With new tech coming out... What tools are you using for the Spot Market?

Hi guys, long time no seen...
Since new services are coming out a lot more these days to find Loads and Manage your operation, I was wondering what tools you're using to Search and Find Loads on the Spot Market?
Are you sticking with the DAT or ITS Load Boards? Or are you shifting to the new apps from the more Digital Brokers (Convoy, Uber, Transfix, etc.)?
Also, I think there's a lot of room for improvement in the classic Load Boards, there's a lot of noise, and the information is not always accurate, although I understand that is more the Job of the Broker to input the correct information and not the service we are using... What are your thoughts on that? Do you think Load Boards should improve in the way they present the information?

 

I mostly use the load boards to Gauge a area in terms of volume and price . Most the loads I book are from Broker Boards or Apps and Typically hit there before the Loadboards . The load boards allow these brokers to list different cities or inaccurate info because they know its a tactic they use to get your attention . They pay alot more than we do , Im assuming .

 

Yes, I think it's a good way to understand what the market is paying and what volumes are available.... So you think that Load Boards won't change because their goal isn't to deliver accurate information to Carriers and O/O?

 

There goal is to make a profit and my $99.95 Dat membership isnt gonna break them but if TQL pulls loads from the Load board Im sure someone is getting fired . I have a list of questions I ask on loads and If it doesn't fit what Im looking for I simply move on .

 

There are not too many problems with the way load boards are presenting information. The problem is the very lack of information presented there - still have to call and ask about basic staff: commodity, shipper, reciever, appointment times...etc. The platforms are there already and I don't see any need for anything fancier or more shiny. Even some of the brokers proprietary load boards are looking neat. Uber is the only one the includes all the critical info based on which alone, you could decide to book a load without calling.
With DAT all the fancy analytical tools that they use in their sale pitch: hot zone maps, rate makers, loads coming in - coming out, tri - haul - even though informative but not significant enough to make a tremendous difference in how someone books a load.
The 15 day average which also cannot be deemed as absolute and final, DAT broker directory, Triumph factoring approval check mark (also for those who don't factor) and brokers rating are very useful though.

The perfect load board for me would be similar to the one of DAT Power: multiple searches, live updates, and all the other load info that UBER presents in their app. In addition, ability to bid on loads and a smart search for reloads.
But this, of course, has nothing to do with a software platform but a convention of how the information is presented by brokers. Understandably, some of them would not want to play along; for instance, showing their customers.


The perfect loadboard model could include the following things that can be found in:

DAT POWER: mulitple search, broker directory, 15 day average, broker's rating, live updates also nice interface - graphically pleasing.
UBER: shipper and receiver info, appointment times - nice phone interface(the best phone load board app)
Convoy/JB Hunt: ability to bid on loads

 

Got to ask how do these new tools find loads?

Do they scrape them from other load boards or do they have agreement with the 100 or so sources of information that is out there?

I am very concern that there is no real effort behind the work, just a bunch of programmers who seem to think this is a cash cow that they can grab by the teat and produce big bucks.

 

I agree with you 100%... But as you mention, the real problem is how to make Brokers enter all the requested information... I guess UBER forces their Clients to fill out every field to have the complete info on almost every load.

 

I guess if the new tools don't have agreements with Brokers or Shippers, then is going to be hard to have all the information necessary to provide real value to the O/O and Carriers using their apps... Unless they start anticipating part of the information...

 

Well about 65% of the freight that is hauled by trucks do not appear on load boards like dat or are handled by brokers. A lot are handled through contracts with shippers, even shippers back office systems won't facilitate the use of centralizing data.

 

Screw the brokers.
I'm going to be the next Elon Musk.
Going to use omni tracks to track everyone.
As soon as driver hits the unloading option on the qualcom,closest highest paying load is sent to driver for consideration.
No more searching for loads..the loads find you.