Sylectus?

It's brokered expedited freight amongst carriers who have it direct and are looking to cover extra freight with other trusted carriers who are part of the network. And non-asset 3PL's looking for carriers in the network. Rates, all over the place... Most of the freight goes on the board for bids from network carriers. Much of it never see's the board. Like everything else. Sometimes the freight can pay fantastic but most times not. Seems the overall market is down and lots of general freight haulers are happy to expedite for regular truckload rates anymore. I thought they didn't allow one truck operations into the network as the belief was it had a depressing effect on rates, they must be seeing $$$$ signs and changing that... Anyways, sometimes a partner carrier will call your company up looking for some help if you have trucks posted, those are typically the ones where they are looking for a favor, as in you're not gouging, and then that favor will at some point get returned in kind... ...did one load like that, and indeed several weeks later me and one of our other trucks got a couple of great loads from them in return. Dislike those, but it's understood on partner loads if one of your good contacts calls asking... ...and you are looking. I like it as far as picking off very good loads from time to time but it's no end all be all panacea. As far as a one truck operation pulling a flatbed. I do not believe you will get much if any value out of it for the cost. The flatbed freight is not really there. Most of the freight is automotive, also some air freight, and FEMA loads when storms hit. When the parts suppliers for the auto industry or even the automakers themselves need to expedite dies quickly from one plant to another, they are looking for flats. But for the most part the flatbed freight there is sparse.

 

Well, let's put this into perspective. There is no place that won't have cheap freight most of the time based on Rollin's guidelines. And he can get it.

But rates for trusted carriers on Sylectus (dry van) never come close to what many here would call cheap. Actually, what is cheap for a Sylectus carrier would be jack pot for many carriers.

But the key word is "trusted". Don't think because you join the network that you are going to get loads. You have to make an effort to get out and meet people even if that is at the networking events but even better if in person. Then, if you don't have freight to broker as well then it is harder to get freight. And it must be freight that you can broker at $2.25/mile or better.

Now the other thing is that you drivers better understand and accept the expectations of this market niche. While not all freight is expedite it is all premium and the customer expects regular updates and on-time service.

 

Yes, cheap is always a matter of perspective. Sylectus rates are superior to typical loadboard. But when you see what true expedited was paying last year, with relative ease, compared to this year.. ..well, for me anyways, it just makes me seek alternative freight. I just refuse to provide the service required for true expedite at rates lower than my "unrealistic expetations" (according to many brokers) and I do still get expedite loads these days, just not very often. What you say about networking is so true, without you and Lauren taking on the lion's share of that we'd not see much benefit from it at all. In fact there are many multiple truck carriers who don't grasp that and get no value from Sylectus at all.. ..it's more than just picking loads off a board that is for sure.

 

The one expediter I have that is with the same company as last year is down 22% so far this year....everyone said 'wait until spring, it will turn around'....mid-May, no turn around at all from what I've seen.

 

Auto industry is very cyclical. In a normal year your friend would be right. This year isn't normal. Volkswagen in Chattanooga is only at full production 2 days a week. There is still very good random auto expedite that pops but overall and for the most part the rates are not there. Too many expediters in a bad market. Never want to be 100% dependant on any single source or type of freight. The way I look at it, the longer the pain goes on in that segment, the deeper it will cut clearing out a bunch of trucks. When it rebounds it's gonna be boom time for the ones still around.

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Yep, company my two are leased to has too much auto....that's why I'm hoping to make a change, if someone we know would get back to me lol.

 

Time to thin the herd.

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What is funny is the owner of your company is "proud" of how little auto freight they have compared to competition.

 

What company is that?

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