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| Posted Thu, Dec 06 2012 04:48 AM CST | ||
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SEAN MIDDLETON UTI TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS CHARLESTON, SC Posts: 14 |
by accident ive learned about this part of trucking and am seeing how big this thing really is. im interested in learning about brokering these loads. no time soon but in the future after i learn more about the industry and the ins and outs of transporting my question is, besides this, what are good ways to find cattle haulers? i dont see you guys in alot of directories. the only downside i see thus far is that it seems you all have to deal with shippers that want free hauling like the rest of us do, which is unfortunate but when you see an industry that even has freight in florida, thats sure alluring. any genuine advice? | REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Thu, Dec 06 2012 09:40 AM CST | ||
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RICK GOBEL GOBEL RANCH, LTD. BATTLE MOUNTAIN, NV 530-218-9057 Posts: 17 |
Most of the livestock brokers that I know own their own trucks and/or cattle. You need to find and secure a customer base. Then find and secure a handful of trucks that you can keep busy as the want to be. Most important of all, DON'T SET THE RATE CHEAP TO JUST GET THE LOAD. If you start doing this, very soon you won't have any trucks to haul for you and your customers (that all talk to each other) will expect a cheap rate. There has been a couple of general freight brokers out here that have tried it and didn't last long. | REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Sat, Dec 15 2012 08:13 AM CST | ||
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PETE PEETERS DUTCH WAY TRANSPORT LIMON, CO 719-775-2377 Posts: 14 |
UtI are the cheapest freight brokers around! Now they will be trying their hand at cattle too I guess... Most of those guys wouldn't know what side the manure comes out..:)) |
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| Posted Sat, Dec 15 2012 04:29 PM CST | ||
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SEAN MIDDLETON UTI TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS CHARLESTON, SC Posts: 14 |
It's no need to be ugly. We're all our respective businesses so we can pay bills, afford to buy food, and live comfortably. Is it a fact that ALL of UTI's stuff is cheap? I can't answer that. You've got 4-500 agents operating their businesses independently. Do some not pay trucks well? I'm sure. Are there some that do pay trucks well? I'm sure. But if I see an industry that I feel is profitable, I'm going to learn everything I can about it. From how/where it's produced to the raw materials that are used to keep the industry going. If I decide to move cattle, not only will I know everything that can be read about cattle, but I'm going to know how much a producer can pay me for transport as well, just like I've done for every product I've ever moved.......................I can't speak for every UTI agent, but I can speak for Sean Middleton. My #1 business rule is to make sure everybody gets paid......If you're smart, you can help the shipper meet his cost/profit goals, pay the truck well, and make a commission. Your opinion of UTI? Well, that's your opinion.........*shrugs* |
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| Posted Sat, Dec 15 2012 04:48 PM CST | ||
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SEAN MIDDLETON UTI TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS CHARLESTON, SC Posts: 14 |
Thanks for the advice Rick. I've recently gotten involved in hauling grass products, mainly wheat straw and I myself have learned how/why producers try to get this stuff moved cheaply. It's all math in the end and if the math doesn't add up to good trucking prices being included, I head for the hills. |
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| Posted Sun, Dec 16 2012 03:44 PM CST | ||
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C > R RANCH BAY CITY, TX 409-222-2222 Posts: 22 |
Well I know I've been down this road before ..........so here I go again! Number 1 you're dealing with a live product here, not a stack of cans on a pallet, you're trying to compare apples to oranges. You can read all the books and forums you want, but you still won't know a hill of beans about cattle hauling (which is what you ultimately need to know to broker loads, as you say). The only way I've ever seen this accomplished was through hands on experience. It's kind of like riding a bike....you can read about it all you want, but until you go out and physically do it, you can't tell others how to do it, or let them know what would work better (which is what a GOOD broker should be able to do.) Number 2 a producer can always "afford" to pay you full rate...it's always figured into the price of the cattle. It's usually about supply and demand. Number 3...a producer and or buyer isn't going to give you the time of day unless you know the ins and outs of the cattle industry...