How trucking used to be and where it is today!!! - Bulk Trucking Forum & Discussion Board & Bulkloads.com

{ "forumId": 40435, "postTypeId": 1, "postType": "Forum", "forumTitle": "How trucking used to be and where it is today!!!", "forumContent": "\n The way it used to be in trucking \n \n Yesteryear \n Not to long ago trucking used to be fun as well as profitable for all parties concerned. The shippers made money, the broker made money, and the trucker made money. What was not to love about this environment. Most everybody treated each other with respect and dignity while understanding the fine delicate balance of profitability, service, and working together for the common good of all parties. \n \n The shipper would locate a broker or carrier that would offer them a discount for their services, it usually broke out as follows. \n \n Shipper Cost: X$ per mile \n \n Broker discount to shipper: X$ per mile minus 5% \n \n Carrier discount to broker: X$ per mile minus 10% \n Carrier discount to shipper: X$ per mile minus 15% \n \n The shipper would then in return mark up their cost by 10-15% and list it as shipping and handling charges to the end customer (receiver). \n \n In this environment each party received what was rightfully theirs. But alas good old American greed entered in and this is what is going on today. \n \n \n Current Times \n \n As time has went along Corporate greed entered into our country and the motto became make the most money you can and don't worry about who you hurt to do it. We no longer are a nation that looks after each other, we only look as to how we can get over on each other. The shipper no longer cared about the broker, or the trucker, because they had learned that they could pay less and get more. They started with their own employees, once they were successful in getting their own employees to fall for the trap, this in turn lowered their cost to do it themselves. Now this became the ball of crap that started rolling downhill until it hit the bottom. Once the bottom hit it becomes harder and harder to rise to the top. Shipper were no longer happy with paying adequate prices for good service, they just wanted to increase their bottom line. They started pushing brokers to get the loads cheaper and cheaper and told the brokers, we don't care what you sell the loads for as long as you get us cheaper rates. The brokers and truckers followed suit, the next thing you know is you have brokers cutting brokers to get the cheap freight, truckers cutting truckers to haul the cheap freight. The bottom just keeps getting bigger and bigger until hardly anybody but the shippers know what the real rates should be. The brokers blame the shippers (which there is a certain level of truth in that), the truckers blame the brokers (and there is a certain level of truth in that) but in the end confusion is the master of greed. Here is the break out today: \n \n Shipper Cost: X$ per mile (this has went up not down, Labor cost up by 1.5, new equipment cost up by 3, insurance cost up by 2.5, fuel cost up by 7, maintenance cost up by 5, taxes up by .05) \n \n Broker discount to the shipper: X$ per mile minus 15% (or more) \n \n Carrier discount to broker: X$ per mile minus 15% (or more) \n Carrier discount to shipper: X$ per mile minus 30% (or more) \n \n Looks like the only one really winning is the shipper. In this type of environment the only way the broker and trucker make more money is to move more drugs (miles, loads). Who do you think pushed for deregulation in the first place? Do you think those little guys that started OOIDA did it? Do you think the brokers did it? It would take a lot more money than that to lobby Congress, and get Jimmy Carter to sign off on it. They had a president and congress that despised Unions and this was they right time for them to make their move, along with the unrest in the trucker ranks to ease up on one getting their authority so the little guy could have a shot at the American dream. The end result is that the little guy is getting squeezed out by the Corporate American Greed and the cycle will go back to where it started. \n \n The future of trucking \n \n It can go two ways, I will describe both and you can decide which one you like. \n \n \n We the independents truckers and brokers start working together like the days of old. We quit blaming each other for the problem and fix the problem. We need to understand that each and every party needs to be profitable to include our end customers the shippers. We need to quit operating in debt and desperation. We need to hold solid to our rates even if it is painful, we need to reach out and help one another instead of laughing at the failures of those to the left and right of us. If we can do this with a quickness, we may actually salvage our industry from the sewer pit that it has become. If we don't than we will fall into option 2. \n \n \n Corporate Greed continues and the death of the truly independent trucker and broker will occur. Over the past few years the popular thing has become to offer Power Only to carriers that have their own authority either by bigger shippers, carriers, brokers. Now this looks good on the surface but you are taking the majority of the risks, and now are just a glorified lease operator. The independent broker have been absorbed by the bigger brokers due to the recent bond increases. This drove the small Mom and Pop's out of the game, many of you cheered when the bond went up. Now who are you cheering for, your allies were killed off and the only thing that is left is: \n \n A. Shippers that are starting Logistic Arms and brokering or offering Power Only deals \n \n B. Mega-Brokers that have very little to no skin in the game \n \n C. Large carriers that are brokering or offering Power Only deals \n \n Why is this happening? It is all by design, now it has taken over 35 years