I have to ask ... Is there any real value in LoadLink?

[AgentSmith]

The frustrating part is we have one user license per person and always have, we don't share a logons or use a central computer to limit our costs; we are a long term and good customer for Loadlink.

I have tried supporting various load board startups but they never hit the critical mass of carriers and brokers to be a credible alternative in Canada.

We also use DAT and Truckstop for intra USA moves but these boards can't replace LoadLink for domestic Canada. Loadlink and DAT are owned by the same parent company and I would love to cancel the subscription to both, especially since DAT is currently overrun with double brokers and scammers.

 

[stella]

We got the call last week from Loadlink over team members working from home. Loadlink has an issue with users accessing the platform from their home office and not the registered office.

We have multiple people working from home in Metro Vancouver, anyone working from home will be considered a separate office and have to pay the base office amount instead of the current additional user fee.

I'm not going to list the actual cost structure but the base amount is over 12 times the additional user fee for us. This is then multiplied by the number of people working from home.

I have no idea how they will handle companies using the hybrid model.

They also offered the Platinum plan as an alternative to the above but have not received a quote on this cost; guessing it is more $$$ and not less

The conversation with Loadlink was for a Broker, assuming Carriers are getting the same calls.

To answer the question of this tread: There is no viable alternative in Canada, that is the value of LoadLink

Thanks Agent Smith, ditto here in Toronto /Mississauga. It is unfortunate LL has not been able to adapt and update its cybersecurity to allow for remote work. Seems as though with no competition, there is no need for them to upgrade their tech.

 

[martinwizz]

You would want to check this out to be sure, but I think their agreement only limits you to one machine per license seat. I do not believe it says anything about how many people are using that licensed machine, nor does it specify how those people connect to that licensed machine. Frankly, although my knowledge is somewhat limited, I don't see how they could monitor, or enforce it. The only way would be for them to have access to your internal IP addressing and no one in their right cyber security mind is going to give away access to that information. That would be tantamount to cyber self-unaliving.
There are plenty of robust load boards in the marketplace now that are either free or very inexpensive, and could easily take LL's place if they get too greedy which, in my opinion, they already have. Higher prices for the same or less service, and their cyber security sucks monkey balls.
To facilitate a wholesale changeover, load brokers simply have to start using another load board, and stop posting on LoadLink. Carriers will follow. LoadLink will die.
So, Load Brokers ... no pressure or anything, but it's all up to you !!! ... LOL

In my opinion, they just tucked the last nail in their coffin. The value is down, risk is high, they enforce stupid policies and there is other loadboard and better solution coming around the corner. We expect to toss Loadlink in less than 2 years. Loadlink is the Tinder of the trucking industry. Not so good to establish relations.

 

[loaders]

I am inclined to agree with the sentiments expressed by martinwizz. What started as an innocuous platform designed to enable buyers and sellers of transportation to conduct relatively simple business transactions, has morphed into an unregulated free for all that has given the unscrupulous and criminal entities a virtual buffet of unsuspecting victims to feast on. Not to say that double brokering and fraudulent scams were not around before Load Link, but look at much easier it has become for those actors to pick and choose who and what to scam and steal.

 

[Michael Ludwig]

Speaking of cyber security, I would expect every carrier and load broker that acquires business insurance of some sort, has been approached by their insurance broker to acquire cyber security insurance. MPO is you're a fool if you don't buy it. When you do buy it, your underwriter will require a cyber security assessment. From my interaction with the assessment teams, if you have vulnerabilities that you cannot mitigate or isolate, they will refuse to write you.
Fortunately we passed ours, because our IT contractor is pretty good about this sort of thing, but it certainly brought up more questions than it did answers.
I'll relay a quick story here (nothing I write is ever really quick, but here goes). As a result of our insurance assessment we decided to do a full blown security assessment of our systems and our contractor's systems using a certified white hat hacker firm. What resulted from that was downright scary. Let me preface this by saying our security is good. Our contractor's security is very good.
The hacker firm scheduled a full 8 hour day intrusion of our systems. In 20 minutes they had access to our network. In 40 minutes they had control or our network. In 50 minutes they had access to our bank accounts. In 80 minutes our IT contractor informed us there was an intrusion.

EPIC FAIL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!​

Follow that on with this ... some good folks here informed me that I was posting loads for sale on LoadLink. I was not. In fact our account, at least the one I paid for, did not allow the posting of loads. A/P did not pick up on the fact that the monthly cost of LL had increased a fair bit. Someone had hacked our LL account. I called LL security about it. Their recommendation; change the password.
With most breaches that is good enough as two-factor authentication is required. This is not so with LL. To do a password change at LL all you have to do is either hit the "forgot password" link, or call in and ask them to reset your password ... then they tell you the password over the phone !!!. They have no way of knowing who they are really talking to. And, since the original license is hooked to a specific IP address, LL has just given a potential hacker a straight through gateway to your network. The rest is simply a matter of time and hacker skill.
I don't know if they have changed their security policy yet as I didn't stick with them any longer than that conversation with LL security. I am fortunate that I do not need LL for loads, and certainly do not need them to expose my network.
Oh, and the end result of our scheduled intrusion ... let's just say it's been upgraded. A lot !!!

