Any tips for an Owner Operator to find loads on loadboards?

On your other thread you asked about lease purchase, but here you say you have a dry van that you run longer routes with.

Can you elaborate a little on your situation and experience?

Typically long haul rates have a lower rate per mile, and shorter routes have less revenue, but higher profitability. Typically. We’re not in a typical market right now.

If you’re lease purchasing a truck and running load board freight with a dry van - or planning to - . . .

Well - which is it?

 

In my experience DAT was GREAT for meeting new brokers and making long lasting relationships.

I never once "found a load" on it though. I don't think I ever even looked.

I just used it to let brokers know I existed.

 

Is it still common for load boards to have about 10 times as many loads listed as actually exist? Shady brokers often list 1 load under a number of phony Origin/Destinations and at high to low rates. Depending on which of those phony listings generates the most interest, they learn how to make their other phony loads look more attractive. If the load picks up in NYC and goes to Seattle, they may list it as having more attractive nearby origin/destinations so carriers avoiding NYC, for example, will seek it. I can't speak to the difference between any specific load boards and their differences.

 

Thanks. It helps when there is more detail.

I have no experience with DAT - only second hand knowledge.

It seems it does put you in touch - for better or worse.

 

Yes.

Not all the time, but certainly see it from certain brokers often enough.

 

Landstar load board is exactly as you described.