to get to this point. I remember reading a brief while in the Army about how to control the American Trucker and the freight that they hauled. You see they were really scared the last time the truckers got together and started parking, they were ill prepared for the ramifications that were occurring. Now with the art of confusion acting on their behalf they pretty much control the truckers at will. This is the military and corporate strategy as to control the last dying cowboy or free spirit in this country: \n \n \n Confuse the truckers with irregular rates and a controlled fuel surcharge \n \n Break their spirit by Re-regulating them to the point that they are under such a burden to add to their confusion \n \n Discourage them from talking amongst themselves as to keep communications controlled \n \n Extend their working day while limiting the amount of revenue they can make \n \n Raise their taxes so they are paying more than they keep \n \n Watch every move they make in order to be prepared for the next strike \n \n Convince them that it is Unpatriotic to revolt against the system \n \n Get them to sign an agreement for their CDL that if they refuse to drive the truck by government orders that they could be tried for treason \n \n Keep them in debt so they have to keep on working for the system \n \n Now this looks very much like our country in general, break the free-will of the people by convincing them that their security is more important than their freedom. We are not only the last stand for truckers but the last stand for all Americans. Don't fall for the lies that have been told to you, stand up for yourselves, stand up for others, stand up for America. \n \n In ending, I realize that most of you out there think I am a wackjob conspiracy nut, or some kind of religious nut-job. I swore an oath in 1986 to defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic, I see more domestic enemies in our country than I have ever seen foreign. I am not asking for bloodshed, although Thomas Jefferson said I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. \n \n The Love of Money (Greed), is the root of all evil \n What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul (freedom)? \n \n We are all afforded the right to freedom by God through the Constitution of the United States, why then are we so willing to just give our freedom away? \n \n Good luck to all through this hard time and hopefully you will learn to work together instead of bickering amongst yourselves. This is a call to brokers and truckers alike, we must work together freely or we will end up working together by force. \n \n Alfred Jordan \n Powerhouse Transportation \n NSDQ \n \n \n ", "forumContentHtml": "\r\n\tThe way it used to be in trucking\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tYesteryear\r\n\r\n\tNot to long ago trucking used to be fun as well as profitable for all parties concerned. The shippers made money, the broker made money, and the trucker made money. What was not to love about this environment. Most everybody treated each other with respect and dignity while understanding the fine delicate balance of profitability, service, and working together for the common good of all parties.\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tThe shipper would locate a broker or carrier that would offer them a discount for their services, it usually broke out as follows.\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tShipper Cost: X$ per mile\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tBroker discount to shipper: X$ per mile minus 5%\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tCarrier discount to broker: X$ per mile minus 10%\r\n\r\n\tCarrier discount to shipper: X$ per mile minus 15%\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tThe shipper would then in return mark up their cost by 10-15% and list it as shipping and handling charges to the end customer (receiver).\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tIn this environment each party received what was rightfully theirs. But alas good old American greed entered in and this is what is going on today.\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tCurrent Times\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tAs time has went along Corporate greed entered into our country and the motto became make the most money you can and don't worry about who you hurt to do it. We no longer are a nation that looks after each other, we only look as to how we can get over on each other. The shipper no longer cared about the broker, or the trucker, because they had learned that they could pay less and get more. They started with their own employees, once they were successful in getting their own employees to fall for the trap, this in turn lowered their cost to do it themselves. Now this became the ball of crap that started rolling downhill until it hit the bottom. Once the bottom hit it becomes harder and harder to rise to the top. Shipper were no longer happy with paying adequate prices for good service, they just wanted to increase their bottom line. They started pushing brokers to get the loads cheaper and cheaper and told the brokers, we don't care what you sell the loads for as long as you get us cheaper rates. The brokers and truckers followed suit, the next thing you know is you have brokers cutting brokers to get the cheap freight, truckers cutting truckers to haul the cheap freight. The bottom just keeps getting bigger and bigger until hardly anybody but the shippers know what the real rates should be. The brokers blame the shippers (which there is a certain level of truth in that), the truckers blame the brokers (and there is a certain level of truth in that) but in the end confusion is the master of greed. Here is the break out today:\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tShipper