long haul 0/0 load boards

[sptrucker]

hi guys, i want to know if there are any o/o working strictly off load boards, and if so what are the pro`s and con`s. and also if it is worth it,and what are the best load boards .thanks in advance for any information. p.s the smart asses can keep there smart ass remarks to themselves.

[rank]

>i want to know if there are any o/o
I am a carrier. does that count?

>...working strictly off load boards
My backhauls are ~99% brokered. I met all of those brokers through a load board but most of the brokers I deal with call me before they post the load.

>...what are the pro`s
you're not beholdin' to a shipper....i.e. you are free to go where you want without reserving your equipment on the chance that your shipper may call and expect you to be there in 1 hour.

>...and con`s.
you are competing with the entire country, so rates tend to suck.
you're often dealing with strangers with unknown payment tendencies.
costs ~80/month (Truckers Edge)
tons of long distance phone calls to scare up freight
got to fill out carrier agreements all the time
it's a full time job to watch the boards if you want to find better paying freight, so you take cheap freight
different PU and del addresses all the time.
need access to fax and internet

>...if it is worth it
no. owning a trucking company is not worth the time, capital and risk if you ask me. not for the $30,000 pre income tax dollars you might net every year.

>...what are the best load boards
Truckers Edge

[Bigmon]

With cell phones there aren't long distance calls anymore. I've met Dr.s, lawyers, airline pilots, etc. that say their profession isn't worth it either. It depends on what you make of it.

[gcal]

With cell phones there aren't long distance calls anymore. I've met Dr.s, lawyers, airline pilots, etc. that say their profession isn't worth it either. It depends on what you make of it.

true...very true. but they don't sleep in a truck and pee in a bottle every day. so its not apples to apples.
truckers life is hard and an o/o's life is even harder if you aint an old dog with good watering holes.

case in point: ME LOL
I was the ****tiest o/o on record....probably. But I make great money and no stress working for a big corp.
different strokes for different folks.
it is, however, what you make of it for sure.

[rank]

With cell phones there aren't long distance calls anymore.

Long distance or not, you're still on the phone trying to scare up freight when you could be driving. BTW, what would your cell phone bill be if you burned 1,000 minutes a month?

I've met Dr.s, lawyers, airline pilots, etc. that say their profession isn't worth it either. It depends on what you make of it.

Have you met any that said they wanted be a truck driver?

[Bigmon]

Long distance or not, you're still on the phone trying to scare up freight when you could be driving. BTW, what would your cell phone bill be if you burned 1,000 minutes a month?

Same as it is now. I can go to 3000 minutes.


Have you met any that said they wanted be a truck driver?

Steve Booth has. I met several that did other things like work at car dealerships, hotels and some became activist.


Bottom line is it ain't for everyone.

[Paul McGraw]

>i want to know if there are any o/o
I am a carrier. does that count?

>...working strictly off load boards
My backhauls are ~99% brokered. I met all of those brokers through a load board but most of the brokers I deal with call me before they post the load.

>...what are the pro`s
you're not beholdin' to a shipper....i.e. you are free to go where you want without reserving your equipment on the chance that your shipper may call and expect you to be there in 1 hour.

>...and con`s.
you are competing with the entire country, so rates tend to suck.
you're often dealing with strangers with unknown payment tendencies.
costs ~80/month (Truckers Edge)
tons of long distance phone calls to scare up freight
got to fill out carrier agreements all the time
it's a full time job to watch the boards if you want to find better paying freight, so you take cheap freight
different PU and del addresses all the time.
need access to fax and internet

>...if it is worth it
no. owning a trucking company is not worth the time, capital and risk if you ask me. not for the $30,000 pre income tax dollars you might net every year.

>...what are the best load boards
Truckers Edge

Very well said. There is a lot of wisdom and experience reflected in this post!

I like Internet Truck Stop but have never used Truckers Edge. What do you like about Truckers Edge?

[RostyC]

I was wondering that as well. Looks like you can get the whole kit and kaboodle for 50.00 a month. What's the extra thirty bucks for? I don't use load boards but in the future I might and would only like to pay for one board.

