How do load orders get conveyed?

[jbecker]

Help this "Newbee" understand in detail how shipments are arranged by a consignee. Would I be somewhere correct in that a consignee can "Post" their product to be picked up and transported?
If so where?
If this is the case does first come, first served get the order to ship?
Is this how it works?
I'm sure all freight forwards have established accounts for purposes of billing, etc. However do these same freight companies have to "Bid" on these very same freight orders we're requested to haul? Is that why these companies are cutting each others prices and passing on the reductions to us?
Your helping me understand this aspect of the business will undoubtably help outhers also.

 

[davekc]

Most expedites are bid on through a NLM board.
Other loads come from in house accounts, brokers, or other sources.
Alot of the bidding does result in low rates.
It is amazing what some will haul for.
Davekc
owner
20 years

 

[The Gibster]

Just for clarification 'NLM' stands for National Logisitics Management', and although they are commonly though of when associated with auto freight we haul a lot of NLM loads from shippers whom simply want ease in finding available shippers/trucks at a low price.

Our company tells us that yes there is a lot of bidding, a certain amount however is limited by the carriers 'tarrif', a predetermined amount between NLM and the carrier. That's very general I know, and about all I want to know about the companies actual business dealings with NLM. They work the magic, we drive the load.

We also have seen the bidding work upwards, to our advantage. We once got a load from a carrier we used to work for for over 2 times what that carrier would of paid us as o/o's with them. It was a late night/early morning run for 250 miles with 65 miles deadhead van run that no one would haul. By the time it got to us the load was so hot it was VERY lucrative for us.

So the point is yes we associate NLM with low-priced freight but they more accurately (I feel) they are forwarders that are driven by a very competitive market. Our profits on the load has largely been dictated by our carrier.

For more info do a google search for NLM, they have an interesting website.

Good luck in the future, and great question!

The Gibster

.

 

[theoldprof]

If and when I become an O/O of a cargo van I will be contracted to a major carrier. How, when, where, etc. can NLM be of service to me?

Thanks.

:+ :+

 

[ATeam]

>Help this "Newbee" understand in detail how shipments are
>arranged by a consignee. Would I be somewhere correct in
>that a consignee can "Post" their product to be picked up
>and transported?
>If so where?
>If this is the case does first come, first served get the
>order to ship?
>Is this how it works?

Yes, some consignees book their freight that way. Others have established relationships with carriers and the carriers book the freight to their trucks through their dispatch systems. Depending on the way you run your business, you may find your freight off the boards, through your carrier or both.

In our case, my wife and I run with a major carrier and do not use the boards at all. Our freight comes to us via load offers from our carrier's dispatch. The load offers are sent to us via the Qualcomm unit in our truck and are ours to accept, decline, or further discuss with dispatch.

 

[LDB]

NLM will frequently be involved although you may not be aware of it and almost certainly won't be informed of it, not because it's secret but just because dispatch doesn't take the time to mention it. Many, perhaps the majority, of the loads offered through your Qualcomm will be NLM freight. It was implied to me once that I could get my own NLM account however that would require me to spend all my time monitoring the NLM board rather than driving. We're back again to it being best for me to run loads for my company and use my getloaded.com account once in a while when it may benefit me.

Leo
truck 4958

Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

 

[davekc]

In our case, my wife and I run with a major carrier and do not use the boards at all. Our freight comes to us via load offers from our carrier's dispatch. The load offers are sent to us via the Qualcomm unit in our truck and are ours to accept, decline, or further discuss with dispatch.

While you may not personally bid on loads, a large percentage of FEDEXCC loads are from NLM. You probably won't know which ones.
Davekc

 

[The Gibster]

The Prof's question made me think about another side of the load bid system that hasn't been mentioned yet. Prof asks about how the NLM system might be of service to him as an o/o.

As an O/O we also have at our disposal different load boards such as the 'DAT Boards' seen at truck stops and Turnpike Service Plazas. Additionally there are web sites such as GetLoaded.com (just an example).

These are sort of an 'open market' concept where a lot of us can see a load posted by a broker, and if it meets our requirements we can get a 'backhaul'. Here's what I mean:

Some major carriers allow you to get the info on these loads, call the carrier who then calls the broker, they waltz with Matilda for a while and if they agree on terms you get the load. This backhaul can be valuable if you're in a place where little freight comes out of, like the west coast.

However, I've always been told these loads are deeply discounted, and I've personally never seen a load for our D unit, much less a van load of any kind.

I don't think these loads have any impact on the NLM system most of us use at all. But if you're thinking of hustle later on and trying to get a load to get out of a bad area (as is rumored we can do) this is a supposed option.

 

[davekc]

Alot of this depends on the company you drive for.
We are leased to Panther and on occassion source our own freight.
We have several places that we obtain loads that are not connected with Panther. We call and set our own rates and surcharge and Panther takes 15 percent.
This has worked very well for us.
Alot of the load boards offer cheap freight, so it is better to have your own sources. Sometimes with load boards you can put several LTL shipments on to average out to a decent rate. At times when doing this, we can average out to a higher rate than the carrier pays.
This is a place where an experienced owner can help.
Sure beats waiting days for loads or just running a bunch of small non-profit loads.
Davekc
owner
20 years

 

[sunshinetomorow]

sunshine are there any decent load boards for cargo vans? I'm contracted to conway now but i do a lot of siting with them and would love to know of any good load boards going broke with conway