Are you in business as a trucker or trucking company owner?
Using a freight load board or freight marketplace is an amazing way to supplement your core customers. This is especially true when business is slow or you're trying to expand your customer base.
The convenience of a good freight marketplace also lets you land shipper loads and broker loads in one place.
Take your business to the next level with this easy solution. Post an offer on the board and start getting bids. Competitive bids and fast notifications let you haul more freight and make more money.
Don't waste time on a lousy freight marketplace or trying to choose one when you don't know what to look for.
In this post, we'll teach you the top 5 qualities to look for in a freight load board.
1. Free Sign-Up
Did you know that trucks carry more than 70% of all freight moved in America?
With such a powerful market, there's no shortage of people trying to squeeze money out of truckers. Keep this in mind when looking for a good freight load board.
It can get costly to use a paid board. Many times you don't know what you're paying for until you've already signed up. Pay attention and avoid the many rip-offs out there.
Even boards that give you a "free trial" when you sign up can be sneaky.
The free trial version may be so limited you can barely get work before it's time to pay. Or they'll give you such a short trial period that you can't get a feel for how good it is before they start charging you.
The good news is that you don't have to pay for access to a good freight load board. Choose a freight marketplace that lets you sign up for free. That way, you only have to pay for what's worthwhile to you.
2. Freight Matching
Freight matching makes it easier than ever to consolidate freight.
A simple announcement lets potential clients know you have leftover space and you're able to pick up another load. Make a post specifying your free space and simply wait for bids.
Since gas prices have increased by more than 100% since 1995, the savings you'll enjoy with freight matching will make a big difference in your monthly spendings.
Avoid missed opportunities and half-empty trips by choosing a freight load board that gives instant alerts when matching trucks are found. You can save a lot of time and money if you get an email notification when an opportunity presents itself.
Choose a board that gives you instant notifications when matches are found.
3. Fast, Reliable Payment
Look for a freight load board that makes it easy not only to get bids but also to get paid. You don't want your business to be stuck in first gear because you're waiting for delayed payments.
Knowing you'll get paid quickly makes it easy to avoid the risks around slow-paying loads. Too many of these can make it very hard to run or expand your business.
Faster cash flow makes it easier to keep hauling continually. You'll be able to cover any expenses for maintenance and improvement much sooner. You'll be shocked by the difference in workflow if you haven't already experienced it.
Look for efficient payment solutions when choosing a freight load board. Also, be wary of hidden fees. Make sure you're seeing the real sum and won't get blindsided by a stack of hidden fees.
When you use a good freight marketplace and factoring company, you'll have fast, simple factoring without hidden fees. Click here to learn more.
4. User Rating System
You'll find it much easier to know what you're getting into with the help of a user rating system. This will also allow you to pick good posts and opportunities.
Direct feedback from other users lets you see who and what you're dealing with. If a load or shipper isn't worthwhile, you'll know it.
It also adds extra incentive for people to do their best. Everyone wants to get good ratings and avoid negative ones.
The best rating systems give you more details on what's good and bad about the post or user. Instead of a vague, general rating, you can find specific ratings for different factors.
This lets you know if the information provided is accurate, how quickly you'll get paid, and the quality of service to expect.
User comments will give you extra clarity and help you find the most relevant offers.
5. Board Customization
Want to be more efficient in sorting the good from the bad? You can do this if the freight load board lets you filter and customize your searches and board pages.
Saving posts for later viewing or repeated use can speed up your workflow. This makes it very easy to return to posts, loads and trucks. Just go to your saved posts page -- no need to manually find it again.
This is especially helpful if you're a carrier wanting to keep track of loads you plan to haul later. It also helps if you just want to keep track of good posts and shippers.
Another great time-saving function to look for is the ability to hide or block posters you don't want to deal with. You shouldn't have to waste time looking at irrelevant posts.
Whether it's a post with requirements you don't meet, one offering the wrong price, or one you don't trust, it doesn't belong on your feed.
Choosing Your Freight Load Board
Finding a solid freight marketplace that offers you the tools you need for efficient business can be a long search. It takes precious time that could be better used for hauling loads and making money.
We offer you a freight load board that has all these essential qualities. Sign up for free to get started looking for freight to carry.
Have a suggestion or question? Contact us!