(a typical question they might ask you is what are 850# steers bringing in your area...that shipper with the pallet of cans probably never ask questions like that.. does he?? If you can't engage in a conversation with them about the markets, weather, industry trends, or perhaps even give them a heads up about a string of heifers for sale in your area, you'll never get your foot in the door!!! The people who are in the livestock industry usually are not in it because it's a job for them. They are in the industry because they have a PASSION for it! This is why you don't see people outside of the industry brokering loads or buying and selling livestock for a hobby. These people are ALL professionals in the livestock industry, which is what makes them good at what they do. I'm not saying you too can't accomplish this...because you can! You just have to understand that first you have to find the passion for it, and then as you work within the industry day by day, eventually after several years of dedicated passion to the industry, you'll have what it takes to "broker" livestock loads. There is simply not enough time or space in this post to list everything you need to know about "brokering" livestock loads. POP QUIZ.....driver calls you with a load on that you "brokered", he loaded in CA and is going to NE, he's in Green River, WY with a steer that he can't get up. Where are you going to tell him to go to get unloaded so he can get it up???? Just 1 of the millions of questions you NEED to have an answer for, as YOU are responsible for the trucks YOU hire as a "BROKER"! ...............NUFF SAID |
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| Posted Sun, Dec 16 2012 06:16 PM CST | ||
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SEAN MIDDLETON UTI TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS CHARLESTON, SC Posts: 14 |
#1. Not brokering cattle this (nor will I probably the next) #2. What has anyone ever known everything about initially when they got started in anything? When I first got started in real estate, I know what FMV was or how to gauge the market. When I first started brokering, I thought the loadboards were always right in pricing. When I first started studying the markets, I didn't how to see if a product was a good buy or not. When I first started dispatching, I couldn't tell a driver that was full of crap from one that was telling the truth.....the list goes on. As far as this industry goes, like any other industry, it's going to be hard to get in. There is going to be a learning curve. There are going to be mistakes made, etc. One thing you're right about is that you learn through experience. I'm from the school of the hard knocks. Everything I've ever gotten, I've had to fight and struggle for. If I decide to haul cattle, I will learn everything I can initially by asking the advise of experienced individuals. When I got into real estate, experienced real estate ppl taught me. When I wanted to learn abou tthe markets, experienced stock brokers and investors taught me. When I wanted to learn how to dispatch correctly (b/c my boss was an idiot), drivers that genuinely wanted to see me succeed help me. And just like with those, when I decide I want to haul cattle, someone with experience who likes to help others (similarly to how I do) will be there to assist. Life is not worth living if you let the fear of the unknown stop you. Those who don't try often become the poor and downtrodden. One thing I will always do when I find something of interest is give it a try. Sometimes I fall flat on my face but when I look back, I can say "well dangit, I tried", with a smile on my face and no regrets. |
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| Posted Mon, Dec 17 2012 02:35 PM CST | ||
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TATT SOEHNER SOEHNER AG LLC IDALIA, CO 970-380-1856 Posts: 2 |
Sean, Personally, I like pulling the punched hole trailer because the work isn't brokered. There's a definite satisfaction in building a relationship with the people you work for, relationships that exist long after fall run. I'm sure everyone has their own broker horror story, and so it's definitely gonna be a challenge to find a lot of help here. Unfortunately, the disconnect with the drivers and the customer may prove to be too great to build the relationship and trust it takes to run a good outfit in this industry. I'm not saying it's impossible but some of these guys have spend their entire careers getting to the point of "living comfortably, and paying the bills"! |
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| Posted Mon, Dec 17 2012 02:59 PM CST | ||
