Load Boards

Actually, I am one of the employees and know first hand how this is hurting our company. It isn't about the bottom line and profit for the owner. It is about staying above water while trying to keep the prices down. We don't want to charge more for our product. We want to stay reasonable. I guess it comes down to the fact that drivers jumped their rates by nearly 100% over last year for what appears as a whim to most shippers and brokers. Can you explain this to me? Where have your costs increased SO MUCH to justify this increase? Fuel has not gone up that much, nor have any other costs. I want someone to help me understand. Anyone I ask they just don't have an answer. I am not looking to "grind rates". I am willing to pay good rates but at the same time I expect to be charged a "fair market rate" for the service I require. And $3/$4 a mile is not a true reflection.

 

LOL, says you. So we should run at what you think is a fair price per mile whatever that is?
Do we tell you how much to charge for your product? No , because were clueless to what they are. There I admitted it , now you can to.

Theres a local "direct shipper" that posts loads and boasts about him not being a broker but a direct shipper, guess what, his rates suck. I have constantly seen better rates from brokers than from him.

In my eyes "fair" rate and "good" rate are not the same.

 

Drivers are only charging what the rates should have been in the 1st place. Try buying your own equipment and hauling your own freight and then say that fuel hasn't gone up that much. Try paying for insurance, equipment cost, sacrificing your family time, social life, and as well as your health, by driving your own products over the road. Try it and you will answer your own question.

 

Go buy some equipment and show all of us how many profits there are in subpar rates. That's right, you know better.... It's why you outsource trucking. That's how everyone does it. Focus on the core business let someone else handle transportation. A wise thing to do. But for the last couple of decades or more it's been so competitive that you've gotten used to cheap trucks. Just like 10 years ago trucks were used to cheap fuel for $1 a gallon. I remember about two or three years ago just before New Year's all the tire manufacturers announced their tires would increase in price by 10% and likely another 10% or more before year's end. And guess what happened, they did... But if you've never had to pay nearly $500 for a truck tire you wouldn't kn0ow that. about 14 years ago I remember when you could get decent tires for $350 or so. Now that will buy a recap on a grade A casing and leave a little money in your pocket but not a whole lot. I just don't understand where in a world of almost $4 a gallon fuel customers can have reasonable expectations of rates exactly the same as they were when it was half the cost? Industry gurus have been saying for the past couple of years it's the perfect storm for anyone wanting to get into the trucking business. Capacity getting tight. Older drivers throwing in the towel due to onerous regulations. "Saftey" is at a premium and not keeping a perfect record can cost one a job and business. High prices pushing weak operations out.

 

I am a part of a trucking family and have had my own trucks. I have purchased many a truck tire. I think it is because I come from this background that I am up in arms. We are not talking about a 10 year span where rates went up for trucking. This is just one year to the next where there was a nearly 100% increase in trucking rates. What caused the huge jump in the last 2-3 months? Looking at it from my side it seems a little irrational. I could understand an increase each year. I am just looking for answers.

 

They, the brokers, get spoiled by the cheap hauling idiots....Sounds like he's frustrated that he can't get his way....185 miles is a pita to me, gonna take up the whole day....$800 is about what that should pay....and depending on what it is, where it is, and when it is, (time of day, day of the week), I might ask for considerably more...

 

Maybe some are waking up and finally realizing their worth....

 

That was an excellent post. Rollin Coal hit it out of the park.....

 

I think this debate can be answered this way.....SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

 

Operating costs, ROI, drivers wages...... start totaling up the expenses, figure your return on investment, and then tell me how much a mile sounds reasonable....

Cause $2 a mile ain't much when you're looking at the big picture.