Hello ,
I have a tractor that is paid off and am considering buying a dry van trailer and getting my own authority. I would like to subscribe first to a online load board so I can get a general idea of where freight is moving from and the rates. I have signed up for some free trials on sites such as Getloaded and the rates they had posted were real low, around 1$ a mile. I was wondering if any of the sites offer more information along with acual rates once you subscribe. Any help would be great.
Thanks

 

Most brokers dont post their rates on the loadboards (probably ashamed). Rates will depend on what lanes you are trying to run in. Midwest to east coast pays well, east coast back to midwest or southern states dont pay much. Rates will also depend on the type of wagon you pull. If your free subscription has a phone number, you need to call and negotiate a rate, rates are not posted for majority of loads even with paid subscriptions, you have to call the broker and see what they are offering, thenyou counter-offer.

 

Building a relationship with good brokers is very important and I would also try to find my own shippers instead of calling a broker whenever you can. Here is a link to a youtube video on how to use SIC codes then cross reference the SIC codes by state on webstersonline.

YouTube - Finding Shippers with SIC Code Search

Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) System Search - determine sic code for type of freight here

Websters Online. Search by SIC Codes, NAICS Codes, Products - click on sic code tab and search codes by state

Take the time to dress the part and sell your services. Go visit the locations, call the shipping manager and call him again and again......You will get rejected and some people hate that. Personally it inspires me but that's another story. Bring them Pizza once a month,it's a cheap way to get your foot in the door to close the sale. Don't give up - sooner or later you will get a load.

So, think of what lanes, and how many miles you want to travel one way - some call it the dumbell concept because that is the shape of your travel lanes. An area of 50 or 100 square miles on each end of the lane is where you might want to search depending on what freight your looking for, then call and pound the pavement to find freight. I learned this in a few hours one evening by searching freight broker training on googles website. No doubt I am a newbie and forgot a few things. So hopefully others will post and continue to help drivers searching for loads and increase their profit margins.

 

Rates are pretty low and most brokers won't publish their rates. Some do. Many of the better paying loads will never see a loadboard. The best way to find out what loads are paying is to get on the telephone and start making phone calls.

 

I hope you have a hefty bank account.

 

LOL!!! I second that! No one is paying good right now! I dont care if you use a shipper or a broker! A lot of places I haul from have either laid off workers, cut their hours , rates and production!

I know some brokers are scum of the earth but some shippers have cut their rates also!

I think this winter is going to be tougher than last years!

 

Many come on here to ask the same questions we have all seen too many times.At least BLKFLD, you are doing the right thing by getting a subscription and checking out the rates.I did the same thing.Will you dispatch yourself ?If so, then go lease on to a company.It took me 6 months to recover from the insurance,fuel and IRP payments right after I started.

 

Good advice. Better advice, sell the truck and buy gold.

 

I would like to Run NYC/Long Island to Memphis. I have no problem going into Nyc which I feel might give me an advantage as some people dont want to go there. I do have a local company that I can get outbound loads to memphis from. Now I just wanted to see what was out there for return loads and pay. I plan to get a dry van trailer. Thanks for all the replys,:thumbsup:

 

You should not have any problem finding loads going to NYC. If you have something lined up coming back out then you are a step ahead of most other people. Rates coming out are generally pretty low. I would make sure that I could get a decent rate going into the city. You may find something that is dedicated that will work for you. Keep in mind that your cost of going into NYC is very high so your rates should reflect those additional costs.