Expediting w/ Own Authority Like Shipping Wars

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by HrHitter33, Jan 14, 2012.

  1. HrHitter33

    HrHitter33 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 26, 2008
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    I understand this area of delivery is fairly new and not alot of people have experience in it, but I've considered it for sometime. Anyone with experience using Uship and or Other websites/brokers. Please include any websites you know of that do similiar loads, especially the unique and LTL . I really like the Idea of operating with my own authority, and have plenty of experience in all classes of CDL type vehicles. Any help would be appreciatted. Thanks
     
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  3. BAYOU

    BAYOU Road Train Member

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    Here we go........thanks A&E
     
    Big John, RickG, 07-379Pete and 5 others Thank this.
  4. MysticHZ

    MysticHZ Road Train Member

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    :yes2557: ... and one.
     
  5. NSBGearjammer

    NSBGearjammer Medium Load Member

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    I heard there was more money in building choppers, working on crab boats, driving the ice roads, finding antiques in barns, logging or buying storage units. Until they did a TV show about it. Good luck.
     
    SMBdriver Thanks this.
  6. fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

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    1. There is little money to be made on Uship. I tried many times when they first started up, and gave up frustrated.

    2. Specialty moves are typically hauled by those with a reputation. What this means is you haul a bunch of normal stuff, and luck out hauling something for someone that moves specialty stuff, and you do a good job. Maybe they call you the next time if they like you. over the years, you gain a following. I have a friend who hauls flatbed and has for many years. A call out of the blue, due to his specialized equipment, had him hauling live marine mammals under police escort. I've seen the pics, so it's not a story. He has now picked up the deal and is the carrier for the company.

    3. One of those pieces on the first show was that horse from Ripley's. Up until last year, one of my best friends that I've known for twenty years was responsible for shipping everything for Ripley's around the world. I never hauled a single load for him (I gave him many, many rates) as he could always beat my rate, and I gave him normal, not specialized rates. More risk for less pay does not compute.
     
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  7. 07-379Pete

    07-379Pete Crusty Commando-Pete

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    The show Biggest Looser hasn't caught the attention of a lot of truckers yet. :biggrin_25523:
     
  8. Logan76

    Logan76 Crusty In Training

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    Oh man this one here about made me cry i laughed so hard, kudos to you sir!:biggrin_2551:
     
  9. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    I have known several good , experienced hotshotters . Even the best have gotten out of it the past couple of years with the exception of a few .
    The key to success is being better at selling than driving . You'll go broke working off the internet . You have to go out and sell your service and find your own accounts .
    I saw several fail due to the slowdown in the construction industry . Loads like rebar , big HVAC units , etc. went away .
    This is no time to get in this business unless you have a couple of good base accounts lined up .
     
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  10. SMBdriver

    SMBdriver Light Load Member

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    Nov 28, 2010
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    I looked at Uship when I first started out and the whole layout was so poor that I never bothered trying to book anything from that site.

    My first issue with it was that most of the postings were for either cars, animal transport, (dogs & cats mostly) and household stuff.

    I'm not interested in escorting "Fluffy" or a box of kitchen ware from point a to point b for no pay, and I'm not set up to haul cars. (Which is a tough business to get into as it is, and according to friends of mine the rates for car hauling went south a year or so back.)

    The second issue I saw was the bid system they use. People could make a bid, but the shipper could cancel on them without any notice to take a lower bid. What I saw just looking at the site was people hauling junk for nothing. Less than cost in most cases. I don't see any profit potential there on 99% of the loads.

    My third problem with the whole Uship concept is that you would be dealing with unknown people, not established businesses, and it's set up as a cash on delivery system. So what do you do if you get the load moved and the receiver won't pay?

    I'd much rather invoice a company I know pays their bills and wait a few days to get paid than move something for a stranger and risk not getting paid the little bit of money those Uship folks are offering.

    I'm with RickG, if you want to hotshot, you have to earn your own customers (meaning industrial or oilfield if you want decent rates) and give them great service to keep them.

    As to LTL boards & brokers, they'll just make YOU broker. The stuff that hits the boards is the leftover junk that the regular carriers won't move as it's too cheap. To make any money at LTL from the boards you'd have to combine a bunch of little pickups in one general area and take them as a batch. Still, you'd be looking at collecting pay from each and every shipper individually, and if one didn't pay, there goes your profit.

    It may look appealing on TV, but you have to figure what your equipment, licensing, permits, and tags cost up front, then add in all fuel, lodging, meals, tolls, maintenance on your equipment, and any other costs you can think of to get a picture of what it costs just to get set up. Just as a ballpark figure, you can bet on somewhere around 50-60K for a pickup and trailer, minimum, if you buy new. And you also need to keep in mind that you're getting into a business that's heavily regulated, which means you'll be up to your neck in paperwork that all has to be done correctly and on time.

    It's a lot of work. You won't be wanting to haul low paying junk once you sink that much time and money into getting setup.
     
    Last edited: Jan 15, 2012
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  11. BAYOU

    BAYOU Road Train Member

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    That's how I got into trucking I started out hotshoting and made good money back in 2002 up untill a few years back this is what the problem is now with a small truck and a mini float ("one ton and gooseneck ect" i had a c5500 and a 53ft light duty step) is I was getting $3 a mile or sometimes more out of Houston,tx and most the loads off the load board fly off the shelf at $2 a mile
    well what happen to me was a broker cut me off at the legs he went in and said I have 100 trucks at your call and I don't use mini floats so I will move all your freight for $2.75 a mile with a semi that can handle anything you have I stoped by there just a few weeks ago he said when I can move 25 loads a week for him I'm back in well I'm here to tell you I would need atleast 10 trucks for that
    So my next move is Spend $10,550 instead of buying a truck I'm going to play ball

    There is know such thing as customer loyalty anymore price sales.......I take one of my customers out for a hunt I give them football Tikets every year for the cowboys are the texans and when it comes down to it he will use someone else to save $100
    I see guys all the time think they have someone all wraped up that they charge what ever they want and they wait on them to get back if there out of town well that don't happen in Texas
     
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