Understanding pros and cons of the industry

The answer to your questions have already been discussed in many previous posts. Read the past forums,use the search function,and you will notice how we feel about nearly everything. Do the research and form your opinions.

 

I don't know what you are actually looking for but the way it works is twofold.

One is shippers want the cheapest way to move something off their docks to their customers, and they can find it every time.

Two unless there is a personal relationship built between the company and carriers, with personalized service being part of the company's needs that is provided by the carrier, the carriers are all the same.

What drivers want is meaningless and useless to any company.

 

From a driver standpoint in relating to shippers and receivers. I can say that "region" has little to do what a driver can expect from a given shpr/rcvr. Some seem to have a good amount of respect and appreciation for truckers, some act as though they could care less for them, and you can find both ends of the scale in any given local. But to be fair, truckers have created a lot of their own problems in how they are treated by shpr/rcvr as well as general public.

The carriers themselves all have different approaches in dealing with drivers, largely depending on size. But the business of trucking and the business of driving truck (and maintaining a family life) are largely at odds with one another and there must be a lot of give and take on all sides. Sometimes this comes about smoothly, sometimes not. Problem is, many truck drivers don't have much of a clue what is required on the business/office end to keep their job viable at that particular carrier. And if you ask many truck drivers, they think the sun will not rise unless they do their job.

 

Regions: In my experience The north east, and Georgia have the ruddest people and tightest docks. But then their are exceptions everywhere. Place in Kansas is in a CAVE!
Customers: Worst ones I think are the DCs for most large stores except in my experience Walmart and Costco. Hate Publix. There are just so many varients that make it impossible to pin down a type. Every place is different. Generally any place that makes you pay them to take possession of THEIR crap. I really hate the concept of a Lumper.