By
Freight 360
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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