Asking owner-ops a question, what do you actually need from us?

Hi — I’m not a driver and I am new to this site. We're a small business that arranges shipments of off-grade building materials — primarily factory seconds of polyiso foam board insulation — which means flatbeds and sometimes tarped loads.

We have a wonderful lady named Robin who has handled our freight for over 10 years. She posts our loads on Truckstop and DAT, we pay her a fee, and we pay the freight bill directly to the carrier.

We've been struggling with capacity this year like a lot of people, and instead of just complaining about it, I figured I'd come here and ask the people who actually know what's going on out there, but I’ve done enough research to know things are difficult out there for everyone.

Over the years we've built relationships with some mid to larger-size carriers, always paid quickly, and tried to be as reasonable as possible with the goal of maintaining goodwill. For example, we’ve consistently overlooked things that have caused damage to our loads, like no edge protectors or loose straps that carve into the insulation. What we've found lately is that this goodwill doesn't mean much to the bigger companies, but it means a lot to the smaller ones. That tells us where we should be focusing.

So here's my genuine question: what do owner-operators actually need from someone like us to want to build a real ongoing relationship? Not a one-time load board transaction — an actual working relationship where you'd want us to call you first when something comes up. Any suggestions on how I might find these people are appreciated as well.

My guesses: fast payment, straightforward freight, no surprises at pickup, being treated like a professional rather than an afterthought. But I'd rather hear it from you.

What makes a shipper worth your time? And what do shippers do that drives you crazy?

Thank you,

Zach