Real life example of Load Boards and rates.

For someone considering getting his own authority, this is some excellent stuff. Keep up the good work people.

 

It's excellent right now, but don't think it's always like that. Last two years brokers would just laugh at you for asking these prices

 

You look at a load board. Select a load. Call broker. Discuss.
What other method is there - telepathy?

 

That is what I have been saying.

 

Go

Got to admit an interesting approach. Might be worth an experiment with. However judging from a few years experience with brokers I don't think it will bear fruit for me. I have come across people who seem to have super powers with brokers, I really have, but usually there is a connection of some sort.
Worth thinking about though.

 

I wish that was me.
I can generally get at least $100 more and occasionally I do very well. An example. A Coyote load. Portland OR to Albuquerque NM. Offered $1600 and it was a piece of cake to get $2400.
This has not been a regular thing with me though. HOWEVER of late I have been leased to some people in MS and they have been finding loads for me. Wasn't happy with what they were doing so looked on my own. These times I was usually desperate because of their inabilty to find me a load. For example I sat in SLC Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday was starting to look the same. I quickly found a load using Truckerpath, upped it by $100 and rescued myself. In OH it got easier.
I know I need improvement in this area but all I have to go on is my experience in the past.
Several new ideas though. For starters no more Oregon.

 

Post your truck and they call you when they need a truck. Supply and demand: if you're calling them you need a load; if they are calling you they need a truck. The one in need gets their wallet roto rootered.

 

I thought I would just clarify my situation a little. It effects things I think.
I will not deliver in the middle of the night, I won't drive overnight, I will not drive illegally and I have a dry van, I will do hazmat (although I haven't seen anything that pays any better than dog food). These things narrow my choices.
This is just me and there are really good reasons why I do things this way.
My personal knowledge of dealing with brokers is limited. I have done some and am not a novice but it hasn't been good.
Before (some time ago) I worked from what they offered. Lately I have not done that. I work out the miles including deadhead before I call. I then multiply by what I want per mile. This varies. I also write down my range - high to low.
Then I call.
It usually doesn't take long with a sort of take it or leave it attitude. Usually from them occasionally from me.
I am always polite and try to overlook a lot of the ####iness that you run into especially with the snowflake headset crowd.
I definitely think I can do better. Not claiming expert status but I have made more than a couple of calls and there is definitely a trend. I am not making this up.

 

Good advice. I have done that. Will continue to do that. So far it hasn't been very successful. Not saying it won't in the future. A good loadboard might be helpful with this approach. I'm thinking Truckstop @ $149 a month.

 

I won't say your approach don't work, because what you do isn't what I do. However, I'm making money. If I wanted to do better, and I ran a van and primarily utilized brokers for my work, I would ask questions and listen to the people that have the same equipment and book work thru brokers for keys to success.
I have a van, and rarely ever use it bc I'm already booked with good paying work by the time I get a call for it.

I know @rollin coal is in a good position to explain how to make spot market work, and I've seen enough of his rate cons to know he isn't making any of what he says up.


If you don't feel satisfied with the money you are making doing what you are doing: find a different way to do it that gives you better results. You don't have to reinvent the wheel.