Load Boards

Tuck,

Mike here. I just leased on to Schneider. I parked my authority 2 months ago. I went over to Jones Motor with my conestoga flat bed and found that after a week of some nice coin...

Now I am over at Schneider, I would have laughed at the idea not very long ago. BUT, they have FREIGHT! And it actually is paying pretty darn good.

They have a new program for independent contractors, their "Choice" program. You use your own laptop to find loads on their board. It is kind of like Landstar, but no agents or brokers. This is all in house freight, and it looks pretty darn good from where I am sitting right now.

I just got out of their orientation in Indy this past Thursday. My first load, my pick, Indy to KC MO, $2.20 a mile. I had a westerly bound dead head of 47 miles to get it, but paid $1088 to the truck, 12,000 lbs.

The load I am on now pays $1990 to the truck from KC MO to Jax FL. The load weighs in at 20,000 lbs, 14 mile dh. Then I grab a load out of JAX for $1.79 a mile, 0 dh, to Albany, by Tifton GA. From there I am looking at freight up to the Carolinas # $2 (avg) a mile, and back towards FL # $3+ a mile. All light loads, under 20.

I can't believe the rates! Not that I would normally get excited over $2 a mile, but under the current economic situation, I am #### happy!

Put it this way, here is a pic of my rig, and she is all paid for, PAID FOR with freight and selling off my little fleet, not my house. 2007 tractor and 2006 conestoga. Yep, right now $2 a mile sounds real good. The big guys came in around a year ago and cut the rates to the bone in my neck of the woods. They screwed me over with my customers, slashing rates to $1.50 short haul and less. And now the brokers and shippers are in on the deal. Thank God those cut rate haulers are in the process of now pushing up daisies, and a few of my old customers are now out of business. But, thank God for outfits like Schneider who at least have a clue, and are actually doing it right. God, I never thought I would hear myself say that line!

But, don't get me wrong, Schneider does have some very cheap freight, but ain't no one going to make you haul it. You call your own shots over here. But you need to know where to go, and not to go.

Check em out.



Mike

 

Thanks to all that responded. I've already gotten enough info from this post to at least try some of these options. Times are tough right now but not so much that with a little help, we can't all get thru it. Keep the posts coming as I will continue to read all the responses.....
Now if anyone knows how to get my T600 (with a W9 wheelbase) to turn better ?????
Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for.

 

Get the STEERING stops adjusted helps the turn radius

 

Just contacted Prime and their Advance program for O/O's with their own authority pays 76% which is currently averaging $1.10/mile (+fsc) !!!! Add on the QC fees etc. and I can get that on my own. I guess JB Hunt's average of $1.60/ mile is smoke up my arse !!!!!

 

What is down side to leasing with a company like Lonestar?

 

Give Schneider a call. I looked at JB too, did not like what I heard. Schneider has the freight, and I have been averaging right around two a mile. No QC fees, my own plates and insurance on the truck with their bobtail. The only thing they are charging me for is the one time $1000 bond # $50 a week and bob tail ins. What the bond is for, who knows, probably for the QC. But that is it, nothing else. And you can walk away from the lease as long as you return the QC.

And with FSC our fuel is costing around $1.08 a gallon.

I would honestly give them a look.

Mike

 

Load boards, witch one do you guys recommend, are there some better then other please any comments is really helpful, thanks and always be safe, DL

 

none of them are any good

 

None right now. DAT 360 was one of the better ones, but was quite expensive. And truth be told, they are presently not showing much more than GetLoaded or Internet Truckstop.

And, most of the freight, what little there is, is not paying spit on these boards. I would say average rates are $1.20 or less.

But, to answer your question, I always liked Internet Truckstop. I believe that DAT has bought them out along with GetLoaded. I know for sure that DAT bought GetLoaded.

Check out Internet Truckstop. Easy to navigate and usually the most freight out of the lot. Just my opinion.

Mike

 

I recently signed up with real time freight. It's pretty cool, they have direct shippers that post there freight. they have broker freight too, but it is seperate. I moved a load for a shipper this week out of the detroit area and it looks like I may do more reoccuring work for them. worth the 30 bucks to me. if you are interested send me an email and I can send you the dudes info that walked me through it.