Our blog on how to start a box truck business has been a hit. Now, let’s take it a step further to explore five tips for booking those box truck loads.

1. Understanding Your Equipment

First things first, not all box trucks are created equal. Know the details of your truck—know the weight limits, cargo volume, fuel capacity, and fuel economy.

This knowledge is your foundation for choosing the right loads and calculating your cost per mile. Which leads us to the next tip…

2. Know Your Cost per Mile

Before you even think about negotiating with brokers, you need to know your cost structure. How much does it cost to haul a load?

Then, work on your profit margin to determine the rate per mile you’ll be aiming for. If you need a detailed breakdown of calculating your cost per mile, visit our blog on financial management in trucking.

3. Learn to Use a Load Board

We’ll take a look at the DAT One load board, but there are many load boards to choose from. We have an extensive list on our article found here.

You start by entering in your origin and destination, selecting both Full and Partial loads, and narrowing the search by equipment type. You can choose any combination of equipment types that you can service with a box truck, including partial dry van loads.

Then you can narrow the search further by entering the length of the truck and the weight limit. It’s important to note that if a load is listed for a different type of equipment (dryvan, hotshot) you confirm with the broker that your equipment will be sufficient. Most of the time as long as you don’t go over your weight limit and the cargo is not too large for the dimensions of the vehicle, you can haul the load.

Below is what it might look like to search for box truckloads coming out of Chicago.

4. Stay Alert to Fraud

Fraud is an unfortunate reality in the trucking world. It’s important to always check to make sure you’re talking to the right person for a particular load and verify their contact with the official information listed on the FMCSA website and the broker’s own website.

For more tips on avoiding scammers and double-brokered loads that can lead to big losses, read this article to learn the signs of fraud and how to respond.

5. Aim for Dedicated, Local Contracts

Building relationships is key to success. Strive for dedicated lanes and routes by being professional, proactive in communication, and always punctual. Your reputation is your biggest asset, so protect it.

When you prove yourself as a resourceful and dependable carrier, brokers and shippers will want to hire you again because they can trust that you’ll get the job done. This is the pathway to getting contracted freight, but it does take time – be patient!

How to Get Paid for Box Truck Loads

With these tips in your arsenal, you’ll be loading up your box truck business with tons of opportunities. But, let’s talk about getting paid—waiting for brokers can take a while.

At Bobtail, we offer a hassle-free factoring service with no long-term contracts or hidden fees. This means you can get same or next-day payments for the loads you deliver and pay a simple factoring rate – nothing more. Contact us today to learn how you can take control of your business with reliable funding.