Since there is no IU 530 forum, i figured this would be the best place to put this discussion.

I've been working in the motor freight industry for 18 months now and i'm curious where other IU 530 wobs fit into the industry. 

So far i have indentified four markets within the motor freight industry, correct me if i am leaving something out.  By market, i mean the kind of shipping service that a company requests from a carrier (trucking company).

1) One or more packages, but less than one skid, from each shipper (i.e. UPS, FedEx express, and courier companies).  this may be more 540 than 530.

2) One or more skids of freight, but less than a full truckload, called "less-than-tuckload (LTL) trucking" (i.e. Yellow, Roadway, Conway, UPS Freight, FedEx Freight, etc.).  These drivers are usually "company employees," meaning they are paid by the company they work for and not through a broker.  They are usually paid hourly and sometimes by the mile.

3) One full truckload of freight, called "truckload" or "over-the-road (OTR) trucking" (i.e. Shneider, JB Hunt, etc.).  Many times, these workers are owner-operators for a broker company that finds them business.  they are paid almost always by the mile.

4) Intermodal truckers (i.e. Pacer Sacktrain, TIP, etc.).  Intermodal drivers take full-loaded trailers from trains and boats and deliver the freight inside them to various factories, warehouses, or other trains and boats.  these workers also are owner-operators working through brokers.  they are paid by the load.

Now, i realize that outside of California, there are not many of us.  But i would be interested where the rest of us fall, even if you drive for a specific industry, like steel truck drivers (IU440), grocery drivers (460), dump trucks (330), furniture drivers (420), etc.

I personally work for a LTL company.