Why So Much Animosity For Dispatch Services?

Why don't I have 5 or more trucks anymore? Easy Answer- Drivers want everything handed to them, And Many have questionable work Habits- Hard to Keep seats filled when they think the grass is greener-(I had 2 very good loyal guys work for me) Anyway,Made Lots of Money- Worked very Hard- And Enjoyed the rewards....

and Yes, A Moron can have a conversation with a broker.........The Real Deal is securing your own "contract" Freight-

So JL- When your ready to operate a 'trucking co' without the means of babysitting and assistance from other players integrity of undesirable business habits- Message me- I'll assist you the best way I can.

 

You just described many reasons why this is a tough business. I was just saying don't bash a dispatch service if in the long term things didn't work out for you.

Assuming is the mother of all F ups. lol. You may be speaking with someone that actually knows what they're talking about.

 

Thing is..They DID work out for me,

I'm Sure you do...Welcome to TTR, Sit back,Relax Grab a Drink and Follow us, Were here to help.

 

Thanks, this is a really nice community. I lurked for a couple months and finally had to join. Some very knowledgeable people around here and I'm hoping to help where I can as well.

 

@MHC you still around?

 

*crickets chipping*

 

One of the reasons people hate it, is because an independent dispatcher can run off with your money through 'fuel advances.' For example, he books a load for $7000, re writes the confirmation to $6000. Takes whatever he nets from the fuel advance and then the percentage you pay them. I wouldn't recommend dispatch services to new OOs because you can be easily tricked.

 

If I was in it "JUST FOR ME - JUST FOR THE CHECK", without genuine concern AND respect for the drivers, then why was up last night from 11:30 PM to 2:45 AM in response to a call for help from one of my drivers ? I learned dispatching OJT for my brother when he went O/O...I quit my construction day job, took a PM part-time cook job - A FREAKING COOK JOB of all things to help my brother so you don't know what your'e talking about when you accuse me of selflessness. And in the process I found a profession that I actually enjoyed - the hunt, the negotiation, getting the truck the best pay I could. It doesn't always workout like we all would want, and I sure as Hell made my mistakes along the way. But one thing is for certain, the six guys I dispatch for KNOW I am on THEIR team, and have been with me from 3 to 6 years (I still have the first 4 drivers I took on six years ago)...If that don't mean something to you, then nothing does. Of Course I like working from home - If I am going to be available to my drivers 24/7, it might as well be from home.

 

Yes, I am still around...I just come here from time-to-time.

 

I am not on this site very often so I do apologize for the months-long delay in responding to the question posed by BoostedTeg, "What's your'e average per mile?"...The only real answer here "Is that it varies" by lane and equipment type: I have a truck doing PO round-trip loads from Bell CA to Phoenix AZ back to Bell CA - the Phoenix turn around is drop & hook same location @ $1550 / 744 mi = $2.08 /mi.
Another truck w/ FB runs only SLC UT area to So. Cal. and back. UT to So. Cal., 1 & 1, (Fontana / Los Angeles area) varies from $1250-$1400; Avg: $1.82 / $1.94 mi. - $2.03 / $2.18 mi. But this particular truck generally does 1 & 3 w/ tarp (Spanish Fork UT to Snta. Fe Spngs., Lynwood & Sun Valley CA @ $1700 / 673 mi = $2.53 mi. Going back - So. Cal. to SLC UT, is steadily plastic pipe w/ smoke tarp from Adelanto to Murray UT for $1350 / 606 mi = $2.27 mi. But if it's Friday, then we PU handholes in Ontario to Ogden UT for $1550 / 690 mi = $2.24.
I also run flats from So. Cal. to SE: Crated steel molds, tarp, from Wilmington CA to Arlington TX / Greenville TN for $4560 / 2363 mi = $1.93 mi. Then right out of Greenville TN, it's "Walk-In Freezers" to various destinations in the SE @ $1.95 mi. After that, it's the loadboard.
We also run PODS out of Chino CA eastward at $1.95 mi; Empty containers out of a Long Beach CA yard that go either to Houston or Channelview TX or to McAlester OK at $1.90 mi. If it's Coast to Coast, then the rate has to start with a "5." Of course, there are other commodities & lanes my flats run eastward out of So. Cal., some which pay less, some better - but those mentioned typify our eastward-bound freight out of So. Cal.
No doubt I will be criticized by the $5-a-mile crowed as screwing my trucks with cheap freight. As well as agreed with by drivers who know full well how difficult it is to find decent rates for eastward-bound freight out of So. Cal.
One of my flatbed drivers also has a 53' van, which we best use seasonally to Houston (Nov-Dec) @ $3400, then onto various destinations in the SE (TN, SC, GA, AR,MO) before returning back to home to So. Cal. Other decent-rate periods for eastward- So. Cal.-outbound van loads I consider to be July-Sept. But 85% of the time, it's flat over van (the yak-yak about "Why pay insurance, registration," etc., year round for a van used only 15% of the time is a different question, and matter for elsewhere - But in short, because he can afford it).
Unless one is running dedicated at a contracted rate, then it not quite so simple to pin down a figure that can be genuinely considered as an accurate average per mile.
While I certainly appreciate your time in having read and replied to my post, I believe that the degree of your question would have been greater had it been phrased as: "Do you know your 'Break Even Point'? "