As a shipper, how do I find owner operators?

See direct shippers post loads all the time on ITS. What is the problem with brokers? You need trucks and they connect them to your freight..

 

there is no problem with good brokers. the prolem is there is 20 bad for every good. and i may be generous in my estimations

 

what type of trailers are you loading?

 

If your rate isn't fair paying then it will NOT go on my truck. What happens when the people that live there haul away from home for decent money, when someone outside comes in and hauls it for less than they are and now they are in a tight spot. It works both ways. You would do better, if your freight is regular, to have a regular schedule, with the same drivers, pay them a rate they are happy with and will not look elsewhere for other higher paying freight, then you know they will do a good job and you can rest east. If you pay the least then you will get the corresponding level of service. Now if you successfully get away with paying a low rate, when the rates rise, people will remember that and you WILL take a raping on the rate. The question is do you want steady eddy or hit and miss and probably come out the same at the end of the year? Also keep in mind of who is showing up and what kind of equipment, on time or late? at your customer on the receiving end. If you are late too much, you may not have 1800 loads a year anymore. What goes around comes around.

If you don't like that then you can buy your own trucks.

 

The word backhaul shows you posted for the reason I thought you did . Looking for O/O's to haul cheap . YOU get the "good" rate . Easy to see why you're having trouble finding O/O's. So carriers hauling meat backhaul corrosives . Interesting .

 

chock up one as "lesson learned"

 

You would be wise to contact a local trucking company. One that has the capacity to handle your needs. Also since your orders are irregular, some weeks might be hopping others not so much, will depend on how much you will pay for that day. If you have enough time when the order is booked from your customer and when it is to be delivered, you need to use this in advance to line up where trucks will be to haul your freight. If they call and order and it needs to be there right away, I have to assume you are charging them for having it there immediately. Your trucking costs will reflect this.