Over the Road (OTR) Trucking
Over the Road (OTR) Trucking
Use DAT’s freight and analytics solutions to simplify your life and grow your OTR trucking business.
OTR trucking has never been easy, and it’s becoming increasingly more difficult. Between rising shipper expectations, more extreme weather, and planning for the future, OTR drivers have lots on their plates.
DAT can help. Not only do we have the largest load board, but we also offer accurate forecasting models, key insights, and more.
- Understand and improve your operations.
- Find OTR freight and business partners.
- Access detailed and insightful data.
Understand and improve your operations.
Gain insight into your business to boost efficiency and profits.
DAT has been taking the uncertainty out of freight since 1978 and offering OTR trucking companies valuable insights into their businesses. With DAT’s help, you can find more efficient routes, track your trucks, save money on fuel, and more. Whether you’re facing rising fuel costs, unexpected severe weather, or traffic jams, DAT can help you lower your cost per mile, increase your profits, and increase customer satisfaction.
Find OTR freight and business partners.
Use the DAT load board to find the perfect loads and shippers every time.
At DAT, we know that finding trustworthy brokers and shippers isn’t as easy as it should be. We also know that finding the perfect OTR load can be time-consuming. That’s why we have the largest load board in the industry and enable carriers to see potential partners’ credit scores, reviews, average days-to-pay, and more, making finding loads and vetting brokers and shippers faster and easier than ever.
Access detailed and insightful data.
Grow your business and make better decisions with DAT’s help.
Having access to custom analytics, average lane rates nationwide, accurate freight forecasting models, and more can make all the difference to your over-the-road trucking business. Not only will you be able to leverage DAT’s data to negotiate better rates, but you’ll also be able to make data-driven decisions to increase your profits and help your business thrive.
If you transport freight over 250 miles, you’re an over-the-road trucker. OTR is also known as long distance trucking and often requires drivers to be on the road for days or weeks at a time. You’ll get to travel thousands of miles and make a larger salary than short haul truckers, but you won’t be able to go home as often. Instead, you’ll likely spend a large portion of your time sleeping in hotels or your truck.
To become an over-the-road truck driver, you’ll first need to earn your Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Then, you’ll need to find a job or start your own business. As an owner-operator, you’ll likely make more money per load, but you’ll also need to create a business plan, register for a USDOT Number, receive operating authority from the DOT, find loads yourself, and pay taxes, truck expenses, insurance premiums, and more.
The best OTR trucking companies carefully research lane rates, fuel prices, and more before heading into negotiations so they can confidently ask shippers for the money they deserve. They might plan routes through areas with a limited supply of — and high demand for —truckers to maximize their profits.
They also only work with shippers and brokers they know will pay up when the time comes. Often, finding trustworthy partners involves running credit checks, reading reviews, and looking at their on-time payment histories.
No matter which way you look at it, being an over-the-road driver isn’t a walk in the park. Not only will you need to be away from home for days — or even weeks — at a time, but you’ll also face vehicle problems, fluctuating fuel costs, rejected shipments, restrictive Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, congestion, and more. You may also have trouble finding high-paying loads on routes you want.
The good news is that investing in smarter technology, staying up to date with industry trends, and seeking out quality business partners can help you save time and increase profits.
Yes! DAT’s freight solutions have lots to offer over-the-road trucking companies. Our load board makes finding the ideal load and route faster than ever, and you can read company reviews, so you know what you’re signing up for. DAT also offers truck maps, tracking, and more to help you maximize your business’s efficiency. We can also help secure your owner-operator trucking authority if you’re new to the industry.
DAT’s analytics solutions also have plenty to offer OTR trucking companies. With over 7 million predictions each day, DAT iQ can change the way you do business. You’ll be able to see data from markets and lanes across the country, enter shipper negotiations with confidence, and view custom visualizations.
Plus, you can trust DAT iQ’s information to help you make the best possible decisions. Our insights are based on billions of dollars in annual market transactions and are accurate more than 95% of the time.
“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 prepared for whatever comes your way with DAT!
Want to be ready for whatever’s coming down the road? Use DAT’s freight and analytics solutions. Not only are we home to the industry’s largest load board, but we also offer accurate insights and forecasts to help you prepare for the future. Get started today!