does the type of freight determine the quality of shippers/receivers?

I don't think it (freight value/type) has much to do with it. Receivers, same thing. They're all over the map in regards to how well you're treated, even comparing similar goods and logistical segments.

Grocers for instance, many treat drivers like the driver has no other function in life but to wait on them to do their thing. Others seem to value a driver's time and see you respectably.

"Cheap freight" can be found in all goods segments. But in general it comes down to the service consistency you can guarantee and demonstrate with good history of being on-time at both ends. Some really care about this, some don't.

 

Well..Yeah.If you deliver 70,000 chinese items to "Everythings a Dollar and they have 20 cents in each item.Whats this? The whole loads 14 K.Employee wages,rent and cost of delivery is cutting into the profit. Here...youll have the kid with the corks in his ears(no forklift) and poor attitutude.Probably getting mimimum wage.Building from the 1800"s rebuilt and painted 135 times.No 53"s back then,but rents cheap.Yes,not highend deliveries.I have delivered lights for airstrips and air traffic controller gear.Now,these Shippers and receivers are Happy.Theyre making Fat Coin,and wont trust a $200,000 load to just any driver.They Expect more from you,and you from them.They said a few weeks back a trailer of Ramen Noodles wrecked and the shipper was out $53.

 

And it will vary from port to port in the same company. Ive had drivers tell me our other locations are not as good to deliver to, (and vice versa....)

 

Short answer- "Yes, absolutely".

 

Well, I guess type of freight would equal cost of freight?

I find that when I haul paper loads to paper mills, the mills treat us poorly compared to, say a medical supply place. However, the paper mills have super strict safety standards and the medical place is laid back.

I've been to paper mills where they treated me great and others where I felt the paper itself got treated better.

When we haul FedEx, except for that one time when I had a run in with the stupid security moron, I'm always treated very well. Always clean, neat, and organized. FedEx doesn't play.

The best I was ever treated, God Bless him because I can't remember exactly where, was when I delivered a load of packing foam to a guy way up north. Right under the great lakes. This guy gave me an exclusive parking spot behind his business, and only I was allowed back there. I had my own area to play with my dog, eat, etc. He gave me access to the executive restroom, marble floors and sinks, etc. He said come in and get some snacks and something to drink. I went in there and loaded up on snacks and drinks for the truck.

It will be cold as hell the next time I go but I surely won't be upset about going there.

 

I like that I deliver to the same 20-30 places so I develop a friendship or at least a cordial relationship with most receivers. When I hauled furniture for Ashley Furniture Distribution, we were treated well. i think if you go places with 100 shipping doors, you will probably not be treated as well as the places with one or two doors where they need to unload you to free up the dock. That's my experience.

 

Yes that's a good point. However, with 100 doors, they typically have more manpower and get you in and out faster.

That one place I was treated great had one dock, maybe two, but the other one wasn't used. He gets like one load every so often.

 

Most of our customers are small companies. We do dry and liquid bulk, flatbeds, lowbeds, and logging. Over the years we've developed some good relationships and we all, they and us, really appreciate that.
Most of what we haul is already scheduled for further distribution or use by the customer. They're glad when it arrives, unload us promptly, treat the drivers like human beings and pay their bills on time. Everybody is happy with the way things are.
We tried hauling into the big outfits...grocery warehouses, DCs, and major processing plants but we wound up selling our dry vans and reefers. Too much hassle. Too many angry (usually with good reason) drivers. We have some good drivers but everybody has their limit and when one of the steadiest guys I have refused to go back to a certain DC because he'd wind up punching somebody out I figured it was time ti make some changes.
There were too many phone conversations with shippers who wouldn't load in a timely manner and receivers who wanted to use our trucks as portable warehouses. I visited a couple personally and I wouldn't have put up with as much as my driver did. I'd heard the stories...and I read them on here...but until you see it it's hard to believe.
We'll stick with the smaller outfits in more of a vocational setting. The megas and super-truckers can have all the rest of that stuff.
We're not big and we're not fancy but I think we're better off.

 

I would say, "heck yeah!" In response to the OP. This is one of the biggest reasons I got into flatbed. Most of my customers need the material and are happy to see you. Unloading and loading is usually a breeze. For instance, I just delivered to a construction company in Houston. Pulled in and the load went straight from my truck to the jobsite truck. Then, I pulled forward for the company to sweep the trailer for me. Got my paperwork and was off. About 15-20 minutes total.

Compare that with the attitudes of most regular shippers and receivers, not to mention the nightmare world of reefer dc's, and I'll stick with this.