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SEAN MIDDLETON UTI TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS CHARLESTON, SC Posts: 14 |
Believe me when I tell you I understand this. I n any profession, there are going to be those that give everyone a bad name but that's why we're taught not to prejudge. My profession says nothing about me. Let my character speak for itself. I don't know any of you from a hill of beans. I'm sure there are some great guys and gals in here and some not so great ones too. I've dealt with immoral truck drivers just like i've dealt with immoral brokers. One of the most despicable things I've ever seen was from a driver back when i was a dispatcher. One night this driver witnessed another driver hit one of our docked trailers at a customer. This driver sped across town as fast as he could to tell on the other guy (not giving the guy a chance to tell on himself). And you know what happened? The guy came to the terminal and told me immediately. Turns out, there was no damage. Guess who were the only ppl that knew about that incident.........the three of us (well the driver that snitched doesn't know that). I didn't respect what the driver that told did too much. He threw that guy under the bus to get browny points. I always remembered that. Now, I've also had a situation where I worked with an agency and another agent found a loophole in policy to basically steal my loads. This was a customer that I had a relationship with who I spoke with all the time after hours but policy is policy. Was it right what this other agent was doing? Nope. But it was legal. My point in all this is, get to know me before you assume you know who I am or what I'm about. But back to the customer thing.....the fact is, no one sells to anyone that they don't like or that they think will cheat them. I became a broker b/c other brokers recognized that I was fair and took care of their freight, took me under their wing, and got me out of a very bad work situation (basically a dumbass terminal manager that was jealous of me trying to ruin my career). I didn't become a broker b/c I always dreamed of it. I became one b/c I went through the most horrible work experience anyone could ever go through and decided I'd never dedicate my time, energy, or expertise to an employer again. So far it's working out. You all are probably realizing I can be long winded so I'm going to shut up now. All I'm going to say is that it's easy to judge what you don't know. But sometimes when you sit back, watch, and not assume, you learn something you would have never learned if you didn't take the opportunity to turn the assumption button off. Good day folks :) |
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| Posted Thu, Dec 20 2012 07:09 AM CST | ||
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JACKIE KERN R BAR J LIVESTOCK LLC URICH, MO 816-535-6848 Posts: 16 |
Hi Sean, I think that its cute that you want to get in to brokering cattle. Hey don't worry about alot of these guys/gals out here there bite is worst than there bark. No! I dont have that backwards. See where not just a industry, we are a family a vary large family. We are the cow haulers, we take pride in who we are, and what we do, and what we drive. When one family member hurts the rest of us know and we help each other, we feel the pain and we learn. I would say that its safe to say that 90% of us came from a long line of livestock background. Speaking for myself, I have been riding horses chasing cattle since the age of 2, was I alot of help? Probnot but my father knew I couldnt learn from sitting on the fence. and for the next 42 years I was given the great joy of growing up and working with livestock, hanging out at every sale barn I could, watching & talking to buyers, listening to the old time farmers and ranchers, meeting drivers and cowboys. They taught me how to gage the quality of cattle the weights on cattle. As for my father he started raising his own catlle in 1972after he got out of the army in 1968 and got on his feet. My father learned about the cattle & livestock industy from his mom's dad, my great grandfather who made his living in North Missouri as a livestock buyer where he bought and sold livestock at St Joe Stockyards, Kansas City Stockyards and other stockyards and sale barns in surounding states. As for my husband he has been hauling cattle since 1982. His dad raises cattle his grandfather raised cattle and milked cows as his great grandfather did. See its a long line of living it. See I have always had a passion for the cattle world and have lived it. 13 years ago I desided I was going to haul these little bugers. NO ONE gave me the time of day until 8 years ago my husband now did. Beleave me life was hell for the next 3 years. Would a cattle buyer give me the time of day hell no not when they found out that I was wanting to haul there cattle, but