Hopper bottom trailers are specialist trailers that are designed to move loose products such as agricultural products in an open topped trailer that can be unloaded from the bottom. Hopper bottom trailers are a great way to transport loose goods safely and efficiently
Load boards are an excellent way to find carriers that can transport your products quickly and easily, especially for specialty vehicles like hopper bottom trailers which can be harder to find. It also makes it simpler for carriers to find loads for their vehicles when they have availability as they can quickly search for loads that meet their needs.
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The table below shows a quick price comparison of all the load board solutions that we’ve researched:
Company name | Monthly cost | Free plan |
---|---|---|
Direct Freight Services | From free | Free account & free to post loads |
Truckstop | From $39/mo | No |
Loadup | From free | Free for shippers and some carriers |
FreightFinder.com | From free | Free to use |
Online Freight Services | Not stated | No |
Reliant Transportation | Not stated | No |
Werner | Not stated | No |
FindFreightLoads | Not stated | No |
Hoploads | From $50/mo | No |
TQL | From free | Free to use |
*The prices in the table above (where available) come directly from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing (January 2024). Since then, those prices may have changed.
We’ve listed the results of our load board research and the features of each company’s product in a bit more detail below. You’ll be able to see the benefits of their service and some general information about the company as well.
*companies are ranked in no particular order.
Topics
1. Direct Freight Services
Direct Freight Services has designed a load board that brings carriers, shippers and brokers together to help them with freight solutions across the US.
- Free to access load board
- Caters for a range of vehicles including hopper bottom trailers
- Every day there are over 300,000 loads available
- Shippers and brokers can post loads for free
- Carriers can access a free account to contact shippers and brokers
- They provide improved load filtering and custom columns to make searching for loads easier
- Receive notifications about loads by email and text
- Can access route planning and weather forecasts
- The load board can be accessed from anywhere through the Driver App
- Also offer credit scores and full credit scores
Website: https://www.directfreight.com/
2. Truckstop
Truckstop provides freight solutions that cater for the whole load lifecycle from the initial load matching to payments which they provide through technology enhancements.
- The load board caters for carriers, shippers and brokers
- They offer a range of loads including hopper bottom loads
- Offers a choice of plans from Basic to Pro
- Have over 250,000 active users
- Provides 80 million loads each year
- Users can search and post loads
- Heat maps and real-time updates are available
- Carrier performance ratings are available on Pro plans
- Users can access market insight
- Also offers factoring and cargo insurance
Website: https://truckstop.com/
3. Loadup
Loadup offers two load boards that they have created for separate markets, one for the US and Canada, and the second for the rest of the world.
- Shippers can access the load board for free
- Some carriers can also access the load board for free depending on their truck type
- A membership fee applies for some carriers
- Register for the load board on their website
- They cater for over 35 equipment types including hopper bottom trailers
- They provide a service without bids, auctions and commission
- Access tender opportunities
- You can set up alerts for suitable loads by email
- Provides direct communication between users
- Includes a listing in their courier and hauler directory
Website: http://www.usacanadaloadup.com/
4. FreightFinder.com
FreightFinder.com offers a load board that is integrated with the LoadBoardNetwork that provides freight services for trucking companies, owner-operators and freight brokers.
- Free to use load board
- No account is required to access the load board
- Thousands of loads are available each day
- They offer a variety of loads including hopper bottom trailers
- The load board can be personalised for your experience
- Search for loads based on equipment type, origin, destination and radius
- Post the availability of your truck too
- Access to mileage and routing services
- Be included in their industry directory
- Access industry services such as a trucking job site and a refined search engine
Website: https://www.freightfinder.com/
5. Online Freight Services
Online Freight Services is backed by Echo Global Logistics and they offer freight services that assist companies in managing their loads and shipments more efficiently.
- Their load board caters for a variety of carriers including hopper bottom trailers
- Their network includes over 50,000 carriers
- Designed as a self-service portal
- Claims that their load rates are competitive
- Offers loads across the US
- Easily find loads and check the status of payments
- Carriers can access quick payments
- Out-of-hours support is available for users
- System integrations can streamline processes and improve efficiencies
- Access collections handling, invoicing and carrier payments through TMSPro
Website: https://onlinefreight.com/
6. Reliant Transportation
Reliant Transportation offers a load board that caters for third-party transportation services through to independent businesses and Fortune 500 companies across America.
