Opinions needed…

Jan 24, 2023 at 11:58 AM CST + 5
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Hey guys, at the risk of embarrassing myself, i am asking for help. i’m wanting to get a truck for myself and i’m not really sure what path to go with. i know everything has its season, where it gets hot. i grew up on a farm, both of my uncles farm around 1,000-1500 acres a piece. my dad was actually a chemical sales rector Goldkist/Southern States until he passed away in 2018. I was 18 then, and my dad was going to be my best customer until his death happened. i have no leads as to who to pull for except using bulk loads load board. I currently haul fuel for Pilot and it’s a cushy easy job, but that is not my dream. My dream is to be out there running the roads making it for myself and Building relationships, Just like i grew up watching my father do. I’m Located in Southern Ga. Near i-75 about 10 miles north of the FL line. Any help, pointers, or advice would be appreciated tremendously. I’m not looking into Hauling cheap, Don’t Worry.

Replied on Tue, Jan 24, 2023 at 04:28 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. We run hopper bottoms, and we get offered a lot of stuff going into northern Florida that isn't horribly priced. I have heard getting out of that area can be hard sometimes, but I haven't actually looked too hard into it. I'd start calling some businesses in the area, and see what they have going on; and also see what kind of trailers make sense for your area. I think you could be successful using just the board, but it would be a lot of filling in the pieces; and you wouldn't be able to bounce around a whole lot. Find your bottom line to be profitable, and don't budge. Be realistic, but don't drive just to drive. It's pretty easy to get into the hopper realm, but not always easy to make good contacts that will take care of you. I do know there are a lot of brokerages out east that post some silly hopper rates ((Southwood)) going west out of your area; and I'm sure some sad person takes it to get out of there...but the community as a whole ends up hurting, because of it. Hope some of this was helpful & best of luck to you sir!

Replied on Tue, Jan 24, 2023 at 04:28 PM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

We run hopper bottoms, and we get offered a lot of stuff going into northern Florida that isn't horribly priced. I have heard getting out of that area can be hard sometimes, but I haven't actually looked too hard into it. I'd start calling some businesses in the area, and see what they have going on; and also see what kind of trailers make sense for your area. I think you could be successful using just the board, but it would be a lot of filling in the pieces; and you wouldn't be able to bounce around a whole lot.

Find your bottom line to be profitable, and don't budge. Be realistic, but don't drive just to drive. It's pretty easy to get into the hopper realm, but not always easy to make good contacts that will take care of you. I do know there are a lot of brokerages out east that post some silly hopper rates ((Southwood)) going west out of your area; and I'm sure some sad person takes it to get out of there...but the community as a whole ends up hurting, because of it. Hope some of this was helpful & best of luck to you sir!

Replied on Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 08:07 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: " We run hopper bottoms, and we get offered a lot of stuff going into northern Florida that isn't horribly priced. I have heard getting out of that area can be hard sometimes, but I haven't actually looked too hard into it. I'd start calling some businesses in the area, and see what they have going on; and also see what kind of trailers make sense for your area. I think you could be successful using just the board, but it would be a lot of filling in the pieces; and you wouldn't be able to bounce around a whole lot. Find your bottom line to be profitable, and don't budge. Be realistic, but don't drive just to drive. It's pretty easy to get into the hopper realm, but not always easy to make good contacts that will take care of you. I do know there are a lot of brokerages out east that post some silly hopper rates ((Southwood)) going west out of your area; and I'm sure some sad person takes it to get out of there...but the community as a whole ends up hurting, because of it. Hope some of this was helpful & best of luck to you sir!" Thank you, i’ve gotten a chance to run some Walking floor stuff for a guy but i don’t think it would be year round. i’m willing to give some things a shot. thank you for not just telling me not to get into it. i don’t really want to get out of my area, i feel like there is a lot of work here with ADM and the cotton gins/peanut mills, also we have Nutrien Ag now.. i just worry about trapping myself with a certain type of trailer. Thank you for the great reply!

Replied on Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 08:07 AM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: " We run hopper bottoms, and we get offered a lot of stuff going into northern Florida that isn't horribly priced. I have heard getting out of that area can be hard sometimes, but I haven't actually looked too hard into it. I'd start calling some businesses in the area, and see what they have going on; and also see what kind of trailers make sense for your area. I think you could be successful using just the board, but it would be a lot of filling in the pieces; and you wouldn't be able to bounce around a whole lot. Find your bottom line to be profitable, and don't budge. Be realistic, but don't drive just to drive. It's pretty easy to get into the hopper realm, but not always easy to make good contacts that will take care of you. I do know there are a lot of brokerages out east that post some silly hopper rates ((Southwood)) going west out of your area; and I'm sure some sad person takes it to get out of there...but the community as a whole ends up hurting, because of it. Hope some of this was helpful & best of luck to you sir!"

Thank you, i’ve gotten a chance to run some Walking floor stuff for a guy but i don’t think it would be year round. i’m willing to give some things a shot. thank you for not just telling me not to get into it. i don’t really want to get out of my area, i feel like there is a lot of work here with ADM and the cotton gins/peanut mills, also we have Nutrien Ag now.. i just worry about trapping myself with a certain type of trailer. Thank you for the great reply!

Replied on Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 08:07 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Johnny, my advice is to get on this load board and enter different trailer types i.e belt, dump, hopper, walking floor to see what kind of loads pop up in your area. You can always call or email shippers & brokers to get more info. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TRAILER... yep. If your somewhat handy you can start out with an older used truck, but don't skimp on the trailer. A perfectly specced out trailer will make you money to buy a nicer truck 🙂 Good luck to you!

Replied on Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 08:07 AM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Johnny, my advice is to get on this load board and enter different trailer types i.e belt, dump, hopper, walking floor to see what kind of loads pop up in your area. You can always call or email shippers & brokers to get more info.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TRAILER... yep. If your somewhat handy you can start out with an older used truck, but don't skimp on the trailer. A perfectly specced out trailer will make you money to buy a nicer truck 🙂

Good luck to you!

Replied on Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 10:11 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. My advice is give me a call. I will gladly give you some contacts in your area, and share what works for me over there.

Replied on Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 01:01 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Johnny, my advice is to get on this load board and enter different trailer types i.e belt, dump, hopper, walking floor to see what kind of loads pop up in your area. You can always call or email shippers & brokers to get more info. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TRAILER... yep. If your somewhat handy you can start out with an older used truck, but don't skimp on the trailer. A perfectly specced out trailer will make you money to buy a nicer truck 🙂 Good luck to you! " yessir thats what i’ve been doing. i’ll call and see what their volume is and what their rates are. i haven’t seen too many shippers though. as far as trailer, i have seen a few different styles, i need to do more research to see what i need! Thank you! and Thank you for the reply!

Replied on Wed, Jan 25, 2023 at 01:01 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "Johnny, my advice is to get on this load board and enter different trailer types i.e belt, dump, hopper, walking floor to see what kind of loads pop up in your area. You can always call or email shippers & brokers to get more info. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE TRAILER... yep. If your somewhat handy you can start out with an older used truck, but don't skimp on the trailer. A perfectly specced out trailer will make you money to buy a nicer truck 🙂 Good luck to you! "

yessir thats what i’ve been doing. i’ll call and see what their volume is and what their rates are. i haven’t seen too many shippers though. as far as trailer, i have seen a few different styles, i need to do more research to see what i need! Thank you! and Thank you for the reply!