Just wondering what everyone's experiences are with load boards and brokers for flatbed freight. Looking at starting to book my own freight since the carrier i am leased on with is claiming their bread and butter has instituted some new rules that are questionable. can't book a load the same day? Can only book them for the next day? Seriously? I myself have not had a bad experience with TQL other than they taking more than they are supposed to. experience with CH was actually good, with dry van; consistently at or very close to $3 loaded mile
If you're fine with making slim to no profit just to keep running than the load boards will be good for you. I'm talking Truckstop.com and DAT. For flatbed, CH has their own load board, Coyote as well as many others.
If you're a new carrier there's some places that won't work you for 6 months or a year maybe. Make sure they have a good credit rating, know when their payment is due, and I always like to know what their detention policy is and rate. Be careful what's written on the rate con. Make sure you always read it. You'd be surprised the things they'll slip in there. And if you sign it, you agreed to it. So when they tell you, Oh don't worry about that, that doesn't mean anything that's on all of them, then you give them a very simple reply. I get what you're saying it doesn't mean anything at all. So I'm sure you'll be happy to take it right off of there since it has no meaning. And then they probably will hang up on you. Once you work with enough Brokers you'll know who's who.
