When you start out on your own as an independent truck driver or owner-operator, your first few loads are an important milestone. We’ve handpicked 5 essential methods for finding truck loads for starting your business.

1. Identifying Freight Brokers

Freight brokers are in the business of matching truck loads from shippers with truck drivers. The freight broker business model is straightforward. They develop relationships with as many shippers as possible within their chosen industrial sector. Then, they negotiate with shippers for the highest possible rate for a load. After finding a truck driver or carrier to move the freight at the lowest possible price, the broker takes a 25% to 35% cut of the profit.

Finding a freight broker is as easy as looking through a trade journal or searching for one on Google. However, finding a good freight broker with the best rates and the ability to keep you rolling requires some additional research. Here is a list of things to consider when looking for a freight broker:

• New freight brokers are a gamble for shippers and carriers. If you’re risk-averse, look for an established freight broker with a proven track record, good reviews, and review their bond and credit history.
• Make sure the freight broker services the right sector for your trucking business. A freight broker specializing in bulk liquid chemicals is going to be of no use to you if you’re looking for dry van loads.
• Freight brokering is as competitive as trucking, so shop around for the right audit and payment rates and routes for you.

2. Shippers & Dispatch Services

Networking directly with shippers or using dispatch services are valid ways to find truck loads.  If you work directly with a shipper, you can earn a higher per load revenue because you’re not giving up a percentage of the rate to a freight broker. However, these methods can be less than ideal most of the time, especially for newer carriers or owner-operators.

Working with shippers requires a working knowledge of the nation’s freight lanes, and you’ll be spending a lot of time on the phone or waiting on emails in a never-ending process of networking and negotiating.

You also may end up taking a load to an area (like Florida) where you lose time and money looking for another load or deadheading a long way to a busier freight hub. The end result for your bottom line may be worse than going through a freight broker when you factor in the time lost and the empty miles.

On the other hand, you can reduce the amount of time you spend networking and negotiating by using dispatch services to find truck loads. Some dispatch services offer additional help with billing, accounting, paperwork, and other back-office support. When it comes to your revenue, dispatch services charge fees for their services and take a percentage of the load revenue, putting them on par with freight brokers.

3. Load Boards

Load boards have been around a long time. In the old days, you could find them on special television screens in most truck stops. They’ve kept up with the changes in technology and are now available online. Load boards are like classified ads for the trucking industry. Brokers and shippers post loads to the load board and include the pick-up and drop-off locations, rate, contact numbers, and other information pertinent to the load.

To use a load board, all you have to do is contact the entity posting a load; sometimes, you’ll have to do some negotiations on the rate. Then the broker or shipper will send you a carrier agreement to review and sign. After reviewing and signing the agreement, they’ll generally request additional paperwork from you, like your insurance and W-9 information. Once you send the paperwork back, they will respond with a load confirmation and pickup details.

4. Become a Government Contractor

From the federal level to local and city governments, transportation is always needed and often outsourced. Private companies aren’t the only way to finding truck loads, so if you want to branch out a little, give government contracting a try. The only thing is that it requires a few extra steps at first so that you can register as a government contractor. You can also consider working with a company that already has a government contract for transportation to save yourself the need to fill out the paperwork for yourself.

5. Plan Your Loads Ahead of Time

To avoid operating your trucking business at a loss and to instead make your trucking business more profitable, pay close attention to the revenue on each load you transport. On your own, this involves performing a series of complex calculations covering items such as trip distance, deadhead miles, etc. You’ll generally have to work with one of the above-mentioned methods to plan your trips, backhauls, and stay on good truck lanes while trying to minimize empty miles and downtime.

6. In Conclusion

Continued success means keeping your focus on developing your networking relationships with freight brokers, shippers, dispatchers, and other drivers. A unique and celebrated aspect of the trucking industry is the community it embodies. The more you involve yourself in this community, the easier it will be for you to find loads, develop your network, earn more, and grow your business.

Be proactive in letting freight brokers, shippers, and load boards know that you are ready to work. If you have any special, unique, or valuable certifications, skills, or experiences, make sure to use that to your benefit. Expand your reach by thinking about what other types of loads your truck can carry. For example, a refrigeration truck can also carry dry goods as long as there are no perishables included. Cross-cargo listing is a great way of finding more loads and having a better chance of always having work.

Our experienced team is always ready to guide you in choosing the perfect truck to kickstart your career. We boast the most extensive and competitively priced inventory in North America. Contact us to make your purchase and enjoy the added assurance of an extended warranty along with flexible financing options.