Load Boards

I just called one of the Broker on "Mint" a free load board and they told me they use hundreds of load board, so why would the free load board be any worse than the paid one if you verify the broker?
I am pretty sure, in many cases they are the same loads as the "paid load board" but some maybe shifty brokers. check on the broker's reputation...

 

What or Who is TQL?

 

Check what out davelp???

 

Hahah this is some funny stuff in the last pages. Directshipper where are you located? If the rates in your area have been inflated so much I need to make my way there, Im missing out on some big bucks!!

 

We ship out of Cleveland, OH. I am surprised you haven't heard, yet. There are thousands of loads there, but no trucks.

 

Ok I admit rates in Ohio have been higher than usual, I spent two weeks in your state last month and did really well. But there's a simple reason for that, just look out your window, weather will have an impact on truck availability and in turn the rates.

 

OH FOR SURE! The weather has been killing me all winter. The storms, 30 car pile ups, you name it. I would be lying if I said I didn't hope for the rates to come down, but so far they have not. Although, they are settling down around 2.50-3.00 per mile. I can deal with that. I still have someone try to get $4-$5 per mile. I find that to be unrealistic, unless you are hauling for the government or something similar.

 

You mentioned in one of your first posts in this thread, a few pages back, something about truckers cutting the throats of the very people that support them. Well that blade swings both ways. Truckers are providing a service that you desperately need to stay alive. In the last year, fuel prices alone have risen nearly 20%. Last year at this time I was paying $3.25 per gallon for fuel. Now I am paying $3.99 per gallon or more.

Well everyone knows that when fuel prices go up the cost of goods goes up. Drivers, like any other business have a certain percentage of profit that they need to survive. That money is needed no matter what happens. Just like you need to make a certain percentage to survive no matter what happens.

Now you have been asking WHY have the prices gone up 100%. Well they have not gone up that much here. But to give you some reasons....

1. Rise in fuel prices. You also need a refer so that is going to cost more to operate.
2. HOS rule changes. Gone are the days of running for 6 hours and taking a 4 hour nap and running for another 6. Productivity has gone down because of rule changes and thus the price has to increase to cover those losses.
3. Directly related to fuel is the need for our truck parts and tires. With the rise in fuel also comes a rise in those parts because their shipping costs also had to rise. This also includes food, load securement items and so on.

The rates have been pretty steady because the trucking industry was absorbing the shock but it can only handle so much. Finally, truck owners are being the good parent and putting their foot down and saying NO! Unfortunately it is a sign of our time.

The question that I have for you is..... If you are in such a need to move your product, why have you not signed a contract with a mega carrier? Is it that what you are willing to pay is not worth it to them? The problem may not be with owner operators. Or maybe even sign contracts with one or more owner operators? You will get better pricing on a consistent guaranteed load basis than you will get for a one time wonder.

I have a couple of friends that own their own trucks and we are going to have a loose mutually beneficial agreement because if I can have the ability to send 3 trucks for a specific job instead of one it opens more opportunities for us.

For example, yesterday we had a job that required 2 trucks. Well we made them available. It was a 500 mile run and our pay was $1900 per truck. I have another run that is 1100 miles and that one pays $5600. Now it is 4 days till I get back home on that but it is once a week.

Now with that kind of money, why in the heck would I run your stuff for $3 and under?

Before everyone asks, I am not saying anything except these loads are not pulling a van.

How can I compare them? Simple, why would I pull a van for $3 a mile when I can pull another load for $5 per mile?

 

But like you said, you aren't pulling a van. I didn't just wake up yesterday and start running freight. We have been doing this for 20 years, and what has happened in the last year is NOT due to "inflation" as you imply. It sure looks like panic. I don't think a lot of you have a real idea of the costs. I have several carriers that have carried my loads for years, and yes they increased their rates, too. But they are realistic and used true numbers and calculations to determine their rates. VERY FAIR! Can you seriously tell me that dry load from OH to say TN costs a truck $3000 to run? Don't make me laugh. You all know who I am speaking about. Don't come at me all infuriated when you know there are these newbies who have no idea what they are doing and think they are driving a gold mine.

 

Gold road truckers lol.. That's funny because I haven't raised rates on anyone that's been fair to me the past couple of years. I'm paying the same for fuel this time as I was last year at the same time. I think in times of high demand and short capacity customers who have been fair probably don't get hammered so hard. It doesn't really matter what it costs for a dry van or any truck to move. On a sensitive move $3,000 OH to TN might be a bargain. For you obviously not. Like someone else said why don't you have an established relationship with a large carrier or 3PL? I know, I know you like to pay small carriers more money than the big guys because they deserve it haha.