Finding Freight

Pretty much the exact same way you signed up for this forum. C'ept a little more information is required on your part.

Hurst

 

I'm way to nervous to cold call shippers, I don't know why, I have no problem calling brokers but calling a shipper directly seems so intimidating.

 

Simple, take a right on the load board on - ramp. Seriously though, if you have to ask questions this elementary, there is no way you will make it on your own.

 

Crap ones are free good ones you have to pay for

 

I did not want to complicate my answer, leading to more questions.

Hurst

 

We use load boards to find our freight. We have several brokers we deal with on a regular basis. If you are a good salesman and have shippers in your area, go introduce yourself and offer to move their freight. There is a good article recently in Overdrive Magazine of O/O that have been successful with direct shipping. Try the load boards, but don't be afraid to look close to home for available direct ship freight.

 

Which do you think is the best?

 

You get what you pay for!

 

Well, he called one crap, and the others good.
So, crap is bad and good is good.

 

Forget shippers. Most won't deal with you anyways. What are you going to do if you get one? Sure I'll take your loads. I'll be back in a week or two for another one. Ya, that will work real good. On top of that your going to get about the same rate as you would from a broker. And, you'll be lucky to get paid in 30-90 days. Did you check their credit first? Do you even have access to credit reporting agencies?

Shippers usually deal with one or more brokers. Every Friday afternoon or Monday morning they send out a list of loads for the week to the brokers then their job is done.

I have one shipper here in NH. When I'm home I call to see if they have a load. If they do it's usually a long one like 2,000 miles. They have their own trucks and drivers but most don't like the long hauls. But that's it, see you again in two weeks maybe.

Unless you have a small fleet and can take all their loads in a timely fashion your not going to get a contract from anyone. Maybe a short run like 300 miles done every day and dead head back would work. Keep in mind, there will be plenty of people wearing a turban right behind you offering to do it for less.