Dedicated Contract Service
When a truck, trailer and driver are all you need, DOF Ground is who to call. With our Dedicated Contract Service, we provide no-touch cartage services for in-market freight moves – whether you need us for 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or 1 year. Simply provide direction to our driver and we’ll manage the process, from sourcing, to compliance, to billing for you.
Why Do Shippers & Carriers Use Contract Rates?
The U.S. truckload market is massive and highly fragmented. There are thousands of carriers and shippers, each with their own agendas, strategies and networks. This creates an environment where both pricing and carrier capacity are constantly shifting — predictability is hard to come by, whether you're on the supply or demand side of the market.
Why shippers like contract rates:
Easier budgeting & forecasting
More reliable capacity
Ability to build strategic carrier relationships
More accountability from providers (KPI tracking)
When Consistency Matters, Our Carrier Network Comes Through
The freight market isn’t going to get less volatile any time soon — but we can help you ride it out with contract freight. We’re here to help you find dependable dedicated carriers for consistent freight volumes in any lane, no matter how tricky. We mobilize the proprietary operational data we’ve acquired over 16 years of working with tens of thousands of vetted carriers to find the strongest candidates for your next bid. But our offerings don’t end with our capacity connections. You can leverage our expertise for help running your next request for proposals (RFP), evaluating bids, tendering freight to your contract carriers and even optimizing performance across your entire freight network.
What is a contract rate?
A contract rate is a rate a shipper and a logistics provider agree on for a specific lane and certain time period (typically 3 months to one year). Contract rates are usually calculated based on a shipper’s estimated freight volume and a provider’s cost per-mile.
When it comes to choosing between spot rates or contract rates to move your freight, one isn’t necessarily better than the other — it depends on your situation. If you have consistent shipments on consistent lanes (including peak season demands), it’s normally better to use contract rates. With this type of rate, you’re locked in — securing the capacity you need with consistent pricing. If you’re moving a low number of shipments, have inconsistent loads and lanes, or have a one-time need (e.g., during emergencies), it may make more sense to use spot rates. With this type of rate, you can easily overcome any disruptions in your supply chain by immediately filling gaps to get your freight moving.