The most common way to find carriers and cover loads is to utilize a load board like DAT. Load boards are the open market of the trucking industry, a place where freight brokers and motor carriers can connect to share their available loads and trucks. To make the most of the load boards, you need to take advantage of all the tools included as well as the ways to use them.
Common Features of Load Boards
Posting to Load Boards
When posting a load as a freight broker, include all relevant information such as origin, destination, pickup and delivery dates, required equipment, weight, and a contact phone number. Also, mention any additional details like tarps, straps, or the need for a team of drivers. You can also specify a target pay rate. Double-check your posting to ensure accuracy and avoid wasting time.
Searching Posted Trucks
Search for matching trucks on load boards by specifying the lane, equipment type, and date. Results can be sorted by proximity to your pickup location. Note that calling a truck puts you at a disadvantage in negotiations compared to receiving inbound calls, as brokers need carriers more than carriers need brokers.
Search Other Posted Loads
See what your competition is doing. You can search for available loads that are similar to yours to get a vibe for how many other brokers are competing for the same carrier capacity as you are. You might even find other brokers that are competing for the same customer freight as you are.
Carrier Directory
Carrier directories can help you find carriers based on their domicile location, equipment type, and many other criteria. This is a great tool to use when trying to find a back-haul carrier later in the week. If you can give a load to a driver that gets them close to home at the end of the week, you can usually hire them at a lower than market average cost.
Rating Tools
You need to know the market rates and how they’ve changed recently. Is a carrier asking for too much money? Are you offering too little? Understanding the range or rates in the market will keep you and your carriers honest with your rates. Don’t forget that rates are just averages, and other factors affect rates such as the load’s urgency, driver’s destination, and even holidays.
Dive deeper into our training with our Freight Broker Basics Course, designed for all freight broker business models and positions. Learn at your pace and sharpen your skills to source more leads and move more freight.
Dive deeper into our training with our Freight Broker Basics Course, designed for all freight broker business models and positions. Learn at your pace and sharpen your skills to source more leads and move more freight.
Introduction The freight brokerage and transportation industry has a rich history navigating periods of strict regulation, sweeping deregulation, and still continues to this day with ongoing debates over fraud and transparency. As the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) revisits transparency regulations, it’s critical to examine whether these efforts address the industry’s core challenges. Transparency […]
As a freight broker, you’ve likely encountered the objection: “Our freight is customer routed.” This common roadblock can seem like a dead end, but with the right approach, you can turn it into a valuable opportunity. In this article, we’ll break down what “customer routed freight” means, explore strategies to handle this objection, and provide […]
If you're a freight broker tired of prospects promising business but never following through, our comprehensive guide is here to help. Learn effective strategies and proven techniques to transform potential prospects into customers. Don't miss out on this valuable resource for boosting your freight brokerage success.
By Stephen
