If you’re thinking of starting your own trucking company, there are several steps you should take first. After you’ve decided to become a truck driver, you should write a solid business plan. After that, you’ll need to get your motor carrier operating authority (MCOA) number from the United States Department of Transportation, and purchase equipment and insurance. You’ll also need to register with the state and local governments to ensure you have the proper insurance and licenses.
The term “contract” is confusing because it doesn’t actually mean that a carrier and shipper agree on a rate. By that, it means the rate is set and will not change on each load. The term “paper rate” is more accurate, describing the nature of trucking contracts. Other terms, such as “committed rates” or ‘committed rates’, refer to the commitment between the carrier and shipper. All of these terms refer to a single rate that is expressed in terms of a fuel surcharge or a base rate per mile. Whether a trucking business uses a paper or electronic document, the rates are reflected in the total rate per mile, fuel surcharge, and accessorials.
A spot quote is typically an all-in rate. This rate includes all expenses associated with the load. If the load has accessorial requirements, the carrier may be stuck with all the demands and cannot bill the broker for the fees. In contrast, trucking contracted rates are a set rate agreed upon between a shipper and a broker, and they’re generally honored over a long period of time. Therefore, if you’re considering using a spot rate, be sure to understand how it works.
Freight brokers bring new carriers to the industry and negotiate the rates with them. When a new carrier joins, they must complete a broker agreement and provide all the necessary information, such as W8/W9 information and insurance agent details. A driver who joins OOIDA may lease a truck to a larger carrier or operate under an owner-operator. The DAT Power website is a comprehensive load board for medium to large brokers.
While spot quotes are an ideal way to negotiate rates, it’s important to remember that they’re essentially “all-in” rates. This means that the rate is fixed and does not have to be negotiated on each individual load. A carrier with an accessorial schedule will be more likely to be able to bill the broker for fees, which is not an issue for a trucking contract. When a load is a flat rate, the carrier should add on a fee for fuel and other accessorials.
When the rate for a trucking load isn’t set in stone, it can be a confusing process. While a carrier can negotiate a spot rate with a shipper, a contract is more flexible. It lets the carrier work on a pre-determined schedule and is more flexible. The terms “all-in” and “paper” are synonymous. However, when it comes to the latter, the term is misleading and refers to an agreement between the shipper and carrier.