2000 Pete 379
How to Become an Owner Operator
7) What You Need to Know About Load Boards
View my Other Posts:
Blogs, Forums and Other Resources
Texting Ban
The Way it Was - A Short History of Trucking
Pro and Cons of Being an Owner Operator
FAQ for the Owner Operator
Pictures
Anti-Idling Regulations
Definitions and Industry Terms
Interactive Cost per Mile (CPM) Calculator Spreadsheet
Privacy Policy
1) Owner Operator 411 – Welcome
2) Income and Expenses
3) Financing and Credit
4) Operating Authority or Leasing?
5) Equipment
6) How To Do Bookkeeping and Other Necessary Paperwork
8) Companies That Lease Beginning Owner Operators
9) What You Actually Need to Get Started - Licenses, Permits, Insurance, and Taxes
10) Truck Driving Schools
Blogs, Forums and Other Resources
Texting Ban
The Way it Was - A Short History of Trucking
Pro and Cons of Being an Owner Operator
FAQ for the Owner Operator
Pictures
Anti-Idling Regulations
Definitions and Industry Terms
Interactive Cost per Mile (CPM) Calculator Spreadsheet
Privacy Policy
1) Owner Operator 411 – Welcome
2) Income and Expenses
3) Financing and Credit
4) Operating Authority or Leasing?
5) Equipment
6) How To Do Bookkeeping and Other Necessary Paperwork
8) Companies That Lease Beginning Owner Operators
9) What You Actually Need to Get Started - Licenses, Permits, Insurance, and Taxes
10) Truck Driving Schools
One of my readers asked a question about loadboards, so I decided to do a separate post on them. See Coupon Mommie's comments at Owner Operator 411 – Welcome
Be aware that a lot of the loads posted on the free loadboards is not as complete as the loads posted on the expensive loadboards the companies use.
As I told you, I use (and pay for) Members Edge , they are part of 3SixtyFreightMatch. I just found out that the company I am leased to uses 3SixtyFreightMatch. They get all the loads I get on Members Edge, but they also get loads I do not. The loads posted on MembersEdge seem to be "leftovers". They are all cheap freight. Very few of them pay even $1.00 a mile, much less more.
My point being, there may be a lot of freight posted, but is it anything you would want to haul?
One other thing I did not think to tell you, both of the load boards I subscribe to show the rates, but the companies seldom post them. They are like used car dealers, they just say, "Call."
Now that I have answered Cookie Mommie's question, I guess I should explain for you new to this what a load board is. A load board is a place where companies post available loads and/or available trucks. On most, you can also post that you are looking for a load.
Some load boards are free and some have to be subscribed to. Some are public and some are private, that is they are only for owners leased to a particular company.
Almost all of them let you search in various ways. Some have alarms or alerts that let you know when a new load that meets your criteria becomes available, either by a sound, email or a text message to your cell phone.
In the old days before cell phones and laptops, if you took a load to Houston, TX for instance, and wanted to get back home to Richmond, Virginia, the only load boards were in truck stops.
Here is how it worked. You would go to a truck stop and there would be a TV screen with a list of available loads, the broker who had it, their telephone number, what type of trailer, and the origin and destination. This list would scroll endlessly.
There would be a lot of drivers (up to 20 and 99.9% men) standing around watching that board with a pen and paper in their hands. Every once in a while, the board would go, "DING", meaning a new load had been posted. All eyes would swivel to see what it was. Everyone would furiously scribble down the phone number, then run (fast paid off) to the bank of pay phones to call the broker. Hopefully, you got to the phone before everyone else, and had change in your pocket. You would then call the broker to see how much it paid, and any other particulars.
If you weren't fast enough, or if the load didn't suit you, then you would go back to board and start all over. Usually there weren't any chairs, so you had to stand. If you left to get a drink, more change, or to pee, the perfect load would come up and be taken while you were gone.
Often you would get excited when you saw a load going to your hometown, only to realize that it was for a reefer and you were pulling a flatbed.
It was not unusual to stand there from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and have to start over the next day.
My, my, that sure was fun! I really don't miss "the good ole days".
Now days, you sit in your truck with your laptop, tell the load board that you want a load for a flatbed from Houston to somewhere near Richmond, and it will sort out all of the loads that match. If you don't see what you want, it might still go "DING", but now you pull out your cell phone and make your call.
It may easier to look for a load, but it isn't any easier to find a load. There may be several posted, but the rates are low. It gets harder every day to make a dollar.
Next post: Companies That Lease Beginning Owner Operators
Be aware that a lot of the loads posted on the free loadboards is not as complete as the loads posted on the expensive loadboards the companies use.
As I told you, I use (and pay for) Members Edge , they are part of 3SixtyFreightMatch. I just found out that the company I am leased to uses 3SixtyFreightMatch. They get all the loads I get on Members Edge, but they also get loads I do not. The loads posted on MembersEdge seem to be "leftovers". They are all cheap freight. Very few of them pay even $1.00 a mile, much less more.
My point being, there may be a lot of freight posted, but is it anything you would want to haul?
One other thing I did not think to tell you, both of the load boards I subscribe to show the rates, but the companies seldom post them. They are like used car dealers, they just say, "Call."
Now that I have answered Cookie Mommie's question, I guess I should explain for you new to this what a load board is. A load board is a place where companies post available loads and/or available trucks. On most, you can also post that you are looking for a load.
Some load boards are free and some have to be subscribed to. Some are public and some are private, that is they are only for owners leased to a particular company.
Almost all of them let you search in various ways. Some have alarms or alerts that let you know when a new load that meets your criteria becomes available, either by a sound, email or a text message to your cell phone.
In the old days before cell phones and laptops, if you took a load to Houston, TX for instance, and wanted to get back home to Richmond, Virginia, the only load boards were in truck stops.
Here is how it worked. You would go to a truck stop and there would be a TV screen with a list of available loads, the broker who had it, their telephone number, what type of trailer, and the origin and destination. This list would scroll endlessly.
There would be a lot of drivers (up to 20 and 99.9% men) standing around watching that board with a pen and paper in their hands. Every once in a while, the board would go, "DING", meaning a new load had been posted. All eyes would swivel to see what it was. Everyone would furiously scribble down the phone number, then run (fast paid off) to the bank of pay phones to call the broker. Hopefully, you got to the phone before everyone else, and had change in your pocket. You would then call the broker to see how much it paid, and any other particulars.
If you weren't fast enough, or if the load didn't suit you, then you would go back to board and start all over. Usually there weren't any chairs, so you had to stand. If you left to get a drink, more change, or to pee, the perfect load would come up and be taken while you were gone.
Often you would get excited when you saw a load going to your hometown, only to realize that it was for a reefer and you were pulling a flatbed.
It was not unusual to stand there from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., and have to start over the next day.
My, my, that sure was fun! I really don't miss "the good ole days".
Now days, you sit in your truck with your laptop, tell the load board that you want a load for a flatbed from Houston to somewhere near Richmond, and it will sort out all of the loads that match. If you don't see what you want, it might still go "DING", but now you pull out your cell phone and make your call.
It may easier to look for a load, but it isn't any easier to find a load. There may be several posted, but the rates are low. It gets harder every day to make a dollar.
Next post: Companies That Lease Beginning Owner Operators
I am sorry I have to do this, but due to spam "comments" I feel I need to moderate comments from now on.
I am sorry for any inconvenience this may cause to my legitimate commenters.
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