the same buyer would turn rite around and give the same load to my husband. Go figure this? The answer to the queastion was. I had no exsperiance hauling, NO BUYER in there rite mind turns a greenhorn loose with a load of cattle and not knowing what there doing. Did other cow haulers give me the time of the day? NO! I was a greenhorn to the commercial hauling part of it. I was about to give up and go back to a office job, when one day a driver told me to go back to the kitchen were I belonged!! Katie bar the damn door!! This set me off I was bound determon then I wasn't quitting. But I respected them for this, If it wasnt for these hard ass buyers and drivers. I would still be sitting on the fence just dreaming. Sean, Im like the rest of these guys who have spoke there minds on here. Ya can't learn the livestock industy sitting on the fence reading a book on how to. If ya can't saddle your horse, get shit on your boots, meet the rancher, farmer, buyers, drivers and learn the industry hands on. You wont have a chance in hell in this world or this family. What one bad apple does at 7am on the East Coast the family (cow haulers) knows about it by 7pm on the west coast. What we dont like is cut throat cheap hauls, . We don't like to be lied to. We don't like to be cheated out of our money. We dont like to be cheated on our miles. GPS does not know how to go around a scale house or drive 20 miles of gravel. We dont like bouncing 500 miles to go 200 miles. 85% give or take of us are Owner Operators we are what keeps these trucks moving, fuel is high parts and repairs are coastly. We are not doing this for free. we are doing it for our familys at home. We do what we do by the grace of God and hard work. to keep what it is we do alive by choice, love and values. So you come to us for words of wisdom and how to get your foot in the door.?. I suggest that you lay your pen and paper down in the big city and take a drive to the country not for a day more like a week or two to get you started. Dress accordingly. I would prob start with meeting farmers ranchers ( talking to them takes at least 6 hours of talking before you ever get to the point dont be surprised if the lady of the house trys to feed ya, DONT AFFEND HER!!) then sitting in on a few sales and rub some shoulders with the buyers, it wont be hard to pick a buyer out at the sale. He will be the guy sitting up there in the seats with a phone to each ear and not missing a lick to bid on what he wants to buy. Dont be surprised if they snub you! Then I would prob take a walk about threw the parking lot to meet the cowhaulers them self. But words of advise DONT go waking these guys/gals up if there not standing out side go back to the sale and keep learning. The best time to meet the cow haulers would be about 8pm to 3am depending on the length of the sale. Dont be surprised if they snub you to. You must remeber if you ever get loads to broker out your on call for 24/7 as long as a truck is moving so forget about sleeping!! A good broker will answer there phone with in 3 rings and have a answer for any queastion or be willing to just BS at 3am cause your driver is tired. if it means for hours thats what you do. We have seen freight hauler/brokers come and freight hauler/brokers go. As you can see I can ramble alot of words on here to. When it comes down to it actions speak louder than words on a sheet of paper. Best of luck to you in your travels. |
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| Posted Thu, Dec 20 2012 09:14 AM CST | ||
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SEAN MIDDLETON UTI TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS CHARLESTON, SC Posts: 14 |
Blunt words but helpful and I appreciate that. I'm not just starting out brokering. I am taking a chance at different things though. I started out dispatching for a flatbed operation so at first when I started brokering all I did was building products, building products, building products. I knew all of my customers b/c I was the one dispatching/booking their loads when I worked for the trucking company. Did a great job for them, bent over backwards, and was on call for 24 hrs per day. Also worked at 2 other trucking companies for which I was on call 24/7 per day. Trucking, even if you're office personnel, makes sleep very difficult to attain and eventually you just forget about it. Brokers may not drive or do the things that you all have to do on the road but we have our struggles too. I haven't seen many of my friends or family for atleast the last 3 months. Outside of the occassional Saturday or Sunday, I've slept no longer than 4 hours per day (and that's being generous on the hours). I'm on the phone 24/7 with the guys that haul my current loads and since right now my big thing is hauling this alfalfa and hay products (as well as buying some), I'm on the phone 24/7 with