Insider Secrets to Successful Freight Brokering

Load Boards - A couple of Tips Here ...

You probably have been to a food buffet where the selections abound. You don't know what to try if it's new. But you grab what you know you really want (maybe you don't need it, but .....). And it can get a little nerve racking as you meander down the line trying to decide on your selections.

Well, selecting Load Boards should be simple but there is confusion. There may be over a 100 load boards. Most people won't tell you which are the best. You have to rely on sales pitches. So, you have a large selection of load boards - yet, probably, only 3-5 are really worthwhile. And, within each load board there are various choices.

Then, the sales pitch I mentioned - what if the pitch is contrary to what you read on the load board company's website?

We try to sort this all out in training. Some people already have some experience with load boards; others have a little and then the rest have no idea about them.

Don't let the confusion paralyze you. You have to move forward, doing your research and making the best choices possible. This is where we come in. We don't sell load boards and can give you honest and objective input. Go here to learn more: www.atexfbt.com

Load Board Falacies

Many individuals have heard about the "load boards". They know they can use them in their freight broker business.

Here is the falacy: many freight brokers think that they will get loads off of the load boards.

Now, truckers will get loads from the load boards; but freight brokers want to go directly to the shipper for loads. These loads you see on the load boards are 95% posted by other freight brokers. And the rate these brokers are offering are for the truck, not another freight broker.

Besides, if a freight broker is getting loads off of the load boards, they are probably in violation of "double brokering" which is another story.

Now, there are some load boards where shippers will post their loads. The problem here, however, is that the rates are meant to go to the truck. It would be very difficult for the broker to get a decent profit if they are working with shippers that want to deal directly with trucking companies.

There is a lot more to be said about these issues. If you are brokering or thinking about it, get properly prepared so you don't end up making major mistakes based upon fallacies.

Go here: http://www.atexfreightbrokertraining.com

Freight Broker Load Boards

Some people miss the point on how to work the Load Boards as a freight broker. It is very simple.

First, let me tell you what you do NOT want to do. You do not want to get loads from the Load Boards. These loads are posted by other freight brokers. Why would you want to go to another freight broker to get a load? It defeats the purpose of getting your own authority.

Second, here is what you WANT to do. You want to go directly to the shipper to get loads. You need good marketing savvy here and it is not easy starting from scratch. After you get loads from shippers, THEN you go to the Load Boards to post you own loads.

These loads that you post are for truckers to call in to ask for more information.

So, it is essential that you understand the business model when working with shippers, carriers and the Load Boards.

Freight Broker Resources

When you get into freight brokering, you go at it with an entire arsenal of resources. You have to know a lot before you contact willing shippers and carriers. Otherwise, you are presenting yourself as one ignorant entity.

One resource that has made some recent upgrades is TransCore 3 Sixty Express. This is a load board resource that includes a whole lot more.

Their TruckLoad Rate Index will give you the going rates around the country for both contract rates and spot rates. They even provide Short Haul rates.

Go here to learn more and start browsing this great resource: TransCore TruckLoad Rate Index.

Are You Using Short Trucks?

Every now and then, I get a calls from truck drivers who are driving short trucks - 26 footers or something similar. One recent caller is trying to find more loads for himself.

Well, the loading boards are going to be dealing mostly with semi trucks - 48 and 53 footers. I don't know where a person goes to get loads for the shorter trucks.

I don't know if those running hot shots or doing expediting would be knowledgeable about where to go to find loads - but they must.

Do YOU have any experience in short trucks? Are you having problems finding loads?