Hopper, Dump O/O's & Drivers

We just started into this "venture" this summer. We had a truck on the farm, just upgraded to a new Timpte trailer, as we penciled it out and seemed like it would pay for itself. We are running under a "friends" authority, who is an assistant manager at one of the coops. He is the one who said he could keep him busy through the winter months, when I didnt need him on the farm. My son wasnt really planning on doing much hauling until this fall, but out wheat wasnt the best on the farm, I was driving another semi and trailer, so I didnt have any trouble keeping up. So he started hauling the first part of wheat harvest and has been doing it ever since. I have another, younger son(still in college) that helped me with DC planting and spraying, so we are getting a long pretty well. I encourage him to drive as much as possible, as it's good money for him, plus I get the truck owners share. As long as I can keep repairs under control on the '94 Pete, we will be allright. Only problem is, he is already thinking we need a bigger, longer wheelbase truck, to make his ride "easier"!(lol) Truck is going in for an alignment on Tuesday, so it wont be making any money for either of us on that day.

 

My broker had 3 runs planned for me, the last two nice long and good paying ones, but the run to get me to FL got cancelled last minute on Friday.

So all I got was one more local soybean load to tide me over, delivering Monday.

I called Reliant on Friday to see about branching out a bit. They are a bit jealous with their business and said they could run me but wouldn't just give me a load somewhere to go pick up an Eclipse load since they are competitors. I'd have to take their runs in 2's and 3's with a preplan. That makes any transition riskier though. Don't want to jump from the frying pan to the fire. Wish I could speak with someone who runs for them for a reference.

 

From what I gather, running "dedicated" for them means you only use them. There is no package they are offering that defines "dedicated" from what I understood.

But he did say to call back and speak to a Heather to get set up and then we could go more into detail.

I have no good reason to leave Eclipse, I just want another resource to smooth out the edges and lessen deadheads when they are ridiculous, like over 600 miles.

 

Is it too late to pretend like you are taking loads for everyone? I mean your just taking any load that comes your way, maby the one after it is for Eclipse or many it is for another company. How the heck would they know?

 

They wouldn't. I said I'd call back in a couple weeks when they forget who I am!

I know others use a multitude of services, but I'm not sure if they only stick with posted loads on these companies boards. But we also know that the best loads never make it to the boards. I don't think it would last very long if you had 3 or 4 brokers calling around to find you a load and you tell 3 of them that you don't want it when they call back because you already took one from elsewhere. Somehow you have to meet them halfway if they're going to work for you.