Have you ever noticed ...

[Michael Ludwig]

When everyone is struggling in business, this board is like a ghost town, and when business is good, everyone's here with their stories and comments.
Really, when everyone is struggling, that's when we should be here helping each other out.

Just my humble two cents worth for the day
Happy trucking everyone.

 

[duke22]

My personal take, I am on here during the droughts because that's when all the idiots are out. I think I have had 25 calls from Landstar today alone, and at least 7-8 carriers that are on our permanent DNU calling in (for serious infractions). We do our best to call around but sometimes you have to post it, and when it's slow that's when the vultures are gathered.

 

[Rob]

It has been kinda crazy how slow it is inbound. Lots of outbound on my end but hearing it is bad slow as well.

 

[AgentSmith]

Volumes are significantly down, on the west coast we are usually impacted by nursery stock on the BC to AB lane -- the market tightens and rates go up for 6 - 8 weeks from Apr to May, this year we barley noticed it

Right now there should be a shortage of reefer trucks and higher rates due to blueberries but there has been almost no change in truck capacity.

I feel like I'm working just as hard or harder as I was pre pandemic but the numbers dont support that. Everything just seems more difficult.

@Michael Ludwig I will try to post a few times per week as this forum has helped me out immensely over the years

 

[tasuinam]

Business is slow - have a few drivers who elected to take vaccation ... my shock is how our friendly neighbourhood big box brokers assume we will move freight for less than cost .... 'because that is what the market is'....
Thank god for the relationships that value service and honesty

 

[chica123]

I feel like everyone is feeling some sort of pain right now. And I can relate to Agentsmith. We are all still working hard, just not seeing alot of dollars in return. I can tell you one thing though. My core philsophy is still the same; service your customers like there is no tomorrow and I take the time to thank them each and every time they send work my way.

 

[LrgCar]

I agree with you Micheal, that is why I try to stay active and try to provide input on the good and bad payors. Times are tough and the last thing we would want anyone to deal with is bad debt. Beining on this forum from what I noticed is that it helps boost morale too, I'm sure we can all use a bit of laughter in these times. Honestly, I couldn't be more thankful for our customers and drivers, it's tough for everyone, a lot of our customers are like us, small businesses with no shareholders or corporate BS, they are feeling this market too.

 

[senditover]

Too much lowballing and carriers stabbing each other in the back these days. The amount of times I've heard, "Send me the load, I'll match/undercut whatever the other guy's charging you" has been one too many. There should be more togetherness and this is the forum to do it. Poking fun at brokers (won't list any names) that are driving rates further down the hole should make other carriers realize how ridiculous it is to accept such low rates and hopefully maintain some level of stability in the market.

 

[duke22]

Too much lowballing and carriers stabbing each other in the back these days. The amount of times I've heard, "Send me the load, I'll match/undercut whatever the other guy's charging you" has been one too many. There should be more togetherness and this is the forum to do it. Poking fun at brokers (won't list any names) that are driving rates further down the hole should make other carriers realize how ridiculous it is to accept such low rates and hopefully maintain some level of stability in the market.

When I am asked what I paid, the answer is always not sure didn't book the load myself. Even if you are offering to do it for less the first carrier to book it has the load. Firstly it avoids cancellations on carriers that have confirmed, and secondly reaffirms that's not how I do business to the guys asking. My thoughts are when it goes sideways and something happens people aren't assuming I booked someone at a lesser rate. I wouldn't do it to them, and I am not going to do that you. On the flip side you start cancelling orders on me with any consistency your on the poop list. Gator don't play LOL.

 

[senditover]

Poop list lol I like that. Reputation is huge, keep that level of transparency and watch how many carriers will be open to move your freight once the market is on the up. Carriers remember EVERYTHING, if you think they don't then believe me you'll find out very quickly they do once things start to flip.

 

[chica123]

Too much lowballing and carriers stabbing each other in the back these days. The amount of times I've heard, "Send me the load, I'll match/undercut whatever the other guy's charging you" has been one too many. There should be more togetherness and this is the forum to do it. Poking fun at brokers (won't list any names) that are driving rates further down the hole should make other carriers realize how ridiculous it is to accept such low rates and hopefully maintain some level of stability in the market.

