Owner-operators face a lot of problems at the beginning of building their business. One of them is a constant flow of customers and cargo for shipment. They need certain loads with the correct dimensions for their trucks and with a particular location. All this greatly complicates the work. Moreover, searching for customers is a regular job you must spend a lot of time on. Therefore, owner-operators use different ways of finding new cargo to secure a job.
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If you also encounter this problem, then read this article. In it, we will discuss ways to find new clients to bring your business a permanent job and a flow of money.
Ways to search for loads
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Dispatch service
As the truck dispatching services on this site remind us, the most reliable way is to trust the professionals. After all, cargo search takes a considerable amount of time from owner-operators. It’s not enough just to find a client. You need to talk to the customer, agree on working conditions, and be constantly in touch when difficulties arise. This is a massive part of the work that can be easily transferred to truck dispatchers. Firstly, they have many more contacts and their own ways of finding cargo. They also receive a percentage from the shipment of goods, which means it is in their interests to agree on the most favorable delivery terms with the client.
In addition, these specialists can take on other responsibilities that take time away from owner-operators: route planning, communication with truckers, reporting, creating invoices, and fleet management.
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Communication with shippers
This is one of the most profitable options in which you do not pay intermediaries. You communicate directly with the shipper and set your conditions. It is important to understand that for this method, it is important to have developed communication skills. The owner-operator will have to conduct a lot of negotiations in parallel with several clients, and this can be exhausting. We also want to warn you that it may be difficult to find shippers with whom it is profitable and convenient for you to work.
Contracts are most often concluded during bidding, and it will be difficult for a novice owner-operator to win them. This particular feature of this cargo search method assumes the presence of a TMS system in order to participate in tenders. Whether to decide on such efforts for the sake of more profit in the future? The decision is yours.
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Freight brokers
They are similar in specialization to dispatchers. These specialists are also looking for cargo for you. But they act as an independent party, unlike dispatchers who work on your behalf and in your interests. It is also worth knowing that dispatch services charge up to 10% of your transaction. Freight brokers receive from 25% to 35% of the profit. But if you find a good freight broker, you will have a stable flow of clients. This is a great way to search for cargo for those owner-operators who want to participate in auctions and tenders. After all, this is precisely what brokers specialize in.
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Loading boards
Owner-operators who want to manage their orders themselves and not pay intermediaries most often choose this method. What does the job look like? On this loading board, companies put up their proposals for cargo transportation. Also, as the owner of a transport company, you can offer your services to customers. There are always a lot of offers on the download board, there you will definitely find something suitable. Do not forget that these services have reviews from real owner-operators, which will help you choose the best client you can trust. The only downside is the time you have to spend searching for a customer.
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Special applications
In terms of functionality, they practically do not differ from the download boards. The only convenient thing is that you can search for customers at any time from your phone or tablet. How does it work? It is very convenient because you do not need to communicate with the client or negotiate terms. All this is already spelled out in the offer from the customer. you just agree to accept the order and do the job. It also improves the workflow because it is all available in the application.
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Government contracts
You can find them on the websites of states and city administrations. This is an entirely different level of cargo transportation. Maybe this is your niche? It’s worth a try. But to start working with government contracts, you should register as a government contractor and meet the contract requirements.
Tips for owner-operators
To search for cargo for your business with greater productivity, we recommend conducting market research. Where exactly should you look for cargo, where do you want to send them, what permits are needed for this, and which routes are most suitable for you? This will significantly speed up the search for cargo since you will already know what to look for.
Also, be sure to check the reviews of the specialists you work with. Ask your friends about the freight brokers and dispatchers you want to work with. Sometimes one truckers forum can give more information than hundreds of advertising promises.
