Truck Load Rates Halt 8 Week Slide 2.0

I wholeheartedly agree with Midwest Trucker. The carriers a shipper uses is a direct representation of their supply chain and ability to reliably get their product into the hands of the their customers. In this day and age you don't just need the latest and greatest product as a manufacture or distributor, you need to be able to get that product into the hands of consumers quickly while being dependable and flexible.

Too many shippers are trying to win the race to $0 on their freight spend, and it always ends up biting them in the tail. They end up being penny rich and dollar poor because they choose a low cost carrier that cannot execute, and they lose business because of it.

 

The way I see it, both Dave & Midwest make valid points.

For example, say a TM for a brick mfr moves 20 loads a week to the east coast, to be stock in a supply yard. Is he looking for the best (cheapest) rate he can get, sure, low dollar commodity, little time deadline, little chance for damage.

On the other hand, a peach grower or a berry grower, with a limited growing season, needs to move his perishable commodity quickly, on-time, with no damage. He's likely to use a proven carrier who's dependable, knows fruit, and will deliver the product undamaged every time. Is he willing to pay more for this service, I know I would be...

 

I run into both kinds of shippers. It all depends on the product being moved and the value of it A shipper wanting to move 20 tons of bagged top soil or dog food won't be nearly as concerned with the quality of the carrier as somebody that wants to move something like wine or dry food goods. Just about any shipper will buy into the sales pitch of a sweet talking broker who promises to move their goods for a lot less than they're paying now. Then when they realize it was BS, they go back to the better carriers.

 

I've lost customers for the same. They usually swing back around when things fall all to hell.

 

How often do you haul $10,000,000 load with your million dollar policy?

If you'll give me the name of the $10,000,000 per load customer, I'll see if his loyalty lies with you.

Money talks, BS runs a marathon.

 

But here's the thing G, we're one of the most expensive carriers there is.

 

I think you misread my post. Your example was $100 per load over 100 loads. My example was $100,000 per load over 100 loads. My cargo policy is $150,000 but most are $100,000.