Oldeskool has bailed out

No it's not a hobby. It's a different way of running the business is all. The world of loadboards being just for backhauls is 15+ years in the past the old days. That's not what it is anymore. If you don't believe me then ask some broker that's been doing it since deregulation how in the 80''s, 90's and '00's they could move just about any lane in the country for a cheap flat backhaul rate really year round versus more recent years where the price swings are wild one way or the other. That's what things have become. And I take it somewhat disrespectful a person telling how I did it for 13 years was a hobby. My customer was the broker. They did my sales work and many of them sought me out for repeat business for years. And that way of running the business ####ing paid for a lot of #### along the way.

 

I don’t want to argue with you or disrespect you. But the way I see it is the opposite of you. I believe in my post I explained why you say it’s not a backhaul board. You would be correct in that it’s not used that way. But it is also factual that there is an .80 cpm gap between spot and contract rates at this moment. So while people are using it for head haul loads they are doing it for back haul rates.

Again I am trying to be respectful. But you yourself admitted the juice wasn’t worth the squeeze so you got out. You are also trying to assert the way you were doing was a viable option. These two things contradict each other.

 

@Jubal Early Times and @rollin coal
I see both of yall have solid points. Spot market is being used more than years bygone. Industry is relying on it. Freight payers and carriers. Everyone is getting a little lazy. The gap between spot and contract is dynamic. Yes, now contract generally pays more, but it’s getting closer together. I am getting sorted for bidding and yea, rates will be lower a bit if you want a contract from a food producer/distributer/grocery chain. There are more carriers trying to get on the carrier bid distribution lists, more than ever. Don’t even mention the crazy amount of brokerages soliciting every day!! Loosing to a brokerage is a reality. I just spent the last month soliciting. Much harder this time than 2 years ago. Does relying fully on spot market work? It can, but takes a different approach. Is it risky, yes it is! I have done better with a customer than working the spot market. The consistency and trust equals dollars. But, I also have given much to ensure the truck is “there every time” and then outbid. One can fail at both approaches or be productive. Honestly, it’s darn competitive and you are competing with carriers that don’t understand they are going out of business both on spot or when they get awarded a customer.

 

It is viable. There are lots of guys out there doing it for longer than i did on 100% spot freight. Biggest mistake I made was doing it while leased on. There would've been more meat on the bone independent. I should've dove right into my own authority right from day 1. That 80 cent spread between contract and spot is not static. Granted more often than not contract beats spot but we're not living in 1985 anymore.

 

If I offended anyone it wasn’t my intent. I think we can all agree that there seems to an overwhelming number of people who own a truck and have been granted authority who have zero business acumen. The vast majority of those seem to be in the spot market. We see it everyday on this very forum.

relying strictly on spot market for long term success is a fool’s errand. Can it be a tool? Can it be a stepping stone? Can you make money at times? Yes!! But for a reefer, flat or van carrier to say I’m going to build and grow a trucking company and never pull anything but spot freight is preposterous. Can a one truck guy make a living? Sure he can. But he really won’t do any better financially than if he had a good lease. Some would do better

 

Thanks mate, that means a lot coming from an old hand like you. Especially when many days im hanging on by my fingernails and the seat of my pants trying to figure it out on the fly. I deffo managed to select hard mode right off the bat lol.

 

No doubt you are right. I like the freedom of doing what I want when I want. Although most my stuff I do never makes it to any boards and I only need to send an email to the broker to tell him in and out times. I agree on your assessment and take advantage of it as well.

 

No offense taken here. But I do disagree on how much you can make on the spot market if you can make a few connections for a single truck guy. Plenty of great freight if you understand the market.

 

While I agree, @Jubal Early Times mentioned relying soley on the load board. I could still run load board freight 100% and do ok.

I'd say my load board usage is 80/20. I have contacts from the boom that I get loads from often. Those loads never hit the boards now. During the boom was the time to impress those good brokers who needed help. Normally, those brokers freight ain't on the boards anymore.

IDK about being a hobby trucker? Maybe, 112k miles this year. I just think of it different. I don't want to do the same thing every day. I don't care where I might be tomorrow. Willing to go anywhere, with a caveat. I either want to see the place, or the money is great.

IMO, if you're running load board freight only and want to thrive, you have to be versatile. The more "i ain't gonna" in your resume, you're gonna struggle.