Some help/pointers needed

So are you running OTR now, or just midwest? Have you tried the typical spot market load boards such as Internet Truckstop, and Truckers Edge (DAT / OOIDA)?

We also use Landstarbroker.com, and a multitude of brokers own load boards. Van / Reefer freight isn't really slow right now, but the rates suck for spot freight, making things slow if you refuse to haul cheap. When we use the load boards lately, I plan on the trucks sitting for 2-3 days in certain lanes in order to find the decent rates... not great rates by any means, but $2.00 or better.

 

Landstarbroker is OK but they have been lacking freight for most of this quarter it seems. Truckers Edge is the OOIDA board and is powered by DAT, so it's the same loads as DAT360. Maybe start looking for OTR drivers, or hire a sales person to get you some direct accounts? Are your drivers motivated and know the industry? Maybe you could try letting a couple of them book their own loads provided it meets your minimums, and other parameters. Offer them an incentive (like employment haha, j/k) like a small bonus for loads that exceed your expectations. Who knows, maybe you have some good negotiators behind the wheel... It's a radical idea, but not unheard of, and can be quite successful sometimes. It sounds like you'll have to get trip permits if you go OTR, or did you pay for more states on IRP and just don't use them?

 

Locate a sales rep. to come in and do the leg work needed to get you a direct contract or two. A good experienced rep will know the industry and the market(s) you service, then he'll do several market studies, and based on his findings, will formulate a sales model for you. Then he researches the manufacturers / shippers in your service area to find out who you can service with your current capacity, and goes knocking on doors. Hopefully when he's done, you've got new accounts waiting for you to sign the contract and start running for them. One place you can get some help with this is OOIDA. They'll be able to tell you where to start, and what to look for specifically, in a sales rep.. A lot of them can talk a good game, but it's the ones with a proven track record that would interest me. If they can provide references, and a portfolio with proof of the accounts they've secured for comparable sized trucking companies, they'll be the candidates. Naturally you'll pay more for them, but most times it's worth it.

 

april really tanked for the industry. Talking like 17-20% reduction in spot market available loads and a 5-7% drop in rates so far for 2nd quarter.

 

As a member you can call their business services department and ask them for some guidance. 1-800-444-5791. Also check out the OOIDA business development video called "Making your business plan work for you". About half way through the video they describe how to get away from brokers / load boards, and develop direct accounts. I'll PM you more info on this.

You're going to be looking to hire either a permanent or temporary sale rep. Both are available, with the temporary agencies being less expensive usually, but quality may vary. You get what you pay for, as usual.

Here are a couple examples of job descriptions for the type of person we're talking about:

https://apps.sd.gov/applications/LD...er_JO_Details.aspx?job_order_id=1600582&src=0

http://bullseyestaffingllc.catsone....=1&utm_source=simplyhired&utm_medium=jobclick