How do I find which lanes are hot at the moment?

They have what they call rate mate, I don't know where they get their information from. But to me, I'd say it is not accurate at all, and I never really look at it.

 

For a one truck guy self dispatching DAT Power is the premium service they offer. They actually do offer higher levels for more money but those are geared more to large carriers and/or brokers doing other things. Their customer service is second to none. You may not see any value in it I don't know. It would take forever typing out issues here and there things I saw using one versus another. I had membersedge for a long time and found it to be virtually useless so I was a skeptic upgrading to Power. Just try and see what works. Cull what you don't like.

 

I will say what I like about ITS over DAT is the fact if you click on a load on ITS the broker can see that and will sometimes call you just because you clicked on the load. Or if you do a load search the brokers can see you as a "hot prospect" based off that search and what loads they have, again causing them to call you.. ..and you are not even posted. You want to generate incoming calls that's where you get the best rates from.

DAT doesn't do that and it's one of two faults I see with DAT. The other is when you are posted on DAT it shows where you are based out of. Luckily my company is based in another state altogether so I had them change it to that to try and help keep everyone from always low balling me on loads to TN.

On DAT Power you can do a truck search and see exactly who is posted around you. I don't think you can do that on ITS Pro (Pro is $150 a month) you must have a broker ITS account to see that info.

 

What is the cost of each? Looks like ITS Pro is $150/month, how much is DAT Power? Sorry may have missed that....

 

$149 a month for DAT Power. I think they have some kind of promotion you can try it a month for free.

 

You got three options:

• Use an old skool glass thermometer. REALITY CHECK: ( I doubt it the broker will let you use it on his ##* hole)
• Modern Infrared Laser thermometer. REALITY CHECK: (Tools like DAT POWER but it cost $$$ and it can give you a fever and other side effect like living in a dillusional world)
• Common sense REALITY CHECK: (It's free but some people just don't have it.... For some people they miraculously got it when their equipment broke down.)

 

Not sure what my package is called, but it costs $125 per month.

 

http://www.dat.com/resources/trendlines/van/national-rates


National Van Rates
Van Rates Dip 2¢
Sep 11 - 17 - National average van rates dipped 2¢ to $1.64 per mile in the first full week after the Labor Day holiday. Outbound rates rose in Los Angeles and Buffalo, but fell in Atlanta.

National Average Fuel Price: $2.39/gallon, ▼1¢

 

The one issue with the rate data is that as long as the major load boards allow brokers to post loads with no rate listed then the average divider will drive the rate lower because there are either not enough input dollar amounts or two many numbers of loads to make the division and come up with an accurate average rate.
I think this is one of the main reasons rates are being driven lower while there is still seems to be a shortage of trucks.
Disclaimer: I can only speak for flat bed rates, not enough experience in van rates