Yep. Lots. Just doing a quick check from Q4 2009:

26 back hauls
10 different brokers
2 of those 10 were new to me
15 times they made the call

Those are just the loads we've moved. They've probably called 100 times but many times we are already covered or the rate isn't good enough to cover the DH.

 

Rank, do you figure this board is better for a Canadian based dropdeck o/o as compared to Internet Truck Stop?

 

Hey Tracer,

For Canadian loads or international loads, there is no comparison.

I using ITS ~3 years ago for ~$30/month, then GetLoaded for ~$35 IIRC, then Load Link, then DatConnect for ~$120/month or some big number like that. Then I switched to Truckers Edge for $80/month. Load Link, Truckers Edge and DatConnect are all Dat but they have different service levels. Load link is Canadian only. TruckersEdge that I have is international but I am not allowed to post loads. DatConnect is the same as TE but you can post loads.

At the time I felt the $125 was good value compared to what the the other guys were giving me for $30-$35. I feel the extra $50 I am currently paying pays me back over 5x that amount in one load.


*Caveat: The information posted above may be out dated. Do your homework.

 

Last year everything I booked off of load boards was only for my o/o who refused to run empty.. In most cases if my truck ran at the same place/time I'd run it empty because the rates were not worth my time to mess with them. I sold a ton of loads on getloaded.com and made a ton of cash doing it. You'd be amazed at how many big companies use load boards, its really interesting when you are on the selling end of it.

 

Most of the major carriers use load boards and brokers. They may tell their owner operators and drivers that they only haul their own freight, but most of them will use outside sources to keep their trucks moving, especially in this economy. That is one reason so many of the rates are lower than we need. Brokers and 3rd party logistics companies have been moving in on carriers direct freight. It is taking much of the profit out of a load. It is a race to the bottom and the carriers are the ones who suffer. When carriers suffer, so do their owner operators. I don't like to deadhead, but will before I take a load that I have to take money out of my pocket to run it. Many carriers, large and small, will take most anything to keep their trucks moving. They are afraid to move without something on the truck whether it is profitable to do so or not.

 

I can't say that I blame him for not wanting to haul without something on the truck, but sometimes it is more profitable to deadhead to a better area rather than haul for free. Did you get your broker authority?

 

That's good to know! I think our Dispatch is using LoadLink, I saw the logo on their computer ... If I do decide to go on my own, I'll go with Trucker's Edge first. Thanks, Rank!