farmers, brokers, etc. About this big city thing....don't know what it is. I grew up picking peacans for my grandaddy. I realize that some of you have been around cattle your whole lives and that's commendable. But the thing is, someone in your lineage was the first. We've all gotta start somewhere and step outside the box. Letting fear of the unknown will discourage you will only make you a failure at life. But so can taking risk, lol. I don't know, maybe I'm a different breed of individual, but I'd rather fail at life trying than sitting on the sidelines. I took that risk when I left the security of a 9 to 5 to broker, and I've done it times before and after. Sometimes I've won, sometimes I've lost, but I have no regrets. And when the time comes to try and break into hauling cattle, I'll review your advice. But I know me.....my mind's already made up. Win, lose, or draw, I'm going to give it a shot. Who knows, in 75 years, my grandson might can be posting in a forum of how he watched his grandaddy broker cattle loads and how much he loves doing it. Experience is only gained from inexperience. Good day. |
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| Posted Fri, Dec 21 2012 01:04 PM CST | ||
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DENISE JOBE DENISE JOBE TRUCKING HEREFORD, TX 806-346-8438 Posts: 6 |
Sean...........I wish you the best of luck in all this. R Bar J is very correct in her post. "Cow Haulers" are a lot like cows, they range in the same general areas most of the time,they come to the "feed wagon" quickly when called. They are tight net bunch that depend on each other in the storms. That fact will be hard to break due to we go with others to get loads if we don't have anything going on the givin day. We know them they may or may not take a cut, and in turn the same will apply when we need them to help us......thats called neighboring. That you nor any other "broker" can never change. The loads that are posted here have been brokered to death. I know that a few pay well on the post BUT.....WHAT DID THAT TRUCK REALLY GET WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE? They would all be better off charging a flat rate. We are the ones who take responsibilty on the delivery. We are the ones that get them there thru snow storms, black ice, open scales, rain and wind. It is the cow hauler that puts them back on the ground to the receiver. It seems shippers sometimes don't take into account the weather as a factor in moving livestock, When you have weather you realy have no choice but go around or wait it out. Yes, it adds miles to our trip but is better for what we haul, is that every taken into consideration? No most of the time. Cattle will change ownership while in transit and change delivery sites as well....then you have a truck that winds up in a Nebrasksa snowstorn and half of them are chilled down due to the fact they just came off the Mexico border where is was still 80 degrees, and the cattle do not have enough hair to substain boby temputure. Cattle want to lay down when they are cold...wet trailer, they all get sick. A lot more to this than meets the eye. Heat is no better, too much winter hair shipping to the panhandle when they hit 80 degrees in November, I have seen them die due to heat stroke. All things effect shrinkage on cattle, that is a factor you have to addres as well. Iced up bull racks have to go around the scales to get thru, rain can have to same effect. That costs us miles, that they don't want to pay. See ..you have really bitten off a lot but I will not say it can't be done. Just need to find a few bull haulers to run for you then listen real close to them and be willing to change things up when needed, cause the see and understand more about it than any "broker" out there. I still wish you the best of luck and hope you and yours have a MERRY CHRISTMAS | REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Sat, Dec 22 2012 06:50 AM CST | ||
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PETE PEETERS DUTCH WAY TRANSPORT LIMON, CO 719-775-2377 Posts: 14 |
sean, you r talk about learning is great. I myself grew up on a dairy farm, and ran a cow calf operation and still run some on a smaller scale after I had to give them . up when my wife got really sick. You don't have cattle in your blood. That's what they are trying to tell you. ... |
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| Posted Sat, Dec 22 2012 09:34 AM CST | ||
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SEAN MIDDLETON UTI TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS CHARLESTON, SC Posts: 14 |
