Why Use Load Boards?

When you attend freight broker training courses Load Boards are always part of the discussion. Here is a little more info on load boards for you to digest.

Load boards are usually websites dedicated to posting information regarding freight that needs to be moved from one place to another. These boards are used by three distinct groups, shippers, carriers, and intermediaries. Shippers are the companies or individuals who have goods or products which they need to have moved from one point to another. Most often the shippers who use load boards are companies not capable or who do not have the resources of moving the freight on their own, or who have specific clients they usually ship with, but for some reason or another have extra or cannot get a particular load moved, so they seek to find others willing to move it for them. These are basically extra or exception loads.

Carriers are the Truck Drivers (Owner Operators or Trucking Companies) who watch the boards to find loads to move. Many times when a driver carries a load from one side of the country to another, he’ll find himself with a long, expensive drive home ahead of him if he isn’t able to find a load to carry back with him. The cost of operating a truck can add up over several thousand miles with fuel prices as high as they are. So faced with finding a load or deadheading back home, most drivers will watch load boards to find loads which will take them back in the direction they need to go. This will minimize the time they spend driving empty and make them some money or at least cover their costs while they are at it.

Intermediaries such as freight brokers also often watch load board. Since brokers make a living by matchmaking between shippers and carriers, load boards are a perfect place for them to hang out and hopefully intercept an occasional load. Most established property brokers have lists of clients that they have done business with in the past to draw most of their business from. Some even spend very little to no time developing new leads. Load boards are an excellent venue to find new customers, develop relationships, and grow a brokerage. Much like online dating or classified ads, mostly one night stands or single transactions will result, though the occasional long-term relationship can result if things work out and both parties are happy with their experience.

Some Load boards are free, while others charge a subscription. Others provide some services for free, while charging for other premium services. There are other sites that will compile listings from multiple load boards, which can provide almost unlimited numbers of opportunities. The best way to get familiar with load boards is to log on and try them out. They are generally quite intuitive and can be very useful for almost anyone in the transportation industry.

We hope this information was useful to you. It may have even covered a piece of the industry that may not have been discussed if you attended a different freight broker training course.