Yup. He pays out the azz to get trucks where there isn't freight, and makes hella commission on the lanes there is a surplus of trucks waiting...and he knows right where those areas are.

Direct shippers FTW! (For The Win)

 

Sidenote: I'm not an authority on "how it works" but that was the brekdon he gave me. I'm a leased o/o yanking a different kind of frieght.

I talk to Steve Booth a lot, and it's been brought up before that shippers don't care about the age of the truck/equipment, but I'm sure some of our true independents may have some facts or stories on how long you must have your authority before certain shippers will use you. This is a foriegn area for me, just my .02 from a trusted friend/former dormrom sharer/friend and how he and his firm works.

 

Thanks again to everyone for the responses.

I'm far from an expert on broker loads and it's just another reason why I come here. I am getting most of my questions answered on here. Thanks to the others that have send me info through the private messages. That information was much needed.

So anyway. I have choose to get back into trucking and buy a truck and trailer and get my authority. Here's what I have been told by the brokers that I have contacted. The one's I contacted was the smaller brokers that list through Get Loaded, DAT, and Internet Truckstop. They all told me the same thing. Schneider and one other trucking company (that brokers loads) told me the same too.

They said unless you have had your authority for at least 6 months you will not get a load from them. Some have said that you must have at least 3 trucks plus the 6 months or you won't get a load either.

There are brokers that are not like that though. I called Landstar and they said time in business didn't matter or number of trucks either. C.H. Robinson said the same thing. I guess it's just the small brokers that do this thing about 6 months to 1 year in business. The larger trucking companies that broker loads seem to have the rule also. It's not a big deal because I can do without their freight for 6 months anyway.

I contacted C H Robinson. They have a local branch here where I live. I talked to the guy in the office for several minutes and he told me when I got my authority he would have plenty of loads for me to choose from. I live 50 miles from Memphis and he said there was hundreds of loads posted though C H Robinson everyday in this area and he would work with me on where I wanted to go and the rates of pay. He also said that I should stay out of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas because freight rates are really low there. He gave me info on where to run to make more money and was overall a very nice guy. He lived here in the same city as me and talking to him was like talking to a neighbor.

 

I think i danced around your question, and I apologize. I didn't try to discourage or encourage you. I'd wait a day or so for the independents to give you situations and examples of time needed to qualify to haul their loads.

Hopefully you get some shippers in remote places or vice versa. This is just my .02 from someone not really qualified to give advice.

I will say, that I hauled 2 loads from CH Robinson years ago as a backhaul for a buck 19 a mile from the carolinas to Chicago after doing 2 back to back special products loads. Is that how they generally are? I don't know, my disptacher booked it. I got a buddy at a hhg carrier that said he used to run reefer for them at 2.50 a mile consistantly year round if he committed to 45 straight weeks.

I love hearing about people geting their authority, and succeeding. Corporate america hasn't taken over yet lol. Keep doing your homework about trucking, opening a snow cone stand, or carwash, etc and you're bound to do alright if you don't rush in. Again, I can't speak for trucking per se, but business in general. I hope to see updates.

 

Some brokers have customers they respect and want to keep, thus they are careful about who they send in to represent them. One idiot trucker they don't know can cost them a million dollar account. The good brokers try to take care of their accounts, the so so brokers don't care and will use anyone if they are cheap enough.

You can't start at the top, you have to prove yourself to get the best freight.

 

yeah that makes perfect sense.. well i guess i'll probably be seeing Landstar.. ****!!!!! i guess i just want to run out there like a pup and really dont want to answer to nobody starting off.. well i learn my lesson!!

 

I'm nervous about getting started in this. I do appreciate all of the help and advice.

Hopefully I will get started next week. I have an appointment to get my LLC paperwork started. Once I get that done then I will call OOIDA so they can get my authority paperwork started.

I went to Memphis Thursday and found a couple of Great Dane trailers. The guy had some Utility Trailers as well. I think the Great Dane's looked better and seemed to be better built. They was all the same price so I'll be getting one there. I'll try to start a thread and update as I progress.

Thanks again for everyone's help, advice and support.

 

Sorry, BanditsCousin. I have been pretty busy the last week or so and haven't has as much time to check in and post.

To answer Dave_0755's question about length of time in business. Most brokers don't really care how long you have been in business as long as you can prove that you have authority and insurance. It helps if you can present yourself in a professional manner. There are some who won't load new carriers until at least 6 month's have passed. For them, it is a matter of self preservation. They have had problems with new carriers taking off with their loads, abandoning the shipment or holding it hostage. If a carrier has been in business for a while they will know if the carrier is not on the up and up. It is also good to maintain a low safety or safe stat score. That will come over time as long as you keep up your equipment and keep your paperwork straight. The lower the score the better. I have gotten good paying loads based upon my low safe stat score.

I always check out a new broker before doing business with them. In fact, I continue to keep an eye on them. I pretty much have reduced the number of those whom I do business. Just as you check out a broker they will also check out a carrier.

Contrary to what some may believe, brokers and shippers rely on smaller carriers. Approximately 90% of the freight in this country is hauled by carriers with fewer than 50 trucks. About 80% of the freight is hauled by carriers with 12 or fewer trucks. This country could not survive without the small carriers. The mega carriers cannot keep up with capacity without brokering much of their freight to smaller carriers.

When there is excess capacity then brokers can be more selective with whom they book freight. As capacity tightens they may be more willing to put freight on a new carrier. If you want to haul cheap freight you will have no trouble finding brokers to load your truck. Once you have your authority you can subscribe to some of the loadboards. I would start by posting my truck on them. Brokers who need trucks will call.

 

Not all brokers have a minimum length of time in business. There are some who are more willing to discuss rates than others. I think that you will find them more forthcoming once you get your authority.

 

Yep, get a truck, then apply for authority, then you will get so many phone calls from insurance agencys your head will spin, they will attach their name to your authority, go get base plate. Go to work.

Suggestion: Go online and get your authority yourself, it's easy.