What do brokers ask for?

Thanks for the info. So i should invest in a trailer to make things alot easier right because i would like to work off of load boards for the beginning until i get enough experience and contacts.

 

If you are new perhaps look into a 53' Dry Van or a Flatbed/Step Deck if you don't mind getting a little dirty. Tarping and strapping will be required. Also checking to make sure nothing shifts in transport. Perhaps lease something for a month to see what rates you can get and if you like it. With dry vans there is a lot of competition and if you don't have the contacts, you might see yourself getting lower rates. Step deck will allow you to haul slightly taller items. You can always purchase a trailer at any time later. Some shippers make sure that the trailer is 10 years old or less now as well.

 

Thanks for the info i will look into getting a tractor and trailer and start getting loads from the load boards

 

The LAST thing I would buy is a 53' dry van. A dry van is a one trick pony with huge amount of competition. A reefer will do double duty. Everything a dry van can do plus the cold stuff. (Be careful with your weights. The reefer is heavier!) A curtain van is a flatbed that can still get into a loading dock. A "Swiss army knife" trailer does not exist yet, but buy something that will do more than 1 job.

 

Don't pay any attention to that. If you buy your own truck and trailer you will take care of it and the freight you haul. If your a company driver you don't care as much because its not yours. If you got 6 months of driving there are brokers out there that will want you to move stuff for them, I've been there before

 

Not everything. I have loaded a dry van at shippers that will not load their goods in a reefer. I have no idea why but they had big signs saying dry van only, no reefers.

 

This is this exactly what I said before....so I know I am not wrong here...

The $1.75 is for cargo. Not liability..... So it will be interesting to see what LSAgentOZR says...

 

Weight concerns and or not wanting vegetation based contamination: ie molds, insects, pollens, etc.
But... most of the time, yes, it can be a heavy van.

 

Or they aren't wide enough/long enough to fit all of the loads in. I've had this issue at some of our customers. They won't even load space savers.

 

I agree with the ones who say to never buy a dry van. For the most part that is true. Especially for someone not knowing zilch about dry van. Yep it's competitive but believe it or not there are some segments in it that pay as much if not better than flat bed and reefer consistently. Haul many 1 and 2 pallets "loads" that will never go inside a reefer or on a flat. Although there are some flat loads that are mighty tempting from time to time.