Nope not at all, there is a difference.
My previous post I said backhaul is a term used to sell people on something, putting together freight is a business move that fits into one's business model. If you can't see the difference, well what can I say - it works for a lot of us.
Using a "backhual" service within the carrier is something one does to make a move that the carrier won't pay for and pay just enough to move even if the carrier asks for the move. IF one gives up 15% for something they arrange, then they should not take that 15% but if you arrange it, then it seems justified.
Really there is isn't? I found this just for you Greg.
What is a backhaul?
The Backhaul Still Exists!
Simply put, a carrier is not making money if they are not hauling freight. The vast majority of carriers have customers located near their home base where they pick up freight to deliver to points across the country. Each of these outbound shipments is called a headhaul. Once that shipment has been completed, the backhaul comes into play. A backhaul is a shipment that allows a carrier to make money on the trip back to their home base. By utilizing backhauls instead of headhauls, you save money. By nature, backhaul rates are cheaper than headhaul rates because carriers need to get their trucks home as quickly as possible to service their customers.
The challenge with utilizing backhaul carriers is that you never know where their trucks are on an everyday basis. This is where Command enters the picture. We do the work for you. We have relationships with over 10,000 carriers who always need backhauls and we make it our business to know where their trucks are on a daily basis. These carriers have trucks scattered across the country and they look to Command to find loads that will return their drivers home without too much deadhead (miles traveled with an empty trailer). In the case of a backhaul, the deadhead is the distance a truck travels from their most recent delivery to the shipping point of their backhaul load.
So how do we make money and still pass the savings on to our customers? Here is an example that shows you why Command is a cost effective solution:
1000 mile shipment
Headhaul carrier rate: $1.75/mile x 1000 miles = $1750
Backhaul carrier rate: $1.50/mile x 1000 miles = $1500
Command rate: $1.55/mile x 1000 miles = $1550
If you ship this lane 10 times a month, you save $2000 by choosing Command over a headhaul carrier. With one call, you save money while increasing workforce productivity.
Don't be fooled, the backhaul is alive and well.
