Under $2/mile loads with $6/gal diesel.

I rarely hustle for the last-minute loads, so I may not see it as much as you do. But for me, that change is a hell and heaven difference. Simply speaking, when ELDs came into effect, 14 hours rule was the biggest hindrance. I had to cancel loads due to extended detentions because I'd have too little time left on my 14 after the planned pick-up. Or I gave up on loads that would conflict with 14 hours. There is also a less stress factor. I can stop at a truck stop for a 3-hour nap and then run without giving up the desired distance. Almost, like running on paper again.

 

I rarely haul last minute loads anymore. I'm normally booked up 3 to 5 days in advance with several loads lined up to go.

But yeah when they gave you flexibility they increased your availability. That has the effect of increasing capacity without actually adding any trucks. You and every other truck out here all of a sudden are able to utilize yourself more because of that flexibility. I know we had this argument before and you disagree.

Put it another way. With inflexible HOS 10 truckers are looking at 1 available load. Only 1 has the hours to do the load the other 9 are sitting there on the sideline unavailable waiting for some hours. Give those trucks flexibility and all of sudden instead of just the 1 truck having availability for that load now you've got 4. See how that works?

 

Uh oh, looks like you dusted off the old Captain Save a Bro cape...

So am I making grand declarations about my utopia or am I lacking vision as you say? How can I be making grand declarations of my utopia and at the same time be criticized for not throwing out my idea? In your own words...

You can't even maintain logical consistency in your own argument...

Has the entire concept of a debate escaped you?

This is a really normal human enterprise this thing we got going on here boss, a fella gots hisself an idear, he chews on it, spits it out, then we all kick it around to see if it holds up to scrutiny.

If you want to play the role of moderator, feel free... but you're not even doing that, you show up to recess and try to tell everybody we're not allowed to play tackle, "hey guys, for pete's sake, two hand touch, someone could skin a knee, all that tackle stuff is stupid"...

Put on your after school clothes, kick up some dust, and have a good time, ain't nobody getting hurt in this old debate.

 

Service!

 

And missed out on the free beer? Yeah okay Suburban Jesus

 

99% of the time everybody just looking for cheapest truck

 

I don’t know where you get that %
I run with 1/2 my loads spot market a week or 2/3 spot market a week. Depends on how much time I take off. Out of the spot market about 1/3 at at very most are what comes up and not repeat. So I’d say about 20% I pick up total are all about just a reasonable rate at the moment. That 20% is also on the high end. Most of my repeats are on the high end of market where I am almost a no go, but have proven to be the worth thru service. I know this from the small talk of loose lip O/O and by loosing lanes thru being a bit to high. Service still has a place and is part of my business plan. Without it I would be joining the plethora of guys crying about rates. Note I do not run dry van. I do produce primarily with also haul spot market grocery items.

 

In the reefer business it's not difficult to find brokers with repeat business running the same load(s) every week. Believe it or not some of them actually want to take care of that business and not leave it to chance. If the rate works and you can make a trip from that one have at it and make a week. If not find somebody else. If you can communicate in english clearly, foreign or regional accents don't matter, and do what is expected without any fuss those people will generally call you up all the time offering it before they post it on DAT, ITS, etc. You can mix in the bid stuff from megas and it's a piece of cake to string something together.

 

6 years Landstarve dry van living in my Cascadia with my cat.

 

The ever-lasting dilemma is if one trailer - a dry van in particular - owner-operators are well suited for direct customers. I aim to give 100% of my best on my obligations and simply am afraid that I could be a disappointment in the undertaken tasks. It is one thing to cancel a load a day in advance to a spot market broker and quite another to call your customer that you are unable to show up and that they must hurry to find a broker to cover it for them. It defeats the purpose of having you as their dedicated carrier and compromises your reputation if it happens too often. I can go to a warehouse manager and convince them to try me for a few pickups - I even know where I would try first - but with direct customers, I think that you need to have contingency plans and as a solo, I don't, and I want to stay solo. I don't want a fleet.
I am aware that there are some one truck/trailer operators who do it. Maybe some plants would load them as they show up, if they don't, that's fine by them too...but in my perception, a solo guy can hardly accommodate obligation. Maybe start with one load per week, or one per month, and then build on that... And as I type this, I don't think it is such a bad idea because it would create a connection and new experience. Although, income-wise, it would not be of much significance.