Aug 22, 2017 • Carriers

Truck Freight Rates

Truck Freight Rates

Truck Freight Rates

Before getting into the details surrounding truck freight rates and how owner-operators can find the best one, it’s important to understand what is a good truck freight rate and how are rates determined.

What is a Truck Freight Rate?

A Truck freight rate is simply the price or rate a broker or shipper is willing to pay a carrier to haul a load. Essentially, it’s what you will be paid to haul a load. Our focus here is regarding truck freight rates for owner operators and carriers with authority.

Where Can I Find Truck Freight Rates?

You can find truck freight rates on load boards like Truckloads. Search over three million monthly truck loads and filter your results based on location, trailer type, weight, pick up/drop off date and more. Use Truckloads free load board to view a freight broker’s credit rating, days to pay and call brokers directly from the mobile app to book the best freight rate for you!

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How are Truck Freight Rates Calculated?

Truck Freight rates are calculated based on a variety of factors including the current market conditions, demand levels, overall weight or size, distance traveled and the type of goods being shipped. Certain routes and areas will offer higher freight rates because the supply of loads is so great, therefore the need for carriers will be higher.

Keep in mind that truck freight rates are often set by a freight broker who takes a portion of the total rate a shipper is willing to pay and pays the carrier the difference. This rate is often negotiable and can fluctuate.

If a shipper is sending valuable equipment that is extremely heavy, chances are the freight rate is going to be very favorable for carriers.

Since the truck cargo that needs to be shipped is valuable, there is additional desire to find qualified carriers. Of course, you’ll need to have the right equipment and trailer necessary to haul the specific load.

What Loads Pay the Best Truck Freight Rate?

In order to maximize your earnings, you’ll benefit from hauling loads with the best freight rate as often as possible. Freight rates are typically paid by the mile and can range from $1.50 to upwards of $4.00 or more per mile. Typically, the best freight rate is for flatbed loads but this is not necessarily always the case.

We surveyed over 150 experienced owner-operators asking them what they think are the best freight rates. 59 percent considered $3.00 per mile the best rate for carriers while 32 percent said $2.00 was a fair freight rate.

While these are ideal freight rates for the carrier, they are often times difficult to find in most areas and the volume of freight shipping at these rates can also be limited.

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Trucker Spotlight - Wazeer <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different truck drivers to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/04/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Wazeer-2.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Wazeer</strong>, better known as the viral TikTok Trucker, Trucker Wazeer, who creates vibrant, informative, engaging, and humorous ( depending on who you ask) videos about his experience as a Truck Driver. Born and raised in Houston Texas, he can read music, and also went to film school. Let's get to know "Wazeer" and his experiences as a trucker. <h2></h2> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> I was at a dead end financially and a crossroad in my life. I wanted a change of scenery and direction. At my lowest point of hopelessness and frustration I got the call from the company that I now drive for. They explained that they were hiring and if I was willing to relocate to Dallas for 3-4weeks they would assist me in getting my CDL. Out of fear, I was reluctant to go into the trucking industry. Despite my irrational fear of big rigs, I knew this could be the pivot I was looking for to change my life. I decided to take the plunge into CDL school. Sink or swim, I was not leaving Dallas without my CDL. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>In the years that you have been driving, what are the significant changes that you've noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3> Being that I began my journey to become a Trucker during the covid pandemic, there was shortage of truckers. Over the course of my 10 months OTR, the demand has only increased, even as the restrictions of the lockdowns have for the most part subsided. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you start doing TikTok?</strong></h3> My younger sister suggested it to me. She told me many people on TikTok were interested in new careers paths due to covid. Boy was she right. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What attributes must one have in order to be a successful truck driver?</strong></h3> A respect for the truck is critical. If you respect the truck it will provide for you. If you do not respect the truck it will cost you in many ways. The biggest way could be your life or someone else’s life. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's the most memorable experience you've had while over the road?</strong></h3> Coming down Donner’s pass in California for the first time. That was my first Mountain. I will never forget the feeling of the truck responding to gravity in that way. I had no idea how it would feel to have the truck accelerate from just the weight of the load going down an incline or grade. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's your favorite Truck Brand / Model? </strong></h3> I love my Kenworth T680 <h2></h2> <h3><strong> Aside from being a trucker, any other things you dream of doing?</strong></h3> I am in love with all kinds of media. Music, film, and television. I would like to fuse all of them with my new found fame as a representative of the trucking industry. I would like to demystify what it is like to be an OTR trucker, so that people may consider it as a possible career. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/04/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Wazeer-3.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What's the best truck stop for you?</strong></h3> I love Love’s for fuel. I fly to Pilot for their food. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What was the worst breakdown or setback you've experienced while OTR?</strong></h3> The first time I broke down was the worst because it was my first. I knew the protocol but the feeling of trucks flying past me while being stranded on the shoulder was uncomfortable to say the least. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>We're glad that you use the Trucker Path on your day to day trucking. What features do you enjoy the most?</strong></h3> I love that the <a href="https://sixdays.page.link/tLUu">Trucker Path app</a> shows icons for places I may need to go to on my route without me searching. The fact that I can also filter what those place are is the cherry on top. Very well designed and executed. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers?</strong></h3> Your peace of mind is everything. Be measured and focused. Trip planning relieves a ton of stress. Drive safe even when you are late. Use Trucker path. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/04/202102-BLOG-TP-TS_Wazeer-4.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can people watch your videos on TikTok?</strong></h3> They can view my videos on my TikTok, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@truckerwazeer">truckerwazeer</a>. <h2></h2> <h2></h2> Hope you guys enjoy! <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Apr 21, 2021 • Community