Cost: X$ per mile (this has went up not down, Labor cost up by 1.5, new equipment cost up by 3, insurance cost up by 2.5, fuel cost up by 7, maintenance cost up by 5, taxes up by .05)\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tBroker discount to the shipper: X$ per mile minus 15% (or more)\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tCarrier discount to broker: X$ per mile minus 15% (or more)\r\n\r\n\tCarrier discount to shipper: X$ per mile minus 30% (or more)\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tLooks like the only one really winning is the shipper. In this type of environment the only way the broker and trucker make more money is to move more drugs (miles, loads). Who do you think pushed for deregulation in the first place? Do you think those little guys that started OOIDA did it? Do you think the brokers did it? It would take a lot more money than that to lobby Congress, and get Jimmy Carter to sign off on it. They had a president and congress that despised Unions and this was they right time for them to make their move, along with the unrest in the trucker ranks to ease up on one getting their authority so the little guy could have a shot at the American dream. The end result is that the little guy is getting squeezed out by the Corporate American Greed and the cycle will go back to where it started.\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tThe future of trucking\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tIt can go two ways, I will describe both and you can decide which one you like.\r\n\r\n\t \r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tWe the independents truckers and brokers start working together like the days of old. We quit blaming each other for the problem and fix the problem. We need to understand that each and every party needs to be profitable to include our end customers the shippers. We need to quit operating in debt and desperation. We need to hold solid to our rates even if it is painful, we need to reach out and help one another instead of laughing at the failures of those to the left and right of us. If we can do this with a quickness, we may actually salvage our industry from the sewer pit that it has become. If we don't than we will fall into option 2.\r\n\t</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n\r\n\t \r\n<ol start=\"2\">\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tCorporate Greed continues and the death of the truly independent trucker and broker will occur. Over the past few years the popular thing has become to offer Power Only to carriers that have their own authority either by bigger shippers, carriers, brokers. Now this looks good on the surface but you are taking the majority of the risks, and now are just a glorified lease operator. The independent broker have been absorbed by the bigger brokers due to the recent bond increases. This drove the small Mom and Pop's out of the game, many of you cheered when the bond went up. Now who are you cheering for, your allies were killed off and the only thing that is left is:\r\n\t</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n<ul>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tA. Shippers that are starting Logistic Arms and brokering or offering Power Only deals\r\n\t</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tB. Mega-Brokers that have very little to no skin in the game\r\n\t</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tC. Large carriers that are brokering or offering Power Only deals\r\n\t</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tWhy is this happening? It is all by design, now it has taken over 35 years to get to this point. I remember reading a brief while in the Army about how to control the American Trucker and the freight that they hauled. You see they were really scared the last time the truckers got together and started parking, they were ill prepared for the ramifications that were occurring. Now with the art of confusion acting on their behalf they pretty much control the truckers at will. This is the military and corporate strategy as to control the last dying cowboy or free spirit in this country:\r\n\r\n\t \r\n<ol>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tConfuse the truckers with irregular rates and a controlled fuel surcharge\r\n\t</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tBreak their spirit by Re-regulating them to the point that they are under such a burden to add to their confusion\r\n\t</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tDiscourage them from talking amongst themselves as to keep communications controlled\r\n\t</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tExtend their working day while limiting the amount of revenue they can make\r\n\t</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tRaise their taxes so they are paying more than they keep\r\n\t</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tWatch every move they make in order to be prepared for the next strike\r\n\t</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tConvince them that it is Unpatriotic to revolt against the system\r\n\t</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tGet them to sign an agreement for their CDL that if they refuse to drive the truck by government orders that they could be tried for treason\r\n\t</li>\r\n\t<li>\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tKeep them in debt so they have to keep on working for the system\r\n\t</li>\r\n</ol>\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tNow this looks very much like our country in general, break the free-will of the people by convincing them that their security is more important than their freedom. We are not only the last stand for truckers but the last stand for all Americans. Don't fall for the lies that have been told to you, stand up for yourselves, stand up for others, stand up for America.