactic I use is to post my truck available in the city I deliver to and also in another one or two or three that are a couple of hundred to three hundred miles of deadhead. I do this when delivering to a deadzone like FL or OK. Opens up so much more opportunity. It's how you avoid falling prey to $1 a mile reloads close by. Laziness is what that is. Make sure to always get a rate to a deadzone that justifies deadheading out. The old $2 a mile is great goes out the window. Deadzone's should pay $3.25 or better otherwise let some sucker haul it there and cry they can't get out. Yes they will pay rates like that, they expect to, but only after the suckers have loaded up first.

 

I get cha. Thanks for info. So in your case you have enough relationships with brokers and shippers you don't use load boards right? And that's the way to be no matter where you are right? So what Broker firms are usually the best and have a lot of freight? CHR and Landstar?

 

The best one is the one who's currently paying a rate. At the moment that would be Covenant. On any given load it might be CHR, LS, TQL or whoever I choose. Yeah have some good working relationships repeat business with small brokerages agents and agents of various branch offices of mega brokers. Don't haul any direct freight. Don't fall for the bs that direct pays the best money always hands down. There is a direct shipper posting in here how drivers need to cut the broker out - keep 100% everything and bragging how his regular direct carriers love his $1.75 a mile loads.. ..$1.75 is half my average loaded rate for nearly 2 years hauling exclusively brokered freight. 100% of a cheap rate is still a cheap rate. It's up to you to determine your own way out here and get rates.