Long Haul Trucking
Long Haul Trucking
Make your life easier with DAT’s freight and analytics solutions.
Being a long haul truck driver is rewarding but also challenging — especially in today’s increasingly unpredictable world. DAT has several powerful freight and analytics solutions — from the largest load board in the industry to highly accurate forecasting models — that can help you grow your business.
- Understand your operations.
- Find the perfect loads and the right business partners.
- Get the data and insights you need.
Understand your operations.
Use DAT to gain a clearer picture of your business.
Long haul trucking is more than just driving loads across the country — and, unfortunately, a lot of these aspects are out of your control. Fuel will likely be your largest expense, but fuel cost is constantly fluctuating. Then there’s unpredictable traffic, loading delays, and inclement weather.
DAT can help you track your trucks, find efficient routes, and save money at the pump, so you can lower your cost per mile and boost profits.
Find the perfect loads and the right business partners.
Countless trustworthy shippers share loads on DAT, so you can find the right load when you need it.
As a long haul truck driver, you know that finding a load with a desirable destination and a shipper you trust can be tricky. Luckily, the DAT load board has the largest selection of freight in the trucking industry. Plus, you can vet shippers and brokers before accepting their loads. On DAT, you can see reviews, credit scores, and average days-to-pay so you know who you’re working with and can avoid working with untrustworthy parties.
Get the data and insights you need.
Use information from DAT iQ to help your business thrive.
As a long distance truck driver, you need insightful data, and DAT has everything you need to make the best possible decisions and negotiate the rates you deserve. With access to average lane rates, custom analytics, and incredibly accurate freight forecasting models, you’ll be able to make informed, profitable decisions every time and grow your business faster.
Long haul trucking (a.k.a. over the road trucking or long distance trucking) involves transporting freight over 250 miles. Drivers often spend several days — or even weeks — on the road, logging over a thousand miles as they cross several states (or even drive to Mexico or Canada). It’s a profitable career, but it involves adopting a very transient lifestyle. You might find yourself frequently sleeping in your truck or booking nights at hotels along your route, so long haul trucking isn’t the best fit for everyone.
While long haul truckers transport freight thousands of miles, spend most of their time on highways, and go weeks before coming home, short haul truckers typically transport freight just 150 to 250 miles and spend a large portion of their time driving in cities. They can often return home at night, will be able to spend more time with their families, and usually take the same lanes and visit the same handful of locations. They can even deliver several loads in one day or develop a regular schedule! However, they usually aren’t paid as well as their long haul counterparts.
Long haul trucking companies offer drivers stability, flexibility, and good pay, but it’s not an easy job. In addition to being away from home, you may face volatile fuel costs, rejected shipments (and their resulting costs), market fragmentation, and vehicle problems.
It can also be difficult to source high-paying loads from reputable shippers along routes you want. Plus, you’ll have to use electronic logging devices (ELDs) and comply with Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, which requires lots of careful planning.
Between the understaffing, long hours, and congestion that often face long haul truckers, there’s no doubt that there have been a lot of challenges to navigate in recent years. On top of all that, many long haul truckers have continued to face broader challenges including everything from difficulty finding high-paying long haul freight to truck breakdowns to restrictive Hours of Service (HOS) regulations.
Luckily, there are some things you can do to set yourself up for success in the coming months and years. Make sure you have quality business partners and target routes with high demand and rates. You should also keep up with industry trends and invest in smarter routing technology to maximize your time and profits.
DAT knows long haul truckers have a lot to worry about, from HOS compliance to finding parking. That’s why we created DAT One, an all-in-one freight management solution that can help you make better decisions, negotiate rates, anticipate price changes, and stay ahead of the competition.
With nearly 1 million loads added daily, the DAT load board is suitable for all sorts of truckers. Plus, we provide company reviews, so you can determine which shippers are worth working with. DAT TriHaul will even automatically find higher-paying routes.
DAT iQ provides over 7 million predictions each day, covering markets and trucking lanes across America. Based on billions of dollars in annual market transactions and millions of shipments from over a thousand companies, DAT iQ’s insights are accurate more than 95% of the time, so you can enter negotiations and submit RFP bids confidently.
DAT even offers custom visualizations and predictive analytics and insights, so you can anticipate market changes that will affect your business and make informed decisions to help your business thrive.
“The DAT Load Board is the only one I use, and I really don’t see any interest in trying any other one.”
- Brian Stone, Stone’s Trucking LLC
"DAT Load Board is awesome. They even teach you how to book a load and how to use it on your computer or cell phone app. Highly recommend DAT!"
- Francis Gatmaitan, Alpha Trucking
Be ready for whatever the future may bring with DAT!
No one knows what will happen tomorrow, but you can make sure you’re better prepared for it with DAT’s freight and analytics solutions. With the largest selection of loads, accurate insights, and more, DAT can help you weather whatever comes your way and become one of the best long haul trucking companies. Get started today!