|
| Posted Fri, Apr 29 2011 08:49 PM CST | ||
|
JARED CARUSO CARUSO TRUCKING RICHFIELD, UT 435-201-0046 Posts: 9 |
With all the talk of the back haul rate, sticking together and uniting as truck drivers some thoughts come to mind. This will offend some of you though that is not my intent. Livestock loads and rates may be different in other parts of the country but we will use the western US as an example. A buyer has a load of feeders to ship and has the choice of 2 different trucking outfits to haul this load. Joe's trucking needs $3.60 a mile rate to haul the load because he does not back haul for whatever reason ( rate, can't find a load, doesn't want load). Bob's trucking on the hand is willing to haul this same load for $3.10 a mile and works at it, he finds a load of kill cows paying back haul rate. By the time bob gets home he has an average of $2.25 a running mile while Joe has only made a $1.80 a mile. So how can anybody expect the buyer to pay $.50 a mile more. I know a lot of ranchers, buyers, shippers, dairy and others from every aspect of the livestock industry and there ain't any of these guys getting rich, in fact most of them make no more money than you and I. If your favorite truck stop had to raise fuel prices $.15 in order to be profitable and to stay in business, we would all be there supporting them, right? No, we would be down the street buying the cheapest fuel we could find. We find the best deal on tires and a shop that gives us the most value when working on our trucks too! Shippers are essentially doing the same thing. I agree that there are some loads that need to pay full rate. I have worked with shippers on several occasions if I couldn't get a back haul, I had to charge full rate, if I did get one I cut them a deal on the rate. It is same thing you would want if the shoe was on the other foot. I agree that there some cut throats, shippers and truckers in this industry and there are guys that take advantage of shippers too. It is the whole livestock industry ( ranchers, buyers, shippers, ect ) that needs to stick together not just the livestock haulers. If we want to blame anybody we should blame incompetent government and it's different agencies ( EPA, DOT) and regulations. It is these people who are driving us all out of business. The cut throats are a small part of the big problem. The good ol days of trucking are over. Yeah it breaks my heart too! We have to learn to adapt and change in order to become more efficient and profitable. Instead of pointing a finger we should lend a hand. If you know of a load that will help a fella up his average, and also split the cost of operating the truck to a few people rather than one, let him know. I'd be willing to bet it'll come back in return.. |
REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Sat, Apr 30 2011 11:50 PM CST | ||
|
KEVIN COWPERTHWAIT HORSE PRAIRIE TRANS DILLON , MT 435-632-8994 Posts: 6 |
Amen, we all have to think, and plan our trips a little harder. Use those heads for something other than a hat rack and run smarter, not harder. | REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Wed, May 04 2011 09:45 PM CST | ||
|
JEREMY JONES JONES TRANSPORT BLEDSOE, KY 606-909-1324 Posts: 3 |
In my book, there is no such thing as a "Back Haul" . Everything has to go from point A to Point B . I don`t understand why you would want to take less pay for the same amount of work just to get back closer to your home town!! I have turned down loads because I consider them too cheap even though it would have sent me home! I think if everyone did that prices would be a whole lot better. Thats just my opinion!!!! Thank You. | REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Fri, May 13 2011 10:21 PM CST | ||
|
JAY FRONTERHOUSE J F TRUCKING MUNDAY, TX 940-421-3438 Posts: 2 |
This backhaul rate will break these guys sooner or later. I know of 6 trucks dead headed 400 miles out of Kansas to Texas to haul a load 265 miles at 2.75 a mile. Yeah they say their average is 2.25 a running mile, bull lony. Everybody knows tires, insurance and equipment prices have gone up but they charge same ol cheap rates. I have all my customers dont blink an eye at almost 4.00 a mile. Its the job you do is what pays. And another thing all these dispatch companies get these loads booked but dont have truck to cover the loads, well if they would up the rate the trucks make more money and would get loads covered quicker and most of all they would make more on their percentage on load fee. So everybody needs to think about what it takes to run a trucking company and keep rates where they need to be. For example a load of 300 miles at 3.90 is 1170 and at 3.00 is 900 the extra 270 dollars makes a difference over a years time. A load of cattle costing 60,000 dollars what is 270 more dollars. So everbody think about this to stay in business..... |
REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Sun, May 15 2011 10:17 PM CST | ||
|
SCOTT BROWN BROWN CATTLE FARMS BIGGERS, AR 870-378-4001 Posts: 6 |
