Rates on Loadboards

Honestly I think all of the lane pricing tools are trash. They are routinely wrong by 10%+ in a business where my margins are frequently lower than that.

 

2300 miles pays $950?!

 

I use DAT power and they offer a 15 day spot market rate instead of the 90. Quick rate search tools and hot market maps and a plethora of things that I use to hone in on my desired rate for my drivers. Most drivers will insist that all these tools are useless but I can assure you they are not. I've used ITS pro and it it's packed full of great tools but I dislike the fact that a broker knows when you click on the load and that it opens up a new screen every time you view a load. They are both great but I caught myself using DAT a lot more. Just my little 2 cents.

 

Speaking as a broker, I like the ability yo view clickers. I don't necessarily call clickers very often, but it is a helpful gauge of potential interest.

 

That's the one feature of ITS that I really like. Where the broker can see that you clicked on their load and calls you. You always want to be generating more incoming calls. Anything that does that is awesome. That's how you listen to what people are saying and discover who really needs to move one. There's no smooth talking like some people think. And sure, there'll be plenty of cheap offers but that's no different than posting your truck and just part of the job separating wheat from chaff. I wish DAT would incorporate this feature. Maybe with an on/of switch for people who dislike it.

 

I would use it for that purpose, click on loads that I was interested and let the brokers call me, but when seeking more info on a load that does not have a rate or little info and those guys start calling it can get annoying, especially the rates they throw at you. To me it's the same difference from clicking and posting your truck. Both good I'm not gonna lie.

 

What do you think about truckers edge, on DAT Loadboard?

 

I have a friend that has truckers edge and calls me on a regular basis to get him out of jams. It's almost like he has limited loads to work with as to me that has DAT power. He calls me and compare loads and I see loads he does not. DAT power has a bunch of tools that I use to my advantage when looking for loads. I believe trucker's edge has a 90 day spot rate average as to where power as 15 day. It works my friend. Hot market maps, quick rate search as to what brokers are offering and shipper to Carrier amounts. But If that fits your budget get it. But to make educated deciadeci those are a must.

 

I'mwas thinking of trying it out, just to get an idea of the lanes and rates in my area, I'm in the process of putting together a small company, thinking about leasing my equipment onto a carrier that allows me to book my own freight

 

I know my 2 biggest hurdles will be hiring a driver and keeping them and finding decent loads to dispatch.