[Orangetxguy]

Very well said. There is a lot of wisdom and experience reflected in this post!

I like Internet Truck Stop but have never used Truckers Edge. What do you like about Truckers Edge?

Paul...You old georgian hound dog...where have you been hiding? What are you doing these dayz??

[Orangetxguy]

hi guys, i want to know if there are any o/o working strictly off load boards, and if so what are the pro`s and con`s. and also if it is worth it,and what are the best load boards .thanks in advance for any information. p.s the smart asses can keep there smart ass remarks to themselves.

If you are going to run under your own authority, my suggestion...as always...is to have a decent "Shipper/Broker" mix. It takes some work, but it is do-able to have a 60 / 40 mix that is profitable.

Having a "Shipper" close to home, that will pay you decent on the outbound, and is willing to keep you informed of upcoming shipments is important. That way, as a single truck operation, you can run a delivery schedule that routes you home as needed, for R&R, repairs...and the next load.

It is easier to do with 5 or more trucks for sure, but one owner, with a good head on his or her shoulders, can make good.

Trucker's Edge is the better loadboard for small operations, the Internet Truckstop. Getloaded is good for the message board but is the "Pitts of Hell" for revenue.



my opinion

[Paul McGraw]

Paul...You old georgian hound dog...where have you been hiding? What are you doing these dayz??

Haven't been doing anything special, just trying to make a living. Been doing dry van since the economy (and terminal mangers adding too many trucks) killed liquid chemical tanker. At least making a little money and staying somewhat busy.

Why do you say Truckers Edge is better than Internet Truckstop?

[Orangetxguy]

Haven't been doing anything special, just trying to make a living. Been doing dry van since the economy (and terminal mangers adding too many trucks) killed liquid chemical tanker. At least making a little money and staying somewhat busy.

Why do you say Truckers Edge is better than Internet Truckstop?

When I was having to search for loads, for our flatbed and stepdecks, I always found better rates at Truckers Edge. ITS usually had the same load posted numerous times by numerous brokers...which just tended to pizz me off!


Glad you are still making due. About all any of us can do. And you are right about the tank business.

[GMAN]

You can earn money working the loadboards. It is not always as good as having your own shippers, but nearly all carriers use loadboards and brokers. I don't think that you can name a single major carrier that doesn't use brokers and loadboards. This industry has been changing in recent years. Third party logistics companies and brokers are taking a bigger slice of the freight business. There are still direct shippers, and I would not discourage anyone from finding their own shippers. The problem comes in with service. It is difficult for a single truck operation to provide the level of service that most major shippers require. If you can find smaller shippers you might be better off. I know of some who run their own authority and use loadboards exclusively. They are not getting rich, but are making a living. I think that Truckeredge and Internettruckstop are two of the better loadboards. There are some loads that I have found on Truckersedge that I have not seen elsewhere. Rates can vary widely with brokers and loadboards. No matter where you find loads it is important to be a good negotiator.

[sptrucker]

i would like to thank again the guys who took the time and effort to answer my question professionally.its nice to get clear and professional answers from professionals. thanks again and be safe.

[rank]

Looks like you can get the whole kit and kaboodle for 50.00 a month. What's the extra thirty bucks for?

Hmmm, I see what you mean. Guess I'll have to call them tomorrow and ask them. Prolly some introductory rate scheme.

[RostyC]

Hmmm, I see what you mean. Guess I'll have to call them tomorrow and ask them. Prolly some introductory rate scheme.

Perhaps you could reintroduce yourself and save 30 bucks a month?

[Orangetxguy]

Perhaps you could reintroduce yourself and save 30 bucks a month?

Isn't that $30 a month for credit checks??

[rank]

Isn't that $30 a month for credit checks??

I don't get credit checks for my $80/month. I forgot to call them. That's what I get for not writing it on my to do list.

[Bigmon]

Don't forget Trulos. It's free.

[RostyC]

I don't get credit checks for my $80/month. I forgot to call them. That's what I get for not writing it on my to do list.

Memory is the first to go rank.