Well not to be rude , but you guys havn't been at this very long. How is hauling cattle from KY to TX a back haul when you live in Iowa? Back in the day we had a little more say you want me to back haul stuff and wait three wks to get paid! Ask those boys that didn't get paid in the big rock'n E deal how they feel about financing the freight for 3wks. We do a job that not everybody can do, pay me a full rate and i'll avrg. 50 mph and b resposible for the stock and pay me in a week . You know thats not asking much. As for backhauls, if i wanted to be a PIG HAULER i would move to Iowa. Oh, and i agree about the money you guys .40 pm on a 1000 mi trip won't keep them from selling the cattle! You are just giving up money, they drive king ranch pick ups and you guys pull wore out wagons or don't go home but every 3 wks. This doesn't apply to all but its the norm not the exception. sorry to tell the truth. P.S. ya where is that backhaul pump at the fuel island!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Mon, May 16 2011 10:51 AM CST | ||
|
STEVE HILKER STEVE HILKER TRUCKING, INC. CIMARRON, KS 620-855-2378 Posts: 14 |
In my opinion, the only time it's a back haul is if the same company owns the cattle at both chutes. If not, then it's none of the shippers business where I load my trucks next. If we unload a load of feeders at a feedlot and load fats at the same yard, are we supposed to then cut the rate? Joe Dokes owns the feeders XYZ Packing owns the fats, why should we leave money on the table because we connected the dots? Never tell a shipper where your next load is going to be, because if you're going to cut the rate for one, you better be willing to do it for all. Because they will talk to each other and if you're not giving the same deal to all, they will find a carrier that will. | REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Wed, May 18 2011 06:25 PM CST | ||
|
KENNY KAY CUSTOM CATTLE COMPANY, INC. HALLSVILLE, TX 903-720-2324 Posts: 55 |
Jared - I do not take offense at what you have said, however i do disagree with you some. Whatever a Company settles on to "haul the load" is between you and all the other parties involved.I agree with your statement of other parts of the country having different rates, i'm assuming your talking about "freight rates" (?), however this is associated with "shipping lanes" and that is where i strongly disagree with you. The Livestock industry has abosolutely nothing to do with "shipping lanes" or "freight rates" that concern these parts of the country in my opinion. We ( the Livestock Transporters) have been made to buy into this crock, and unfortunatley some have, which has effected the rates you see now so titled "Back Haul Rate". You been to the biggest Ranch in the state of Texas and hauled any of their cattle lately? If not, let me tell you those ranch hands, not Ranchers, buyers, or anyone else are driving some of the fanciest pick up trucks out here, Ford F550's, so i do not buy into your thought they aren't getting richer. I'd have to say if you agreeded to haul it cheaper than me, than he made money off of you! I know we will never see a day where we all can agree on a rate that is common, but i know in my mine there is no back haul to me, its point A to point B, even on the turn around. Why would i want to leave money on the table or someone elses pocket? Why would i leave a place of loyalty just because of a .15 cent increase in fuel prices? You'll see that across the the U.S. in fuel prices if your buying much fuel. i wouldn't chance my tire dealership nor shop because they went up on their prices. Just knowing that i have the dealerships or shop warranty behind me holds value to me rather than shopping them. i try to do all my own truck repairs and some tire work myself, however having the ability to make a phone call when i need them and not have to wait to be worked in is "priceless to me", that means down time which cost money! You mention the good and bad of both sides of this industry, and i agree with that statement. Taking a stand on a government agency will take more than a phone call to your local representative. We are to blame for electing these types of people in the first place. Which i think is where most of the people are here on this site. Its a wake up call to all to try and improve this industry at the level we all operate at. I agree that we all should lend a hand to a person in need, heck thats scriptural. Paying a forward to me is a way of life. I agree that we should all try to be more effecient and profitable. Please do not take this as a personnal attack, i did not mean it this way, and appologise if it comes across to you this way. I simple am agreeing to disagree with some of your thoughts, thats all. Kenny Kay Custom Cattle Company |
REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Thu, May 19 2011 01:12 PM CST | ||
|
MAT MORALES K - M COMPANY LLC TRENTON, UT 435-994-2106 Posts: 30 |
so i just have one question. Does that mean if you drive a nice pickup truck you are rich? | REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |
| Posted Thu, May 19 2011 03:25 PM CST | ||
|
TAMMIE STIFFLEMIRE LEASED TO HEREFORD, TX 254-879-4280 Posts: 8 |
I agree 100%. If people would put more effort into researching the loads out there and making smarter decsisions, then maybe they wouldn't be hurting so bad. Don't rely on some broker to make the smart decision for you. Take it upon yourself to check out all of your options. All this crying does no good. We can work with the ranchers to come to a solution that works for everyone. Have any of yal tried sitting down with the people you haul for and having a nice discussion? Try it, you might be suprised. Oh, have you ever checked on the rates for hauling pigs and how easy it is? Don't knock it til you know about it. You don't have to be from Iowa to haul them! No seriously, we made a big change and alot of it has been talking with people and coming to an understanding that works for both parties. Communication it's a wonderful thing. |
REPLY REPLY WITH QUOTE |