Question to O/Os: What other companies, like Landstar, allow driver choose own loads?

Schneider choice, mercer, and farm 2 fleet are the big ones. Some smaller fleets may let you use their mc# but dispatch yourself using load boards.

 

I am slowly getting back into the trucking business. I have been looking at some load boards including Landstars. They probably have a sample one I guess since I cant imagine them wanting to display them to the public. I googled Landstar load board and it popped up so have a couple questions. I am not the best at computers and was overwhelmed at the amount of loads I found just playing around. Question is how to you know what the trip pays? Do they have different boards for Team loads vs Solo?

 

The public board you see is landstar broker which doesn't post rates. That board is basically the leftovers that the landstar guys didn't take. The actual landstar board has more loads and rates posted

 

Hey thanks marine man! I figured that was not the real deal! Since you brought that up I am interested to know what happens with those loads? Are they sitting most likely for price or crappy destinations? I saw several going into Canada and lots into California. Two areas some try and deviate away from. Anybody know if the Canada runs traditionally pay better and if so does the boarder crossing slow you down enough to make them not worth it?

 

those are the big ones?? how about two big ones and a small one, 10,000 , 2500 and 50 to 100 isnt exactly the same

 

I don't know everything as I'm not leased on to landstar yet but that's where I'm headed in the next couple of months so I know a bit just from reading all the threads here. There's a lot of reasons a load will sit whether it's destination, money, weight etc. From what I've read Canada can be hit or miss depending on where you're going, it's pretty much the same as it is in the US, if you're going somewhere with decent outbound freight you won't make too much on the way in, if you're going somewhere with crap outbound you may get a bit more on the way in. I've only seen a couple rates posted here for Canada but I can say from those rates I have no plans of crossing the border when I get going but that could change once I get on and actually get the full picture of the load board.

 

I'd recommend signing up for their Webex demo of the load board, it's a conference call at an appointed time - they show you the live board, you get to ask to research some lanes - explanations are given, and the rates are posted. Do it 2 or 3 times, and screenshot the board for additional research.

This was my biggest question - you can talk figures with drivers all day long, "I grossed xxx", "I ran xxx and netted xxx", " I paid off my 18 flat chested daughters breast enlargement surgeries" . . . etc . . . etc . . . - but until you apply your specific equipment/lanes/situation to real time rates, you don't have a clear idea.

The Webex demo helped me, and a few members slipped me some load emails as examples to help.

I've seen some team loads into Canada that would have taken 6 days to do, followed by 24 on the couch eating bon-bons.

 

big wasn't referring to size of company more so the amount of discussion about the company and how well their known

 

Long Haul in Albertville MN has non forced dispatch. Not so much of a load board but they will ask where you want to go and tell you what's available and rates.