- They offer a load board that is easy to use for carriers and shippers
- Caters for a variety of equipment types including hoppers
- Provides services across the US
- Join their load board online
- Their load board is searchable for suitable loads
- Maximise your trucks through their washout list
- Provides a dedicated team to give support
- Offers QuickPay to get your payments faster
- Their load board is designed to assist with improving revenue and efficiency
- Their FuelPlus program offers discounts to members
Website: https://reliant-transportation.com/
7. Werner
Werner claims to be one of the five largest truckload carriers in the US that offers a variety of freight solutions across the world.
- Their load is designed for carriers and shippers which is called Werner Bridge
- They have a network of over 35,000 carriers
- They cater for a variety of equipment types including hoppers
- Join the load board on their website
- They will vet carriers before granting access to the load board
- You can search for loads on preferred lanes
- Searchable by origin, destination, dates and equipment
- Communications and transactions can be managed through the load board
- Real-time tracking is available
- Shippers can request quotes and receive immediate response
Website: https://www.werner.com/
8. FindFreightLoads.com
FindFreightLoads.com provides a load board that utilises artificial intelligence and machine learning to assist carriers in finding the best loads.
- Offers a load board that is called RightNowLoad.com
- The load board is free to use for shippers and brokers
- A monthly fee applies for carriers but there’s no contract
- A free trial is available for carriers for three days
- The load board is searchable to find loads that meet your needs
- Post owners and carriers can communicate directly
- Bulk upload facilities available for shippers
- Access to credit reports
- Provides factoring services to access payments quicker
- Also offers mileage and routing services, fuel discounts, weather and load conditions
Website: https://findfreightloads.com/
9. Hoploads
Hoploads offers a load board that is dedicated to those that have hopper bottom trucks and those that need their services.
- Only caters for hopper bottom loads
- Is a subscription service which starts at $50 per month
- Offers a free trial of the load board
- The load board isn’t a competitive platform
- It is searchable to help you find the best loads
- Load information includes product details, full or partial load and contact details
- Available trucks can be posted by carriers
- Shippers can create posts for individual loads
- Bulk upload facility is also available
- Accessible online and through the app
Website: http://hoploads.com/
10. TQL
TQL is an experienced freight broker that moves over three million loads each year across North America through its 56 offices.
- Offers a free to use load board
- Caters for a range of modes including truckloads and LTL, intermodal, ocean and air
- They offer loads that include hopper bottom trucks
- Every week over 65,000 loads are available
- Join them as a carrier by completing their form on their website
- Vetting of carriers takes place before access is granted to the load board
- Loads are searchable and preferred lanes can be checked
- Access the load board through the web portal or mobile app
- A dedicated Carrier Relations Team will provide support
- Provides a choice of payment options
Website: https://www.tql.com/
Hopper bottom load board Q&A
What are hopper bottom trailers?
Hopper bottom trailers, also known as grain trailers, are a type of semi-trailer used primarily in agriculture and bulk commodity transportation. These trailers are designed with a conical floor and gravity-fed unloading gates (hoppers) at the bottom, allowing for easy and efficient unloading of dry bulk goods such as grain, feed, fertilizer, and other granular materials without the need for mechanical lifting.
Key Features of Hopper Bottom Trailers:
- Design: Hopper bottom trailers typically feature one or two hoppers (compartments with sloped floors) leading to discharge gates at the trailer’s lowest point. This design utilizes gravity to facilitate the unloading process.
- Materials: They are usually made from aluminum or steel. Aluminum trailers are lighter, allowing for a higher payload, while steel trailers are more durable and suited for heavier loads.
- Ease of Unloading: The gravity-fed unloading mechanism makes it possible to empty the trailer’s contents quickly and with minimal effort, significantly reducing unloading time compared to flatbeds or vans that require manual unloading or additional equipment.
- Versatility: While primarily used for agricultural products, hopper bottom trailers are also useful for hauling any dry bulk commodities that can benefit from gravity-assisted unloading. This includes certain types of construction materials like sand or gravel.
- Sizes and Capacities: These trailers come in various sizes and capacities to accommodate different load requirements. The capacity is typically measured in bushels for grain or cubic yards for other materials.
- Weather Protection: Many hopper bottom trailers are equipped with roll-over tarps to protect the load from weather elements like rain and snow, ensuring the cargo remains dry during transport.
Advantages of Hopper Bottom Trailers:
- Efficient Unloading: Their design significantly cuts down on unloading time, making them highly efficient for transporting bulk commodities.
- Versatility: They can carry a wide range of dry bulk materials, making them versatile assets for many types of businesses.
- Reduced Labor Costs: The easy unloading mechanism reduces the need for manual labor and mechanical unloading equipment.
- Protection of Goods: With options for weather protection, goods are less likely to be damaged during transport.