Trucker Path Supports the Queens of the Road Awards [p]Trucker Path, America’s most popular app in the trucking industry is supporting the Fourth Annual <a href="http://www.realwomenintrucking.com/lady-trucker-cruise-events/queen-road-awards/">Queens of the Road Awards</a> in collaboration with REAL Women In Trucking, Inc. (RWIT)[/p] [quote]"This award was inspired by Women who have worked as truck drivers and carry with them knowledge that they share with others unselfishly. These are Women who have struggled to “re-invent” themselves, overcame impediments and generously “Give Back” to those who are struggling to find their way." - RWIT[/quote] [p]Three women have been named Queens of the Road by the REAL Women in Trucking. The awarding ceremony of the Queens of the Road Awards will be held over the weekend of August 27-31 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The 2020 Queen of the Road award recipients are Kristy Mathews, Edwina Webb, and Vonnie Whitemagpie.[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/rw1.jpeg" alt=""] [p]<em>Kristy Mathews (Courtesy: RWIT)</em>[/p] <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/rw3.jpeg" alt=""] [p]<em>Edwina Webb (Courtesy: RWIT)</em>[/p] <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/rw2.jpeg" alt=""] [p]<em>Vonnie Whitemagpie (Courtesy: RWIT)</em>[/p] <h2></h2> [p]Trucker Path will be giving a complementary Gold Membership to the Queens of the Road awardees. This will give them access to advanced trucking tools and features to help them in their day to day driving.[/p] <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/08/rw4.jpeg" alt=""] [p][b]About Real Women In Trucking[/b][/p] [p]REAL Women In Trucking is an organization of women truckers that promotes safety by educating the public about unsafe truck driver training and creating a network of support for women entering trucking. By creating a reliable resource that promotes transparency, they are able to mentor qualified women who wish to become commercial drivers and connect them to quality employers and services that will benefit them.[/p] [p][b]About Trucker Path[/b][/p] [p]Trucker Path is America's largest data driven and community-based trucking and navigation app. Trucker Path enables you to join over 1,000,000 truck drivers who share real-time truck stop information, parking availability, and even weigh station statuses, saving everyone time and gas money when they plan their routes. [/p] [p]Thousands of truckers use Trucker Path to find truck stops, parking, weigh station information, fuel pricing, and get truck-optimized routes. [/p] [p]Trucker Path is a leader in delivering advanced technology with over 2 million installs and is the highest rated app in the industry on both Google Play and the App Store.[/p] [video id="NSSOwFRJaQw"] [button-green href="http://vip.truckerpath.com/gold-member?utm_source=email&utm_medium=rwitpress"]Try Trucker Path Premium FREE for 14 Days[/button-green]

