Load Boards

Those are the same guys that are always broke too. My analogy to help get it through to the thick headed's brain is that I'd rather deadhead from Seattle to Miami to haul a $6,000 local run than haul a $6,000 load from Seattle to Miami. For some reason that seems to get through.

 

Found a few loads recently from a shipper. Not a broker. The pay per mile was pretty solid for a short haul too. We combined the two loads from two shippers and made $3/mile on the haul. Site is called ComFreight I think they are new. It was $15 to sign up. That's what we been using since I came across the website.

 

As we all know most new drivers with their own truck are really quick to lease on with some one and figure they are going to make a small fortune. Checking the load boards for loads is not against the game rules BUT,,,,, THE COMPANY HE LEASES ON WITH USUALLY TAKES 20% OF WHAT THE LOAD PAYS, normally not a good move for the lease operator. Ends up with lust as much or even less than the lease rate.

Being simple a good observation but really doable. By setting up properly one can work only the load boards and make a good living. I've been doing it for 8 years now and I average $2.35 per running mile, better than $1.40 a mile being leased on with some one else.

Check it out and see what I mean......... davelp

 

When the company takes that percentage from loadboard freight it just makes you have to push more aggressively on rates. I'm averaging all in what you are with 11% taken off the top and a bunch of my miles are empty. Guys like you probably get a lot of loads that I'm just too much rateswise for customers to swallow. Sometimes I run for the same rates as independants doing the same moves and they make a little more because they keep 100% of what they negotiated. I've always been ok with that though. It is what it is. It's the trucks who have no clue and will work the same freight for 75% or worse than what you or I would quote on any given load that kill me. But they're welcome to it.

 

I know this is asking a lot but would anyone here who is a subscriber to ITS be willing to check out some rates in an area for me? Thinking strongly about knocking the dust off of the old Pete and hitting the road with it again... Feel free to PM me.

 

I want to check freight rates & tried to sign-up in ITS but couldn't because I don't have a MC number. Any suggestions on loadboards that don't require a MC number, and that has freight rates posted?

 

You're not going to see many rates posted on there. Maybe 1% will have a rate, the rest say call. That's how it was the whole time I subscribed anyway and I doubt anything has changed in four years.

 

I found this free load board that at least has the phone numbers on the loads. You might try calling one to see if anyone will discuss it with you.

http://www.quicktransportsolutions.com/quickfreight/loadboard/truckloads/california.php#.Um_ELPmsj0u

 

It hasn't. jdrentzjr: better to introduce yourself to someone here that has an operation similar to what you're planning. They can give you more information about rates than you'd ever find on a load board. For what it's worth, the very few loads with actual rates posted usually have something wrong with them. Which is why they are on the load board in the first place. If the broker has any regular carriers, they aren't interested. Most commonly elevendy stops or many more days to the final delivery than it takes to drive.

 

As a new O/O I am debating in what my options are. First of all, I was a owner operator many years Back but after I got married I decided to jus work local for a very small company. Times have changed and I am in need to pursue a bigger pay check. Well, I bought a 2007 Columbia with auto shift and have the following offer AND I REAAAAALY NEED YOUR POINT OF VIEW. A friend of mine have his own authority and uses internet truckstop to get his loads. He is offering the following: I pay for my plates and also the cargo/liability insurance ($165 week). He is gonna take 10% out of the gross! keeping 5% to himself and paying the other 5% for factoring. He is offering to get my loads but I am pushing to find that on my own, when possible. Being Dallas my home base, what would be the best possible scenario and lanes to run ? ( West coast and NY city is out of equation). Second, and this is very important for me to understand: when I see a load on ITR when call the broker, whatever they offer already includes FS or I have to ask for it? What is the best approach to negotiate the rate if is not what I am looking for? Third: if this friend, gets the load for me, how can I make sure that what he say that they are paying for the load is really what they offered? I have no reason not to trust him, but at this time in age, I would be #### to trust others!
and finally, considering all, would I be better off with a small company or with someone like LS that pays me 65% gross pulling their Dry Van? I am really in need to figure this out with the help of others as I already have the truck in hands and need to hit the road ASAP. Thank you all very much for info and feedback.