What Is Backhaul Shipping or Trucking?

Backhaul Shipping Heavy Equipment

Backhaul?

Lets start with the term, backhaul, also know as backhaul shipping, backhaul transport and even dead heading. This term relates to a return trip for a driver shipping any type of freight. Or in this case hauling a piece of heavy equipment back along or part of the same route he just made to the original drop location.

Yeah, I Want That Backhaul Rate! 

The misconception is that backhaul shipping is only covering the cost of fuel for the driver. The thinking being, well the driver has no load to come back home with. And assuming he has built in to the previous load a headhaul rate i.e. covering the return journey with no freight. Then he will be happy with just covering fuel costs, right?

Wrong!

How Do You Get A Fair Shipping Rate?

Owner Operators never really set out to run empty on returns, although sometimes it does happen. Loads are delayed, and sometimes cancelled.

Owner Operators will always try to maximize their efficiency and generate revenue. They want to keep doing what they love doing and support their families.

Please keep in mind running costs are always increasing for these heavy haulers. Fuel, Insurance, truck and trailer maintenance. It’s all got to be covered somehow.

And don’t forget. You want a quality and experienced professional driver that you trust to haul your investment.

These drivers will look to map out, route plan, organize permits, pilot escorts etc. For round trips. That means they can haul multiple pieces of equipment, connect to customers loads along a route they have planned and keep on rolling. So actually way, way more involved than say a single trip out, or also known as a headhaul. Backhaul shipping gets pretty involved!

How Technology Can Help 

Now that you have an better understanding of what a heavy haul trucker is facing in the industry you’ll be pleased to hear a solution is available that helps both customers (shippers) and drivers alike.

A digital load board – Trusted Dispatch – that specializes in heavy equipment transport.

How It Works?

Trusted Dispatch connects available loads to drivers that have free capacity and that are, or will be, passing through the area.

The platform is automated and uses leading edge technology and algorithms to accurately quote, post and match drivers to these loads. And it’s all done quickly.

The rates are fair to the drivers and the shippers. The shipper can save up to 30% on average and the driver is getting extra revenue that covers the above mentioned costs.

Getting Your Shipping Quote

It’s really easy. Visit the site, www.trusteddispatch.com or download the app through the Apple App Store, or the Google Play Store.

If you’re on the website click the “Get Your Instant Shipping Quote“

Now all you’ll need to do is enter a pick up location, drop off location. Then enter the model of the equipment. The platform has a built in equipment specification search tool. It will pre-populate the dimensions and weight for you. You can also enter these manually or make changes if needed.

The rate is then displayed after you enter an e-mail address as a first time user.

Pretty straightforward. If you like the price you can then post the load to the driver database.

The website has some useful how to guides and videos that walk you through the process and also information on shipping cross border.