Disadvantages:
- Limited Use: They are specialized for dry bulk goods and aren’t suitable for liquids or oversized equipment, limiting their use to specific industries.
- Initial Cost: High-quality hopper bottom trailers can be a significant investment, although their efficiency and speed can offset this cost over time.
Hopper bottom trailers are suitable for transporting a range of loads which include grains, corn, seed, meal, peanuts, wood pellets and fertilizer. They tend to come in lengths of 24’ to 42’ with the ability to carry from 40,000 to 68,000 lbs depending on the vehicle size and axle configuration. There are two types of hoppers which are distinguished by their shape – either conical or wedge-shaped.
Why should you use a hopper bottom trailer?
You should use a hopper bottom trailer if you want to move bulk amounts of loose products without having to bag them to move them. They are designed to move the products in their loose form and can be loaded from above and then unloaded through the bottom of the trailer to make it easier.
Hopper bottom trailers are most commonly used in conjunction with other agricultural equipment to harvest crops such as combine harvesters and grain carts that transfer the load into the hopper bottom trailers for transportation. At the destination hopper bottom trailers can directly unload into grain bins, stores or silos. This makes it easier for both the seller and the buyer.
Do all hopper bottom load boards show rates?
Load boards in general, not just hopper bottom load boards, more often than not do not display the rates for the loads. Many of the load boards are created to be a competitive platform to find carriers for loads and for carriers to bid or quote for loads so that shippers or brokers can get the best possible rate for their loads.
If the load board displayed the load rate then it wouldn’t encourage competition and the shipper or broker may not get the best rate.
There are some load boards which offer support in calculating the rates for loads to help you decide what to bid or to assess bids against if you are a shipper or broker. This support can come as rate calculators or historical rate information.
Which load board pays the most?
There isn’t a simple way to find out which load board pays the most and generally what you get paid through a load board is largely down to what you are willing to deliver loads for.
The load boards themselves don’t determine the rate of the loads as they have no say in the rate. Either the shipper or broker will set a rate when they post the load, and the carrier can accept or negotiate the rate if they are interested in the load.
Alternatively, the carrier decides the rate of the load by submitting a bid or quote and the shipper or broker will select the preferred carrier.
The only impact that a load board can have on the earnings you can make is the charges or fees that apply. The charges and fees vary for each load board and this could be a combination of membership fees and charges for loads won.
Some load boards can be free to use and some don’t charge for loads won. You will need to check on the load board you are using what fees and charges apply so that you can factor them into your rates.
Are there any restrictions around using a hopper bottom trailer?
The main restrictions for using a hopper bottom trailer is the amount of product they can transport. The amount of product weight or volume that can be transported will vary depending on the trailer size.
Trailers can range from 24’ to 42’ and they have different axle configurations which impacts the amount of load they can take but the gross vehicle weight can range from 40,000 to 68,000 lbs.
Some other considerations that need to be taken into account include:
- Type of Material: They are specifically designed for dry, bulk materials. Transporting liquid or overly dense materials that do not flow freely might not be suitable for hopper bottom trailers.
- Weight Limits: Like all trailers, hopper bottoms are subject to weight restrictions based on federal, state, and local regulations. Overloading a hopper bottom trailer can lead to fines and increase the risk of accidents.
- Road Regulations: There may be specific regulations regarding the dimensions and weight of trailers allowed on certain roads or in specific areas, affecting where a hopper bottom trailer can legally travel.
- Unloading Facilities: The use of hopper bottom trailers requires appropriate facilities for unloading. Sites need to have the necessary space and equipment to accommodate the trailer’s design for gravity unloading.
- Weather Conditions: Because they are open at the top, transporting materials in wet weather can be problematic for materials that must remain dry. Some hopper bottom trailers come with tarps or other covering mechanisms, but this is an additional consideration.
- Specialized Use: Their design is optimized for specific types of cargo, making them less versatile than some other trailer types for general freight needs. This specialization might not be cost-effective for all operators.
- Cleaning and Maintenance: Certain materials can leave residues that require thorough cleaning to prevent contamination between loads or to adhere to transportation regulations for specific goods.
- Insurance and Permits: Depending on what is being hauled, there may be additional insurance requirements or permits needed, especially for transporting materials classified as hazardous.
Operational Considerations
When using a hopper bottom trailer, planning for the logistics of both loading and unloading is crucial. This means ensuring destinations are equipped with the proper facilities for the specific type of trailer and that routes are planned in compliance with any weight and height restrictions. Operators should also be trained in the specific safety procedures related to operating these trailers, including the proper securing of loads and the use of any covering systems to protect the cargo.