In this week’s Video Quick Tips we talk to new trucking companies about the pros and cons of different load sources.
Direct Shippers usually pay the best rates. By working with shipper directly, you also avoid losing as much of 25% of the value of the invoice to a middleman.
Direct Shippers don’t offer quick pay so you’re going to have to wait as much as 90 days to get paid. Plus, you’re going to have to chase those invoices yourself. That means time off the road and lost business.
Brokers have a large number of good loads. Larger brokers may offer quick pay so you won’t have to wait as long to get your money. The loads are usually decent quality and, even better, after you have hauled a few loads, you’ll find that some brokers even reach out to you meaning less time spent looking for work
Brokers pay less than Direct Shippers (especially if you are new to the business). While many have quick pay, payment can also be very unpredictable and Brokers are much more likely to get into money-trouble. If the Broker goes under, you could be out of luck in getting
Load Boards are a convenient way to find work. They are a great way to build your network of customers and they typically have lots of volume. Plus, many include features such as basic credit reports to help you weed out the bad brokers & shippers.
Loads on Load Boards tend to be of lower quality. They have often been through a broker that couldn’t find anyone to take them. The loads usually pay less than the other two options and there are normally monthly fees (budget between $30 and $100 a month). Expanding customer network increases the complexity of managing billing and collections.