Those that are saying that sqfs2022 are always going to be the first ones to cancel on you when they find something that pays better.....then you shut out a good carrier and replace it with a cheap one...
Anyways, hope everyone has a super day!

 

[senditover]

Those that are saying that sqfs2022 are always going to be the first ones to cancel on you when they find something that pays better.....then you shut out a good carrier and replace it with a cheap one...
Anyways, hope everyone has a super day!

I would say, depends. If it's a LL carrier preying off the link and just giving the cheapest rates then yes. But otherwise sometimes it's your regular guy and you just forgot to ask them if they could cover that lane.

 

[PT INC]

all the carriers need to just go on strike for 1 - 3 days saying we wont haul anything ( set bare min) to make the customers understand. also id like to say F***K TQL offering ON - CA for 2k

 

[Michael Ludwig]

all the carriers need to just go on strike for 1 - 3 days saying we wont haul anything ( set bare min) to make the customers understand. also id like to say F***K TQL offering ON - CA for 2k

OMFG ... not this line again !!!
There is one reason, and one reason only, that this "strike" will never happen ... No one in carrier management, anywhere in the world, will ever call any driver's kids, and tell them they can't eat for the next 1 - 3 days because "I have a point I am trying to make". Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, will that happen.

(Besides JT will see you in prison just for thinking of organizing such an event)​

 

[theman]

There is only one way it works. If the rate is too low, you don't take the freight. Pure. And. Simple.

If someone does then it's their bankruptcy. I can understand taking cheap freight on reefers to places where the produce loads pay a ton. But this is July ... that is over.

 

[Mario]

There is only one way it works. If the rate is too low, you don't take the freight. Pure. And. Simple.

If someone does then it's their bankruptcy. I can understand taking cheap freight on reefers to places where the produce loads pay a ton. But this is July ... that is over.

This is why it will never change. Taking cheap rates to go anywhere is the problem. Even if you are getting a boat load of money coming back. Never seen anyone say I will go there empty and pick up a load making lots of money. We can bitch all we want but if you are a big trucking company or small we are all guilty of this!

 

[theman]

This is why it will never change. Taking cheap rates to go anywhere is the problem. Even if you are getting a boat load of money coming back. Never seen anyone say I will go there empty and pick up a load making lots of money. We can bitch all we want but if you are a big trucking company or small we are all guilty of this!

I don't agree with doing it per se ... but I understand why it's done. I've probably said this 100 times here ... those who live by the sword die by the sword. The best way around it is to get good loyal clients who don't take everything to the spot market. Those buyers who look at the sum of all when making a purchasing decision won't necessarily go with the lowest price ... they'll go with the solution that works where the amount they pay can be justified.

 

[tasuinam]

I don't agree with doing it per se ... but I understand why it's done. I've probably said this 100 times here ... those who live by the sword die by the sword. The best way around it is to get good loyal clients who don't take everything to the spot market. Those buyers who look at the sum of all when making a purchasing decision won't necessarily go with the lowest price ... they'll go with the solution that works where the amount they pay can be justified.

have not been doing this as long as some of you - but in 10yrs for the first time saw teh SAME load posted up for grabs by 7 brokers and then emails from the 'double broker' saying they have this lane .... it was an interesting auction .... going to the lowest bidder (because one email chain was not BCC lol)

 

[chica123]

all the carriers need to just go on strike for 1 - 3 days saying we wont haul anything ( set bare min) to make the customers understand. also id like to say F***K TQL offering ON - CA for 2k

I don't really see how going on strike would fix anything. If you have good, long term customers that you have built relationships with then you have conversations with them and try to come to some sort of agreement. There really are a whole bunch of decent customers and brokers out there that are not trying to drive your business into the ground. I would never go on strike and damage that relationship. Serve the customers that you have now and work your way through this slow time. I didn't ever stick it to a customer or broker when times were better, and in return they have not stuck it to me right now...
Sorry I got typing and forgot that my main point was that you just say no if the rate doesn't work for you..

 

[theman]

Exactly. Even if you are dealing with brokers, you need to line up with the right ones. If you're counting on TQL or other bottom-feeders, there is something wrong.