I can understand and appreciate what everyone has to say. In fact, there's been alot of good advice rolled into there. I must say that the one thing that I'm disappointed in is some of your beliefs in limits. I hope that some of you don't live by some of the advice that you've given me. If people "stayed in their place" or did only what they were raised to do, the founders of this country wouldn't be the founders of this country. We'd instead still be a British colony. If Albert Einstein has said as a kid "I'm dumb in math", we wouldn't know that E=MC^2 b/c he wouldn't have become a scientist. If Abraham Lincoln lived by some of your advice, he would have died in a log cabin and not have died as the President of the United States. Andrew Jackson would have never joined the military and became an iconic General or a US President. People from poor backgrounds would never step outside the box and there would be no rags to riches stories............. My point is, step outside and try new things. Take advice but don't let the opinions of others stop you if it's something that you really want to do. If any of you stop trying b/c someone tells you that you can't or that it offends them, shame on you b/c you've done nothing but hurt and limit yourself. I forgot who said this quote, I want to say it was Bill Cosby but I could be wrong. In any event he said "I don't know what the formula to success is, but I do know the formula to failure is trying to please everybody......" My belief is, if you can be successful at anything, as long as you can help others in the process and harm no one, go for it. |
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| Posted Sat, Dec 22 2012 03:52 PM CST | ||
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C > R RANCH BAY CITY, TX 409-222-2222 Posts: 22 |
I don't believe anyone on here has said that you couldn't or shouldn't pursue your dreams. What I have read from everyone is that you COULD! The part that you don't want to seem to acknowledge is what everyone is trying to tell you. It takes a PASSION, HARD WORK, EFFORT and most of all TIME! This is why each of the men you mentioned were successfull, they exuberated each of these qualities and many more, but most of all, it took them TIME. If you truly want to succeed in this business, learn to humble yourself, and listen to what these people are saying to you! What you are trying to do right now is to put evrything back on the good people who are giving you TOP NOTCH advice of what it takes to be successfull in this industry! I'm going to be frank right now, so don't be offended, I'm trying to help you...........THAT is a "broker" mentality, and that doesn't appeal to many in this industry!!!!! Happy Holidays! | REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Tue, Dec 25 2012 09:31 PM CST | ||
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SEAN MIDDLETON UTI TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS CHARLESTON, SC Posts: 14 |
excuse the typos that may follow. i have a blackberry which isnt the best internet phone ever. i believe u misunderstand my responses. there's alot of great advice above which ive copied and pasted for future reference. if i come off condescending i dont know how. i just have a can do attitude. obviously i have a long road ahead of me when i pursue this but hey, thats life. nothing comes easy. atleast nothing thats worth it | REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Wed, Dec 26 2012 08:01 AM CST | ||
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JACKIE KERN R BAR J LIVESTOCK LLC URICH, MO 816-535-6848 Posts: 16 |
Ok Sean, We understand that you want to broker cattle. As people know me I dont beat around the bush or candy coat it. So heres where you need to start. 1. Hush your mouth and open your ears, listen to what we have told you!!! Quit definding your freight brokering your prob good at it. This is a different world different kind of people different value and thinking, a different way of living!!! 2. We are not telling you to NOT TO TRY..... we are giving you advise on HOW TO TRY!!! (with half a brain you could) 3. Big city or no city....you got to get the hands on. 4. Blackberry who cares. We all got blueberry, cherry, apple. 5. Dont tell us that we dont get out side our little box.....because we have a vary big box!!! We just have a hard time letting people (BROKERS) in. 6. I have seen your hayloads and I have called you on some. See my brother pulls a step deck and I help him find loads to and I laugh my ass off on your rates!! Now really you want to post cheap hay loads then come to us and ask us to maybe haul cheap livestock loads?? No Way!!! 7. You need to first understand that there is NO SUCH THING AS A BACKHAUL!!!! It cost us the same from A to B as it does from C to A. We really are like all the little people you talked about that went big, who looked outside there little box and decided to make big changes. We have done it. We have taken the little places and things in our lives and have grown with it over the many years and have changed with the times and technoledge. Thats how you found us. Just a few years back