independent owner operator load networking idea

Look, I'm not going to "sell" this idea. You either get it or you don't. I'll address a few of the points brought up, but if I can't gather interest I'll just put the idea on hold for now.

1. There is no maintenance. This isn't a load board. You get it to an email address. A lot of the loads are likely going to be grabbed up quickly. I'm sure you've never called on a hot load and had the broker tell you it's covered before. The only maintenance is adding people to the list, or booting people from it.

2. So you're worried someone else might get your "special rate" instead of less ? Yah, that would be terrible. But like I said, you don't have to post anything you feel is extra special just for you anyways. Don't even stop to think you may also be getting access to 100 other people's special rates, just keep making money for those brokers. You know if this idea is developed properly, there would probably even come a time when carriers who didn't deliver on time, or fail to give good service would also be booted. The idea is to create an alliance of strong, professional carriers. But if you think you have an advantage over that on your own, by all means don't subscribe.

3. @ BoyWonder, I guess I'll care more about your opinion after you book a load or two. But I would suggest being a little more cynical of the status quo load boards before searching for flaws in an improved system. You might find some real problems there to offer you input on.

 

I'll try to explain it in a different way. Think about what you get from a loadboard, I am currently subscribed to Member's Edge and truckstop.com, and I have used getloaded.com in the past.

You get a bunch of loads, most of which list origin and destination and sometimes that isn't even correct. very seldom do you get a rate or description of the item. maybe weight, maybe dimensions.

70-90% of the loads are totally cheap, but you don't know it until you spend at least 5 minutes on the phone. you can look at an email in a few seconds ! and the only loads you will be getting are loads others considered good.

with this email list you can scan through it in a couple minutes and see if there is a load where you are. you can click on it and get complete info with rate and details. Using this will likely take you less time than one phone call. If you don't see something, go back to business as usual, no big deal. And when you're making those calls if you stumble across a load that is good, but for some reason not for you. jot down the details and post it to the list.

Oh, and another thing I haven't mentioned is whenever you call a broker, what do they ask ? Your MC#. Of course they look it up to make sure it's active, but it also tells them where you're from. Did it ever occur to you that you are being offered a lower rate because the load is going from somewhere else to where you live ? Just having the power of networking with owner-op's from different locations who are being offered better loads from there home area is worth it alone. When people have freight they need moved they start by calling, emailing, etc... carriers who are near there. I want to know what carriers in Dallas are being offered, I am being offered loads going there. come on, put your thinking caps on and see what is right with this concept and give me some suggestions how to make it work better.

 

Good brokers are necessary for certain shippers. I think a good email list with a little cooperation and enough support can do the same job that lame calling center TQL style brokers do. That's the idea, replace them with a computer, take back the power. They aren't needed anymore.