Question: Do You Sign Up for Broker's Email/Load Alerts?

Adam, there is one agency I do a lot of work for that everything is done via text. Loads are offered up to me and rates are hammered out in a matter of minutes all via text message. I wish more of the people we work with would do things this way. It is more efficient and simpler in my, and I'm sure their opinion too. I wouldn;t think you'd have to spend any money on special software. They actually get texts from the customer what needs covering then relay to me what's available via text. Really speeds up the process although this is obviously a situation that will only work well with your "go-to" carriers that you are already set up with and know. Regardless what you end up doing I do wholeheartedly agree text message alerts will get looked at quicker and responded to moreso than typical ways.

 

I use text alerts, way easier than checking the E-mail going down the road on a deadhead. Just glance it, put the phone away.
Shhhh..... Then again, of my 6 brokers turned out to go to school with me, an OLD friend. We do most of that stuff over the phone. Only 1 of them slacks off, the other 5 actually work as a team with getting me a good load.

Back to topic, text alerts to me are easier. I mean, it's right there! Just glance at it and continue driving.

 

I like the load alerts that I get from Landstar that say something like, Baltimore MD to Atlanta GA 650 miles paying $14000.00 $22.00 a mile
I bet the phone rings off the hook on those.

 

Couldn't you use twitter. Those that were interested in your loads could just follow you.

 

The other day there was a load going 120 miles with a 35' long part that weighed about 250lbs. I guess it was an airplane part or something. As the LS e-mails came in it started at about $300, then kept going up, 400, 500, 800. This was all within 40 minutes. The phone had to be ringing off the hook by that point. I like the e-mail alerts and wouldn't mind text alerts either but the problem is 100 people call at once if it's decent.

 

Nothing quite like having to take a bottomfeeder load.

 

What's bottom feeder about $800 on 120 miles? That's an easy day's work right there and was the phone really ringing off the hook if it kept creeping up so quickly? That was something their usual truck(s) couldn't cover. If I had seen that anywhere near my house I'd have been all on it if I could have been under 300 miles all in right back to the house. In fact I would have haggled for a $1,000 and likely passed up on it if they wouldn't.

 

Have I been drinking... 800 on 120 miles? WHAT? Where do you get loads like that?

 

I have a broker that emails me and a few others with his loads everyday...I also get load alerts on the phone from Landstar.