you wouldnt of found this load board a few years back if you wanted to get in our world then you had to go to the sale barn and pray for a chance that a buyer would talk to ya. WOW I do beleave that I told you to start at a sale barn. See we have all had a bad taste of bad brokers so we are not vary open arm to brokers. We all have our own people that we use and we haul for. Some of us haul for the same people. some of us don't. WHAT WE WON'T GIVE YOU IS WHO WE HAUL FOR!! Any Cowhauler out here knows that you DON'T TALK about the rates, where you loaded, where your going, or who ya haulen for. So the next thing I will share with you is ya better get your boots on a scrape the bottom of the barrel to see if ya can find ya some loads to broker out then ya might wont to find ya some trucks. I recommend the guys/gals with exsperience and they dont come cheap!!! I'm a Show Me Girl, Cash Talks and Bull Shit Walks!!!! |
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| Posted Wed, Dec 26 2012 04:14 PM CST | ||
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SEAN MIDDLETON UTI TRANSPORT SOLUTIONS CHARLESTON, SC Posts: 14 |
Once again, I recommend you read the post about the load that I posted. I won't get into it b/c it's already been discussed. While I do appreciate your advice (and also your potential business as a transporter on the loads you called me on), reading the post will give you insight on that load. Frankly, the shippers I was posting for just had cheap freight and didn't do the best job negotiating trucking costs into their pricing equations when they bid with their end buyers. They also were trying to send that type of freight much too far, making it pretty difficult on themselves, their customers (on the timeliness factor), and the trucks (b/c they really can't afford to pay them good). That's the truth as far as what I've learned about the particular product. Now, just to give you insight......I've got loads that I've personally got interest in. Now, in pricing these loads, not only must I factor in the cost of the materials being moved from origin, but I must factor in the cost of transportation, before I even think about trying to sell to a customer at too far of a distance. Truck costs and long distance can and will kill a good deal quick. In the lane that many of the loads would be moving in, load boards say trucks are moving for $1.40/mile. Most trucks want $1.70/mile. Even at $1.70/mile at at distance of 1500 miles it's just not worth it. Can't pay a truck well so it will be a case of having to wait for someone desperate to transport the freight. I want to pay trucks well so there's no problem getting the freight to my customers in a timely manner, these deals would yield several truckloads. So what's the common sense thing to do? Get closer buyers so that you can pay a truck well and get the freight moving efficiently. Guess where I learned that lesson from? The cheap load I load posted....................... So, Now, on the backhauls, I recognize you have costs no matter what. And since I gained the insight I seeked on that load, I've stopped dealing with that customer. Still get calls on that load, btw and you're probably one of the ppl that called me and got a response from me in the lines of "this customer wants ppl to haul for free so the load's not valid." Surprisingly, I don't believe in the backhaul. You still got fixed costs, you still got fuel costs, you still gotta pay driver. Costs aren't going anywhere. That's too long of a post for me to respond to everything. Anyway, hopefully I will be able to use this advice to become successful at brokering cattle loads. Like I've said before, maybe I will be, maybe I won't. Maybe in the future I will be able to work with some of you, maybe not. But I will point out, there are crummy ppl in all walks of life whether they be brokers, truck drivers, dispatchers, terminal managers, etc. You've got truck drivers that quit their jobs and leave loads on the side of the road. You've got brokers and shippers that never pay their freight. Messed up ppl are messed up ppl no matter what they do. I just don't believe in assuming things about ppl. I'd rather just google the person to see if something pops up (just a few days ago, this stopped me from partnering with someone that literally takes ppl's money and never delivers the freight), ask ppl that know that person, or as a result, find out for myself. In any event, when the time comes, I have accumulated much information that I can use and we'll see what happens. And yes, you are absolutely correct. Cash talks and bullshit walks. Take care of your suppliers, take care of your drivers, take care of your buyers, otherwise you'll get a horrible reputation and no one will want to work with you. Goodnight all and may we all have a fortunate 2013. |
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