As an owner-operator in the trucking industry, you’re a driver and an entrepreneur. When you value the experience of hauling freight just as much as being your own boss, the hustle can be tricky without an effective way to streamline the day-to-day.
HAQM Relay provides approved carriers with free access to HAQM’s nationwide spot loads and contracts, as well as trucking industry discounts and rewards. Relay supports your owner-operator career by providing:
- Tools to manage your business efficiently.
- Opportunities for growth and expansion.
- A stable base of work to build upon.
What is an owner-operator?
An owner-operator is a truck driver who owns and operates their own trucking business. This can mean driving your own truck or managing a small fleet. Whether your goal is financial stability or a life on the road, you’re usually chasing freedom.
While you can choose your loads and schedule as an owner-operator, you also have the responsibility of keeping things running smoothly–networking with shippers and brokers, negotiating lanes and rates, looking to cut costs in the office and on the road. You’re fueling operations behind the scenes and behind the wheel.
As you’re out and hauling, it can be a struggle to manage load board subscription fees with freight broker commissions, or balance life on the road with life at home. That’s where HAQM Relay comes in.
“[With Relay], you don’t have to deal with a freight broker. You just look on the load board, you see the price. And if it fits, you just click on that load.”
How to find truck loads for owner-operators
If you’re an owner-operator with your own DOT authority, HAQM Relay’s free freight search can help you save time and maximize your earning potential. Relay gives you the power to book your own loads directly from HAQM’s vast shipping network. From local routes to long-haul journeys, you have more control over your schedule and route planning. For owner-operators looking to balance work and home life, that includes work that gets you home daily.
As a one-stop shop, Relay allows you to easily operate your business yourself. Our solution-oriented offers:
- Flexible scheduling. From the rest stop to the gas station, book freight any time, anywhere.
- A wide, consistent variety of load options. Solo or team, backhaul or roundtrip – Relay makes it easy to diversify.
- Easy-to-use load search features. That includes personalized recommendations, as well as cancellation replacements and reloads.
- Transparent pricing and payment terms.
- Access to a user-friendly app for load management. Monitor load progress as you track BOLS and invoices in one portal.
How to get loads as an owner-operator
For HAQM’s owner-operators, booking spot loads and contracted work is straightforward.
- Sign up and get approved as an HAQM Relay carrier. Keep your assets, insurance, and certifications up to date.
- Log in to the Relay website or app (available on iOS or Android). You can then browse, filter, or match with available loads that suit your equipment and preferences. On certain loads, you can negotiate arrival times and rates.
- Book loads directly on the carrier portal or mobile app. Spot loads and contracts can be booked instantly, but you also have a chance to name your own price in load auctions.
“[Relay lets] you pick and choose the distance. On Post A Truck, you can put the amount that you drive for.”
If you’re a Relay carrier, there are a few ways to increase your odds of getting the loads you want:
- Check regularly for new load listings.
- Build a strong performance score by delivering safely and on time (this can unlock early access to loads and additional work opportunities).
- Consider balancing your business strategy with spot loads and contracted work. That allows you to cherry pick from thousands of loads on-demand to fill scheduling gaps in between steady roundtrips.
HAQM’s owner-operator opportunities
From dry vans to refrigerated loads, HAQM Relay has the right loads for your equipment and business goals. We have owner-operator freight opportunities for:
- Day cab and sleeper cab
- 26' and 16' box truck
- 48' trailer
- 53' dry van
- 53' reefer
- 20' container
- 40’, 45’ high cube container
As an owner-operator, success doesn’t just depend on your ability to secure loads. In addition to consistent freight, Relay gives owner-operators ways to earn more and save more.
- Rewards: Owner-operators of every size can access potential tiered benefits through our rewards program. That includes cash bonuses and exclusive booking offers for consistently meeting our high standards of safety and performance. The rewards tiers factor your company’s miles based on your number of drivers and equipment, so even small owner-operators can achieve top benefits.
- Discounts: HAQM’s owner-operators can access Relay’s trucking discounts on fuel, vehicle rentals, insurance, tires, and more. The average Relay carrier can save up to 23% of operating costs.
Book your own loads on Relay
As an owner-operator, your success is our success. HAQM Relay is committed to providing the tools and support you need. Ready to take the wheel of your future? You can start your Relay application on desktop or our app. But first, check out Relay’s carrier requirements to see if HAQM’s owner-operator opportunities are the right fit.
Disclaimer: HAQM does not tender loads through any third-party load boards. Any HAQM loads posted on third-party load boards will only be tendered directly to approved and onboarded carriers via the Relay web portal or Relay mobile app. If you are interested in hauling loads for HAQM, sign up and book directly on relay.haqm.com.
