As a shipper, how do I find owner operators?

What I can't understand given I have been in corporate for a really long time--so I understand what bottlenecking or what (middleman) means, so I try to cut out the middleman as much as possible and go directly to the source. When I actually had the opportunity to go on a few loads with my husband who is a professional truck driver (from the officer to the shipping/recieving to some annoying driver some have this thing about Truck drivers (I believe it is intimidation)---WHY DO PEOPLE PUT A STIGMA ON TRUCK DRIVERS??? DUH, IT IS TRUCKS, PLANES, SHIPS WHO HAUL YOUR PHARMA, MATERIALS, FOOD, CARS, anything from A-Z. Truck Drivers are Licensed Professionals. If all truckers went on a strike--everything would shut down and best believe someone is pooping in their pannies. I had to put a few people in place so my husband could back out safely in a Walmart parking lot after delivering a load. On the other hand I had to put a few brokers in place--by crossing the wrong person. I absolutely hate it when before you book a load --the broker is extra nice but then when it is booked--there's some kind of ownership and bullying--so annoying, now that is dishonest and annoying. No wonder why there is a shortage of truck drivers. Don't get me wrong this is not for all brokers, there are some honest and good ones out there but they are rare.

I am ready to change this game. Look at the word Brokers--intended to make your pockets Broke like loose uncle Ham always begging for a dollar and don't have two red cents to rub. Honestly, they actually need us because we have the equipment, notice how when you book a load the "sincerely" message is "Thanks for your Truck" Whatever happen to the individual? If Truckers and Direct Shippers just come together---a whole candy jar just opened and Owner Operators as well as Shippers revenue just went to a whole new level.

 

That sounds good on paper but in reality, most shippers don't want to deal with a 100 different small carriers. They want one or two people they can count on to handle the freight so they can concentrate on production.

 

I get what your saying but if we continue to have that mind frame--truckers will never succeed. Truckers are already setup as a business with the right credentials and as they grow they can too hire their own dispatch, compliance team, safety team, marketing (branding), SUW team etc. that's just business. A small business have to start somewhere. If they are dealing with 100 different small carriers versus 5 different big brokers you tell me where its a win-win situation.

 

I am a fleet owner and a broker, so I have a different view of this. As a broker, I have access to small 5 truck carriers all the way a certain mega who I am an agent for. That means that my customers with a single email can move 100 tons of cargo per week. It is a matter of getting goods to market. Most of my customers are not going to waste time and money on trying to book freight with small and mid size carriers. That is not their job, it's mine.

 

Most OOps are under a Carriers Control.Sure you could hit the local Truck Stop and look for the most "Chromed out",Long nose Pete,with "blinged out trailer",complete with 72 clearance lights and all aluminum wheels.This person is probably an OOP,with his own authority and may take a run.The problem like other posters pointed out is (1) Once you send him to Newyork(hes going to probably be busy for a few days,till he could get back. And unless you have a dedicated round trip back to your receiving warehouse(theyll stay busy,keeping wheels turning on other loads.Just wondering (how big of a shipper are you?

 

A wah dis Fadda! "BUMBACLADWAR" ok I will not comment on your username :-. To your point, actually owner operators are the 'carrier' so yes it is within their own control how they run their operations. Reason many brokers are taking up that missing puzzle while they kick back, negotiate and increase their revenue while drivers are working long hard drives, missing their families, recieving less than what they really should be getting paid for because they have to run to make the paper if owner operator, you are your own boss. It don't take much to have someone you trust to do the dispatch and business aspect of it. There is alot of paperwork, yes I would agree and drivers want to get in and out of lanes, keep it moving. As I tell my husband, I have the business sense to make things happen and he has the truckers balls to haul. I see both sides of the fence, if a broker could only walk in the shoes of a truck driver--they would be happy to pay them more and not cheat them out of their hard earned time to run a load.

 

Get the local phone book. Look under Motor Carrier.

Work down the line. Ask each how many trucks they are.

Technically all fleets of one truck or more is owner operator. Just have more people and resources to match what tonnage you need out of your warehouse each day.

 

Good for you, you may have access to fleet with a Broker carrier agreement which is the asset (equipment) including the individuals (truck driver) who are also assets. Without their trucks and credentials you basically have no foundation. They don’t work for you but haul the loads you negotiated with the shipper. You may have the customers but it’s really both of them that make the operations work. It’s not about having a small business or big business and for you to say that Shippers will waste no time on small businesses. This is validation that you are one of those brokers who discourage small owner operators to go out of business. Hate me or love me, I know the truth hurts, my point in case this is why Truckers need to come together, honestly bottlenecking is not necessary to stagnate an owner operater and cutting out the middleman is necessary to increase the owner operators revenue. I may ruffle a few feathers here but I am a firm believer in transparency.