Private trucker dispatching

Do what you want, but I am here to tell you it's not that difficult finding your own loads.

Since I got my authority in November 2011, I've been a one man show. Anywhere I can cut out expenses from comparing fuel burned on out of route miles/time spent vs. paying a toll(s), negotiating the best rate I can with a broker, not factoring freight bills, doing as much maintenance I can myself, etc., I have done so and continue to analyze my operation to make it operate as lean as possible.

That 5% or $50 per load adds up in a hurry. Don't be afraid of getting a subscription to a load board or two and learning how to search for loads yourself.

There is a very fine line between being in the red and being in the black at the end of the week/month/quarter/year, and the more pennies you keep in your pocket the better.

Good luck and God Bless no matter which way you decide to go.

 

I can get between $500 and $1000 on loads going anywhere from 50 to 150 miles in the northeast, without even trying hard. Why on earth you would pay somebody anything over 5% to do this is beyond me....

It's a phone call and an email, takes all of a 1/2 hour, maybe an hour. Quickest $50 ever... (and I'd hold them to 5%, so that they work for it, instead of just grabbing the first thing they see)

But really, you should be doing this yourself. It's not that hard.

 

You've got the investment capital, (the truck, trailer, start up costs of the business)
, you've got the operating costs of the business, you are the one legally responsible/liable, and you're the one operating the equipment. You're the one with skin in the game....

Don't give your money away to someone whose only expenses are a laptop and a phone.

 

For those not using brokers, what is your preferred method of finding consistent loads?

 

Word of mouth and knocking on doors everyplace I drop I always ask if they have anything going out they need help with and they point to who I need to talk with or it starts a conversation.

 

Load boards.
OOIDA has a good one.
I'm thinking internet truckstop was another major one.
The subscription cost is min. compared to paying a dispatch service. Better information also.
Surely your an OOIDA member by now? OOIDA also have cheap classes on getting and running your own authority.

 

Great info thanks guys. When using load boards, is it common to be passed up if your authority is new or do shippers tend to not look at this as a deciding factor in hiring carriers?

 

I had it happen maybe once or twice in my first 6 months.

The reality is your professionalism on the phone (or, lack thereof) is what makes or breaks most deals and allows you to negotiate the rate.