Knowing the RPM of a load is only the beginning. When you prepare an offer, you need to decide what rate makes sense for the specific trip. Your offer should account for the route, distance, equipment, deadhead, timing, operating costs, and the market you are moving through.
What Should Influence Your Offer?
Route
The pickup and delivery locations can have a major impact on the value of a load. Some lanes consistently have stronger demand than others.
Distance
Longer trips usually produce more total revenue, but the acceptable RPM can change as mileage increases.
Equipment
A cargo van, box truck, reefer, flatbed, and step deck can have very different operating costs and market rates.
Deadhead
The distance you travel without a paying load affects the real economics of the trip and should be considered when determining your offer.
Timing
Urgent pickups, tight delivery windows, weekend requirements, and other time-sensitive conditions can affect what a carrier may reasonably ask.
Market Conditions
Available freight, capacity, seasonality, fuel costs, and current demand can all influence what the market will support.
Start With Your Trip Economics
Before deciding what to offer, understand what the trip will actually require from your business. A rate that looks good on the loadboard may not be attractive after accounting for empty miles, fuel, time, and your next opportunity.
- Review the pickup and delivery locations.
- Check the loaded distance.
- Estimate your deadhead to pickup.
- Consider the total time required for the trip.
- Evaluate the equipment and service requirements.
- Consider fuel and other operating costs.
- Look at the delivery market and your next-load opportunities.
- Use the available market information to determine a reasonable offer.
Preparing an Offer in Box Trucks Loadboard
When you find a load you want to pursue, Box Trucks Loadboard lets you prepare an offer directly from the load information. The Prepare Offer workflow is designed to collect the information needed to build and send your offer to the broker.
Your Price
Enter the amount you are requesting for transporting the load.
Distance From Pickup
Provide the distance you need to travel from your current location to the pickup.
Transit Time
Provide your expected transit time once the load is picked up.
Load Information
Additional information such as dimensions, MC, email, and phone can be included when preparing the offer.
Box Trucks Loadboard Rate Intelligence
Make Smarter Offers With Box Trucks Loadboard Rate Intelligence.
Box Trucks Loadboard is working on a smart pricing system that will give carriers two important pieces of market intelligence directly inside the Prepare Offer experience.
Box Trucks Loadboard Suggested Rate
$1,200-$1,325
Recommended target
$1,275
Route and distance
Equipment type
Fuel conditions
Industry rate data
Carrier Offer Intelligence
$1,150-$1,300
Typical carrier offer
$1,250
Comparable carrier offers
Similar routes and equipment
Current offer activity
Available market data
Example only · Cargo Van · 500 miles · Dallas, TX → Atlanta, GA
Together, these two views will help you compare Box Trucks Loadboard's recommended range with actual carrier offer activity before deciding what price to enter.
Two Intelligence Systems: One Better Pricing Decision
The upcoming Box Trucks Loadboard Rate Intelligence experience is designed to give you two different perspectives before you submit an offer. One helps answer what the load may reasonably be worth, while the other shows what other carriers are actually offering for comparable freight.
Box Trucks Loadboard Suggested Rate
Get a recommended rate range calculated specifically for the load using factors such as route, equipment, distance, fuel conditions, and industry-acceptable rates.
Carrier Offer Intelligence
See the range of offers being made by other carriers for comparable freight when enough market data is available.
Compare Both Views
Use Box Trucks Loadboard's recommendation alongside actual carrier offer activity instead of relying on a single rate number.
Make the Final Decision
Choose your offer based on the market information, your operating costs, deadhead, timing, and the strategy that works for your business.
How Rate Intelligence Will Work in Prepare Offer
The planned experience will place both intelligence views directly alongside the offer form. You will be able to see Box Trucks Loadboard's suggested rate range and the range of comparable carrier offers while deciding what price to enter.
1
Review the Load
Understand the opportunity before deciding what to offer.
01
Check the Route
Review pickup, delivery, loaded distance, timing, equipment, and other load requirements.
02
Calculate Your Trip
Consider deadhead, fuel, operating costs, time, and where the delivery leaves you.
2
Review Rate Intelligence
Use both Box Trucks Loadboard's recommendation and real carrier offer activity to understand the market.
01
View Box Trucks Loadboard Suggested Rate
Review the recommended rate range calculated from the route, equipment, distance, fuel conditions, industry rates, and other available factors.
02
View Carrier Offer Range
Review what other carriers are offering for comparable freight when sufficient offer data is available.
3
Set Your Offer
Use the intelligence as guidance while applying your own business judgment.
01
Compare the Two Ranges
Look at Box Trucks Loadboard's suggested range alongside actual carrier offer activity before deciding where your price should fall.
02
Enter Your Price
Choose a rate that makes sense for your trip, costs, strategy, and the market information available to you.
03
Prepare the Offer
Continue through the Prepare Offer workflow and prepare your message for the broker.
Your Business Still Makes the Final Decision
Smart rate guidance is intended to make pricing decisions easier, not replace your judgment. You know your operating costs, vehicle, preferred markets, schedule, and business goals better than any automated system.
Understand the load requirements.
Review the pickup and delivery route.
Calculate the loaded RPM.
Account for deadhead.
Consider fuel and operating costs.
Evaluate the delivery market.
Review available market rate information.
Use Box Trucks Loadboard rate guidance when available.
Set a price that works for your business.
Remember that the final offer is your decision.