Looking for a broker to get flatbed loads

Coyote logistics and CH Robinson and fill out a packet for Landstar

 

First, know that it as least as important for a brokerage to move a load as it is for you to take it. Have your price in mind BEFORE calling about a load. Check miles, check the available frieght at the destination etc. A load from Ohio to Texas looks good until you try to find a load back. TQL is the worst.

 

Dear eboosted,
If you are in the midwest region or near Little Rock AR; I can give you a tip as the factory called me few weeks ago, but me not trucking anymore. These loads are for tractors (power units) only. From conversation they cannot get enough trucks to make such a short haul, which is from near Little Rock to Memphis, TN about 185 miles at most. They asked me what I would charge if I was contractor. I said, no less than $2.25 loaded and $1.30 bob tail on the fly, and/or if returned an MT trailer rate would be around $1.50. They verbal said, we'd be glad to pay that rate because we cannot find trucks. I just said, just how many trucks do you need and how many can you load in a 5 day work week. The response at least 22 loads repeatedly, which I thought was rather odd for this time of year.
Forget about thinking your new, everyone had to start somewhere. Don't listen to others complaining unless they are paying your bills...You want info be gladly to pass along, but not if you are planning on short selling the freight to another contractor - These people demand on time and dependable drivers/owners. Delaying a ship or barge cost thousands of dollars. Just starting out you do not want a bad name for being late on Bill of Lading. A Ship or Barge just cannot leave the harbor at will because of low tides, dam lock rules, HarborMasters etc. You miss the boat, doubtfully you'll be hauling again unless its a DH deal...Drop-N-Hook.

 

eboosted,
If you are running your own authority as mentioned with Red Rocket 1964 then you should know your freight rates. You had to post them when you applied for your federal motor carriers authority approval. There is no way you could have regulated authority without posting those rates based on types of commodities your licensed to haul such as Household or General. Those rates and your request for regulated authority is posted with other companies of similarity within a range of your home base, and they can contest your approval. You could have "CA" Contractor Authority, but you best not be hauling outside of your contract, very steep fines. Do not pay Getloads.com or any other social sites to find freight; be a business man and get your own freight via negotiating with shippers, not freight brokers. If your going use a freight broker than why have authority rights. Be careful how you are using your authority, if you lose the rights you'll have hard time get a renewal.
You can check out a business if it is licensed as an entity, corporation or LLC. Neither have credit reports, they have what is called an "R" Rating from 1 to 5 with 5 being the worse. Insurance companies will not insure passed a "3", so you should not contract passed a 3 without a personal guarantee from the owner that you'll be paid or you can lien the business if they are ever late, and not release the lien until your paid. When a business has a lien on record, ones cannot get long term financing. You can check ones credit via two ways. One ask for their DUNS Number or Cage Code then you contact Dun and Bradstreet (must be member) then you can check their file. Credit bureaus do not keep records on businesses like consumers. Better Business Bureau is a waste of time and money...BBB is not a requirment to be in business, it's a none government organization.

 

How long have you been driving? My advise would be to lease on to another company before you go out trying to deal with brokers. Starting your own business without any experience is a bad idea no matter what kind of business it is. However if you do not have some experience, most of these companies will not lease you on. If you do work with a broker, make sure you have a really good handle on what your cost of operating is. No one likes to work for free

 

Truckers edge DAT!!!!! Know your numbers!!!!!!! Do the math. The methodology is the SAME for all of us. Fuel should be 35% of your gross or less. A good starting bar to reach for.

 

Keep one thing in mind, start with a place that has the money to back you up and does not hang onto payments forever.