finding your own loads

miker · Sep 24, 2008

I'm wandering what others are doing if anything to fill in on downtime, and keep rolling in a cargo van. is there one site that is better than another to look at, I dont mind paying the fees to usue these sites, but I dont want to get ripped either.
Also I spoke with a recruiter yesterday at Bolt Express, Very nice person, I was enquiring about working with them and she suggested that I ask some of the drivers on here such as Night Creecher, LDL, and some others I cant remember the names. I'm new to this biz and am a very hard worker and will give things 100% effort and dedication so long as I know that someone can keep me busy and paid. Any advice you drivers might have on Bolt Express would be appreciated

Jack_Berry · Sep 24, 2008

using the "search" funtion and typing in "load boards" will bring up a few past discussions........and that would be ldb.

dhalltoyo · Sep 24, 2008

Most solo O/O's have told me that looking for available freight while driving presents a problem.

I have only met one husband/wife team that ever had any degree of sucess in finding extra freight. If a driver had a stay-at-home wife, and she was computer saavy, it might possible for her to find some freight offers online.

Moreover, there is a large amount of paperwork required, so I believe one's business/bookkeeping skills would have to be fairly sharp.

The cash flow scenario is another issue, because most brokered loads don't until 30 days later.

You just about have to carry a fax-copier-printer-scanner in the truck with you in order to receive rate agreements. These have to be signed and faxed back before you pick up the load.

Basically....lots of aspects to consider.

Jack_Berry · Sep 24, 2008

following up rev daves post......or you can notify your carrier who will do all the backroom work and take a percentage as usual.

Tennesseahawk · Sep 25, 2008

I'm running under my own authority, so this may or may not help you. I find that paperwork isn't that hard. I have a copier/scanner/printer in the truck. Hook it up when I need to, and stuff a trip-pak when we drop. That goes off to our factoring company, which pays in two days (one if we need it wired) for 5% of my cut. Fax is done by myfax. But usually, we do everything by email with our main customer. Paperwork such as filing logs, fuel taxes, and such, are done when we get home.

Looking for loads is tiring when you're solo, and have no outside help. Jefferson3000 has a unique and cunning way of dealing with this. I won't reveal his secrets tho. LOL

arkjarhead · Sep 25, 2008

I would shy away from UShip.com if I were you. It is free to look at the loads, but booking one isn't that easy because the people usually what for the lowest offer and most times have a couple of weeks to wait before needing to ship whatever it is. Long story short it's cheap freight and I don't think it would be worth the hassle. Others may have found some good loads their. All I have done is browsed and it all seemed to be cheap.

ATeam · Sep 25, 2008

The current issue of Expedite NOW includes an article about uShip. Available in print now, it will appear online in the future. I had not paid much attention to uShip before reading the piece. After reading it, I explored the uShip.com web site and ended up spending a couple hours there, just looking around.

Professional drivers with big rigs use uShip and have shared their success stories. So do people who do not haul freight for a living but want a little gas money as they drive their pickup to visit relatives in another state.

Most interesting was reading the positive and negative feedback shippers and service providers give each other. It illustrates how shipper sophistication levels vary, which is something to keep in mind if you are inclined to try uShip. A private party looking to ship something cheap will have concerns and needs that professional shipping clerks and loading dock personnel do not.

The loads themselves can be entertaining to review. Someone was shipping a classic pinball machine. I thought it might be fun to haul, but the rate was so low that the only way I would be able to bid on it would be if the shipper allowed me to keep the machine.

Looking just now, there is a 4,943 mile load going from Anchorage, Alaska to Fort Meyers, Florida -- "Two ferrets with cage." The deadhead might be above average, but don't let that discourage you. The shipper is flexible on the pickup time.

MSinger · Sep 25, 2008

In regards to private citizens hauling things in their pickup for gas money....I was advised that a few southern states are setting up stings using Uship to catch illegal haulers without DOT or MCC authority. Just something to consider.

nightcreacher · Sep 25, 2008

MSinger said:
In regards to private citizens hauling things in their pickup for gas money....I was advised that a few southern states are setting up stings using Uship to catch illegal haulers without DOT or MCC authority. Just something to consider.

In a Pick up truck or Suv its very easy to beat the Feds,you just tell them what ever you are hauling belongs to you

MSinger · Sep 25, 2008

Exactly, that's where the stings come into play. They have been known to set-up "loads" on U-Ship and bid them out. Then when the "low-bidder" picks up the freight and they don't have MCC#'s they have them pulled over by DOT and busted for "illegal hauling". I read about these cases in the U-Ship forums.

nightcreacher · Sep 26, 2008

MSinger said:
Exactly, that's where the stings come into play. They have been known to set-up "loads" on U-Ship and bid them out. Then when the "low-bidder" picks up the freight and they don't have MCC#'s they have them pulled over by DOT and busted for "illegal hauling". I read about these cases in the U-Ship forums.

Yes, if its going to be a sting,then the Feds will call the shipper and see if in fact that load belongs to you or not.

20 some years ago,when i was an out law produce hauler,meaning I only had excempt commodity authority,I owned all my back haul freight(wink, wink).I was lucky ,only one time I actually had to pay a fine.Load was going to Mexico,I kept all the real paper work in the trailer,DOT offier wanted to see the load,that I said was mine going to my warehouse in Phoenix.Well when he opened the doors,and all the boxes were for export,cost me $700 fine,which still didnt hurt,but none the less,it was $700 bucks out of my pocket.By the way,load was going to Arizona,but Nogales,not Phoenix.