The misconception of load planning for a majority of small motor carriers is, 'the best load is always the highest-paying load out of an area.' However, only considering the highest-paying load without looking at other factors is like purchasing a lottery ticket: winning is possible, but not likely.

We all know that as motor carriers our objective is continually to haul at capacity with reasonable rates creating a reasonable profit. The trick in being able to accomplish this goal is summed up in two words “Customer Service.”

And for Customer Service, we must first define, “Who are our customers?” For the small trucking company, this means anyone who contracts with you to haul freight; including brokers, shippers, 3PLs, etc. For the purpose of this article, when it refers to shippers, just keep that list in mind.

But what is customer service?

Offers new service to find the most profitable truck lanes

MIDLOTHIAN, Va., January 6, 2009 – Getloaded.com kicks off the New Year with the launch of their “Rate Index” feature, allowing transportation companies and truckers to measure the profitability of truck lanes. “Rate Index” will track critical data of more than 12 million truckload lanes for 1,200 major North American market areas.

Your most important plan is not how you’ll purchase your next tractor or trailer, or house, or investments. It’s your income tax plan. Yet most truckers spend more time planning the next two days off than learning how to get their taxes under control.
 

For the trucking industry, this has been a harsh year. With the mortgage and housing collapse, the price of fuel increasing at unprecedented rates, and now Wall Street coming apart at the seams, we’re all afraid to travel around the next corner. It seems as one area starts to stabilize, another vital one begins to unravel.