 

[GSJGCE]

Just another reminder of Loadlinks greed. We're shutting down our company. Cancelled DAT no problems there. Cancelling Loadlink and in their policy is 30 notice required so we have to apparently pay for June 5th-June 17th even though....we won't be using it starting this Saturday lol.

 

[Rob]

Just another reminder of Loadlinks greed. We're shutting down our company. Cancelled DAT no problems there. Cancelling Loadlink and in their policy is 30 notice required so we have to apparently pay for June 5th-June 17th even though....we won't be using it starting this Saturday lol.

May we ask who is shutting down hard to tell from your handle.
Good luck in with what is next.

 

[tasuinam]

Just another reminder of Loadlinks greed. We're shutting down our company. Cancelled DAT no problems there. Cancelling Loadlink and in their policy is 30 notice required so we have to apparently pay for June 5th-June 17th even though....we won't be using it starting this Saturday lol.

wish you good luck for whatever is next - may I ask what company - Cheers

 

[Tip15]

Anyone receive an email from Loadlink last week with another price increase? I am shocked and have called Loadlink, still waiting for a proper explanation...Old Monthly cost $2025.00, new rate $3500. This is unreal, hoping it was an error.

 

[AgentSmith]

@Michael Ludwig 100% agree, a cyber scrutiny policy is a basic requirement of business today.

We only hear about ransomware incidents but the amount of successful phishing attempts is staggering and do not make the news.

Microsoft updated their Authenticator app in late February 2023 to include a new number matching process to prevent MFA fatigue attacks -- meaning users were unwittingly authenticating unknown devices and allowing criminals full access to their email account.

Google change in bank account request fraud for more information.

Anyone with an O365 account needs to check My Signs regularly to check for unknown devices with access to your account and also attempts to hack you email.

 

[BPOVFB]

A good one from today. They're running an advertisement promotion, so they picked off a posting of ours that was moving a commodity - and claimed it was an advertisement and if we continued that they could raise our prices etc. BUT we could also advertise for (x) /$ month plain text!

Sent them a few leads for trailer parking in toronto

Just slimey.

 

[Tip15]

Anyone receive an email from Loadlink last week with another price increase? I am shocked and have called Loadlink, still waiting for a proper explanation...Old Monthly cost $2025.00, new rate $3500. This is unreal, hoping it was an error.

In conversation with William this is not an error. All accounts are being increased as they need the revenue to keep up with technology.

 

[Fr8Guru]

In conversation with William this is not an error. All accounts are being increased as they need the revenue to keep up with technology.

They just laid off a bunch of staff in their customer service department as well.

 

[DanielB]

LoadLink is going through everyone and if you haven’t seen a huge increase yet… you will. They just haven’t got to you yet.

My customer experience with them has never been good.

They are the only game (or most popular) in town and they know it.

Their attitude stinks.

We tried subscribing to truckstop… it’s a superior product but lacks Canadian content.

The arrogance of LoadLink makes me hate them as much as Rogers, Bell or the gas companies but what can you do?

 

[duke22]

I have noticed a ton of Canadian carriers using the DAT to call on my posted Link freight. I also post my US domestic loads on the Link and have US carriers call in via the DAT. Does anyone have experience with the DAT and how it would work for the Canadian side of things?

 

[Rob]

I have noticed a ton of Canadian carriers using the DAT to call on my posted Link freight. I also post my US domestic loads on the Link and have US carriers call in via the DAT. Does anyone have experience with the DAT and how it would work for the Canadian side of things?

They own both doubt they will let us signup on DAT as they have us over a barrel with the loads stink board.

 

[NotForHire]

Loadlink is getting too expensive

 

[LrgCar]

They own both doubt they will let us signup on DAT as they have us over a barrel with the loads stink board.

They wont let you sign up unless you are located in the states. If you try signing up they will refer you to LL. My question is, why is LL a higher-cost product than DAT when DAT has more features? LL has not changed one bit since the beginning, what is this technology they are investing in? I'd like to know. I can see how they would want a piece of the pie when carriers were making good money but why the delayed reaction now?

 

[Mario]

I think that when quoting loads there will soon have to be a Load Link user surcharge added just like fuel. They are fully aware that alot of the load brokers ( not all) on here and trucking companies ( not all) wouldn't exist if not for them. Then I would say its safe to say that we have all used them for out bound or inbound loads to get a truck to where we need it to be. They remind me of the Liberal Goverment and Trudeau if there is no one to replace what we dont like then how can we complain.
At least we got by Hump Day

 

[duke22]

I think that when quoting loads there will soon have to be a Load Link user surcharge added just like fuel. They are fully aware that alot of the load brokers ( not all) on here and trucking companies ( not all) wouldn't exist if not for them. Then I would say its safe to say that we have all used them for out bound or inbound loads to get a truck to where we need it to be. They remind me of the Liberal Goverment and Trudeau if there is no one to replace what we dont like then how can we complain.
At least we got by Hump Day

That's just the problem though, there are products to replace them at less cost and more features. I move mostly US domestic freight, that's the bulk of my business. The Loadlink when compared to Truckstop is laughable at best. My US postings include full dimensions loaded miles, the RATE, shipping and receiving hours etc etc etc. It's a far superior product at less cost even with the exchange rate. If you want to search for a truck, look at lane rates the list goes on and on. I have never used the DAT but sounds like it has the same rundown as the Truckstop.