Help for a Brand New O/O!!

If he is hauling out of Washington State (or anywhere off of the West Coast), I would definitely go with a reefer over a dry van. That's why I was asking what type of trailer his Dad was dragging.

You can't haul all types of van freight with a reefer. Mostly for dimensional reasons. However, IMO, I think you can do the best with a 53' spacesaver reefer with 3 etracks and straps. That gives you the most flexability in hauling the most kinds of freight.

 

It's not a dumb question. To answer it, I would opt for the 53' reefer over the 54' van, without thinking twice.

In fact, I'd take a 48' reefer (have that) over a 53' van.

 

I am on the same exact boat as you. Good luck. Todays economy is a huge drag and brokers are paying dirt cheap for loads. They blame is on the shippers and others blame it on the brokers. I dont know what is going on with prices. I too hope to go in direct with shippers an cutting out the middleman. But expect to make 100s of cold calls before getting a lockdown. It is a little harder for me since our trucks have been hauling lots of stuff locally, meaning the shippers nearby have been tapped and we are under contract with brokers to not back solicit.

 

Even with a van, you can still do fine. I think a good strategy for a van is to follow the reefers. For example, produce is going to start shipping in the next few months. Usually, you can't haul produce in vans, only reefers (there are exceptions). However, with the reefers hauling produce, that leaves fewer options for van shippers, who can usually load either vans or reefers. Vans won't command as much of a premium as reefers, but the rates should still go up in those areas.

Also, keep an eye on the news and use common sense. For example, there was a rice shortage last year so the gov't and food service bought as much rice as they could. For a few months last year, you could almost name your price coming out of Little Rock and Memphis. Smart operators did everything they could to get into that area.

Also, if you are looking for van shippers on your own, I would try to get in with a cabinet manufacturer and distributor. There is more BS and hard work with cabinets, but it is worth it. You will need logistics posts in your van and straps and blankets, but it is about the best paying van freight out there. Reefers usually won't haul it because food shippers won't load a reefer with blankets due to infestation.

 

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I have always found this to be an interesting clause. I'm sorry but this is the USA where capitolism is the name of the game. If I want to open a Burger King across the street from the Mc D's that I was a manager for why can't/ shouldn't I.

I find it hard to believe that this clause would be in anyway enforcable in any court. If I can provide egual or better service to a customer why shouldn't the consumer have that option? I would think everyone would love to have a clause like this in thier business...Lets see how this would work... I stop to buy fuel at truckstop A and in the reciept there is a clause that I cannot purchase fuel from truckstop B for 1 year from the date of purchase. I know this is a simplified example but, you get my drift.

Now, I am speaking from ignorance, its just my thoughts and this one time in my life I might,, yes I said might, be wrong.

 

It is enforceable to an extent
But not forever
We have that clause in our contracts but only limit it to a time span of one year

 

Cute analogy on the burger flippin, but if you're caught by a broker on a back solicit manuaver, that you said/signed and faxed back agreeing to his conditions, he could come after ya for 25% of the rate of what you're hauling for from "his" customer(s), if he ever finds out. After 1 year though, game off and to as you wish.

I am not privy of the odds of getting caught on this. Probably low. It's still a breach though, ifya do it.

I've always got a chuckle out of your backhaul sig. You ought to start a thread espousing the lack of merit of said wording......(grin)

 

That clause is there for a reason, just as there are confidentiality clauses and non-compete clauses that go along with certain jobs. The BK/McD's or the fuel stop analogy is the wrong analogy.

I have signed non-compete clauses for jobs in the past myself, along with confidentiality agreements. Those protect the employer or broker from having their business operations and clients that they have put the effort, time, and expense into obtaining stolen by someone that operates in an underhanded manner.

 

It seems like a BS clause...until you are on the other side....as the broker and all your hard work and effort to obtain the shipper is lost in a split second because the sneaky o/o offered to haul the load for $10 cheaper.

But on the o/o side, you have got to do what you can to survive. And word around the o/o circle is that the brokers are ripping us off bad...which is clearly visible in the rates we are being offered. So really it seems like a game of survival of the fittest....my 2 cents