Load boards, essential for trucking, face critical issues that need to be addressed urgently. Problems like ghost loading, incorrect origin and destination information, and unreliable carriers are rampant.
Structural Issues in Load Boards
When load boards emerged after trucking deregulation, they connected small carriers to the growing spot market. However, over time, brokers began gaming the system by posting loads on multiple boards but failing to remove them once covered. This practice leads to “ghost loads,” which waste carriers’ time and skew data.
Carrier Deception
Another issue arises from carriers not being properly vetted. Some brokers pose as carriers and farm out the freight to cheaper, less reliable ones. This deception compromises safety and efficiency.
Inadequate Technology
The technology behind load boards has failed to keep up with the evolving market. Platforms are incentivized to chase volume, making them reluctant to clean up fake or outdated postings.
Solutions to Load Board Problems
Private freight marketplaces are one solution, allowing brokerages to onboard and monitor only trusted carriers. However, they limit access and make it inconvenient for carriers to manage multiple platforms.
Newtrul, a digital freight marketplace, takes a different approach. It integrates with transportation management systems, ensuring carriers meet strict compliance standards. This system eliminates manual load postings and reduces the risk of unreliable carriers.
In the future, Newtrul aims to build a more trusted and efficient marketplace by uniting shippers, brokers, and carriers, creating a platform with greater credibility than current options.