Aug 13, 2020 • Carriers

How Do Freight Brokers Find Shippers [p] Freight brokers need to find shippers in order to connect them with carriers and move freight. How do freight brokers find shippers is an age-old question and one new freight brokers need answers too. Here are seven ways how freight brokers find shippers.[/p] [h2] How Do Freight Brokers Find Shippers? [/h2] [p]For freight brokers to find shippers, it's important to understand consumer products. Who manufactures them? Where do they come from? How many products do they sell? These are the sort of questions you need to target to know how freight brokers find shippers.[/p] [h2] 1. The Leads Surround You [/h2] [p]Look around you, regardless of where you are the things you see were most likely freight hauled and delivered by trucks, after all, over 70 percent of all freight in America moves by truck. Furniture, office equipment, consumer electronics, clothes, they are all types of freight that shippers need to be hauled from one point to another. As a freight broker, you can find shippers by doing research on the products you see every day to find out where they are manufactured and how they are transported. [/p] [giphy] <iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/xT39CYwjsPWvIfw6UE" width="480" height="270" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>[/giphy] [h2] 2. Review Your Purchase History and Compare [/h2] [p] Drawing a blank or feeling helpless in finding shippers? Reviewing your own purchases can be a great starting place. Whether it's the receipts from the store or your online Amazon order history, the products you purchase are manufactured and transported from somewhere. [/p] [p]As a freight broker looking to find shippers, you have to get creative at times and go beyond the normal trains of thought. Understand how companies are connected and if one lead doesn't pan out or isn't a viable option, don't give up, there are seemingly endless possibilities. [/p] [h2] 3. Look at the Competition [/h2] [p] Every product that is moved by freight has competitors, it's a natural occurrence and a driving force of the capitalist economy. Take a large company like John Deere. They proudly manufacture varieties of tractors with manufacturing plants in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Georgia. [/p] [p]Despite being a Fortune 500 company and having a tremendous market share, John Deere has a lot of competition in the tractor industry. Using a tool like <a href="http://financials.morningstar.com/competitors/industry-peer.action?t=DE&region=usa&culture=en-US">MorningStar Financial </a> you can get insight into who's its competitors are by clicking on the industry peers tab. Freight brokers can do this search for any publically traded company.[/p] [h2] 4. Use MacRae's Blue Book and Other Shippers Lists [/h2] [p] <a href="http://www.macraesbluebook.com/menu/product_heading.cfm?groupid=2533">MacRae's Blue Book</a> is an industrial directory that provides detailed information about manufacturing companies. You can search through companies based on the types of products they manufacture and the detailed information about a company will even include freight rate estimates for you to compare. [/p] [p] Other manufacturing lists such as <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/08/Top-500-Manufacturing-Companies-USA.pdf">The Industry Week 500</a> are great guides to help freight brokers find shippers. Companies such as Boeing and General Electric have a tremendous amount of supplies both in receiving and shipping of freight. Use the list as a starting point to help you find suppliers for these companies. [/p] [p] Ever wonder how many parts are required for Boeing to build one of its 737 planes? 367,000 parts. Suppliers of those parts are sourced from all over the nation (even world) and are often times small to medium sized businesses that may not have the resources to handle their own freight. This is where freight brokers can use the magic of Google to find shippers. [/p] [p] Search <a href="http://www.airframer.com/aircraft_detail.html?model=B737">"Boeing 737 Suppliers" </a> and boom, a full list of the suppliers for the aircraft including company details and contact information. [/p] [h2] 5. Livestock, Produce and the USDA [/h2] [p]Produce is shipped across the country to satisfy consumer demand. Who doesn't love guacamole even in the winter time just in time for the big game right? Produce locations vary based on the season, though you can conclude that Florida has fruits, Texas has avocados, the Midwest has corn and the Pacific Northwestern has apples. [/p] [p] You can use the <a href="https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/business-listings">USDA business listings</a> to locate farmers that grow crops or raise cattle, poultry, and other livestock and contact them as well.[/p] [h2] 6. Satellite View of Company Buildings [/h2] [p] Continuing to rely on Google and being imaginative in your searches to find shippers, freight brokers can use Google Maps satellite and street views of a building to see if it has shipping and receiving docks. You can spend hours just going street by street in industrial areas, verifying if a location has docks. From there you can do research the company to find out what they do and find out how they ship freight. [/p] [h2] 7. Cold Calling Shippers [/h2] [p] Yes, cold calling is still alive and well. Once you find a shipper you will need to contact them in order to gauge their potential interest in using a freight broker. It's easy to send a quick email but the chances of getting a response are quite low. The best way to connect with shippers is by calling them directly and be straight-forward in your dialogue. [/p] [p] A sales pitch isn't necessary and can be off-putting, but you should describe who you work for, company background or achievements, where you're looking to move freight through and see how you can be of assistance. Remember, you are there to provide them a service so it's imperative that you listen to their needs and how you might be able to address their pain points.[/p] [p]You'll need to understand how the shipper currently transports freight and see if there is an opportunity you can capitalize on. Undoubtedly, a significant portion of shippers will turn you down, but it's a numbers game and you'll never know if you have potential clients or not until you call.[/p] [h2] Relationships, Trust and Load Boards [/h2] [p] Finding shippers is only one aspect of the journey to be a successful freight broker. You'll need to cultivate relationships and build a reputation for being dependable when servicing your shipping clients. To do this you will need to rely on load boards like <strong>Truckloads</strong> with over 100,000 qualified carriers that you can connect with to haul freight for the shipper. [/p] [p]As a freight broker you'll also want to develop a rapport with carriers, especially the qualified ones. Once you use a carrier to move freight that you trust and have a good working relationship with, continue to use them and provide them with the opportunities they desire to maintain the relationship. [/p] [video id=snyBYpnuhWw] [button text="Try Truckloads for Free" href="https://ship.truckerpath.com/signup?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=findshippers&utm_campaign=Aug16" width="250px"]

Aug 16, 2017 • Brokers