So called owner/operators

I take the good with the bad loads. Then whenever things are quiet, dispatch seems to remember me in favour of the picky guys and sends them home for a day or two.
I would never dream of asking a carrier to cover my repairs. Some had programs to cover it, but charged outrageous interest rates.

 

Can you name your company so other will not make the mistake of leasing or even calling you to lease our trucks on to your company.

 

Escrow accounts when leased to a carrier are for their protection. I didn't see that noted in hear but is the reason for it. They have to be able to cover costs of fuel taxes, damages etc if you up and leave without any notice.

 

I can say this about the auto hauling industry in general. We're hauling for the same rates we where in the early 90's while cost of operating has tripled. These companies that are bidding the large contracts have cut the rates and now we as O/O have to operate on a tighter budget. I won't haul cheap frieght period. Don't care if it's contract or not. My equipment wasn't free and neither is my time.

 

I'm surprised that in an industry with so many owner operators, we re having this discussion. Maybe some of you have already made your millions and are just in this for fun, but I haven't yet and I have a break even point and a profit point that I must reach in order be running still in the next few years. No disrespect to you idependantly rich guys but I can't run for a loss to keep bob's Toyota happy.

 

That's a freight haulers mentality. Keep them scared that the customers gonna leave. That's why the mega boxes can keep these new guys out for 6 months at a time. Bully them and scare tactics. I don't run scared and sure as hell won't run broke. If these companies and customers cared about you like you care about them the rates would be higher and we wouldn't be having this discussion

 

By this response I would venture to say you have no idea how the Carhaul business works with Auto Manufacturers at the upper level when negotiating for business whether assembly plant, port, or railhead.

 

I would venture to say you're wrong. I was a terminal manager for a large carrier before becoming a driver and I taught them that just because a city is 3 inches apart on a map it doesn't equal an easy route. The manufacturers job is to get it for the cheapest rate. The carriers job is to make sure there's still profit.