\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\t<a name=\"footnoteref1_y22zx4h\"></a> In ending, I realize that most of you out there think I am a wackjob conspiracy nut, or some kind of religious nut-job. I swore an oath in 1986 to defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic, I see more domestic enemies in our country than I have ever seen foreign. I am not asking for bloodshed, although Thomas Jefferson said “I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. “\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tThe Love of Money (Greed), is the root of all evil\r\n\r\n\tWhat does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul (freedom)?\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tWe are all afforded the right to freedom by God through the Constitution of the United States, why then are we so willing to just give our freedom away?\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tGood luck to all through this hard time and hopefully you will learn to work together instead of bickering amongst yourselves. This is a call to brokers and truckers alike, we must work together freely or we will end up working together by force.\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\tAlfred Jordan\r\n\r\n\tPowerhouse Transportation\r\n\r\n\tNSDQ\r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\t \r\n\r\n\t ", "thumbUrl": "", "dateAdded": "2015-06-01T20:00:15Z", "lastPost": "2016-05-16T22:40:41Z", "views": 9661, "likes": 13, "dislikes": 1, "messageCount": 64, "premiumOnly": 0, "isfeatured": 0, "showInDays": -100, "showDate": "", "forumLink": "", "youtubeVideoId": "", "approved": 1, "active": 1, "alias": "how-trucking-used-to-be-and-where-it-is-today", "forumUrl": "https://www.bulkloads.com/forum/how-trucking-used-to-be-and-where-it-is-today/", "userId": 11426, "firstName": "ALFRED", "lastName": "JORDAN", "companyName": "POWERHOUSE TRANSPORTATION, LLC ", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "PECULIAR", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 1182, "userLikes": 206, "replies": [ { "replyId": 31701, "content": "Amen\n \n", "contentHtml": "Amen \r\n ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-02-01", "dateAdded": "2015-06-02T17:53:56Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 44697, "firstName": "BARRET", "lastName": "KUDERA", "companyName": "BARJES ENTERPRISES LLC", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Clarkson", "state": "NE", "userCommentCount": 8, "userLikes": 2, "userDislikes": 0, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31715, "content": "Alfred you are the man. I support you. HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD.\n \n Art", "contentHtml": "Alfred you are the man. I support you. HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD. \r\n \r\nArt", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2010-12-05", "dateAdded": "2015-06-03T05:24:28Z", "likes": 4, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 3266, "firstName": "ROSE", "lastName": "PFLUGER", "companyName": "ROAD WARRIORS TRANSPORTATION INC", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "MORRISTOWN", "state": "AZ", "userCommentCount": 804, "userLikes": 10, "userDislikes": 4, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31719, "content": "Why is it that other than on this forum..we don't know anybody here..but all of the old guys say the same thing almost word for word..we used to have fun...we used to make money..we can't find competent drivers...and on and on..so its not just one complaining.. Or disgruntled..most here have never seen the good times..and apparently don't want to change to the good times..why is that? You bring up deregulation...and you get nothing but hate mail..except from those that saw those days..there are some things that need to be regulated to make money for many and to keep some from their own self destruction of working for free..", "contentHtml": "Why is it that other than on this forum..we don't know anybody here..but all of the old guys say the same thing almost word for word..we used to have fun...we used to make money..we can't find competent drivers...and on and on..so its not just one complaining.. Or disgruntled..most here have never seen the good times..and apparently don't want to change to the good times..why is that? You bring up deregulation...and you get nothing but hate mail..except from those that saw those days..there are some things that need to be regulated to make money for many and to keep some from their own self destruction of working for free..", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2010-11-12", "dateAdded": "2015-06-03T16:40:04Z", "likes": 4, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 3078, "firstName": "JEFF", "lastName": "PEARSON", "companyName": "C & R TRUCKING INC", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "PAYSON", "state": "UT", "userCommentCount": 927, "userLikes": 225, "userDislikes": 94, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31724, "content": "The only reason I know about it Jeff, is because I rode with my dad back before it all went to the sewer pit it has become. I have learned more from guys like you, Art, Jason and others than I would ever learn from the modern day truckers and I use that term rather loosely. I guess when I hire guys my expectations are what I remember seeing as a kid growing up. I realize that being a trucker means having a little extra around the middle, but my God, some of these guys can barely walk across the parking lot. Deregulation was not for the trucker it was for the shipper, the only winners were the shippers and the government. They now have a greater pool of little companies to extract taxes from, while still failing to fix the roads for the taxes they receive. \n \n I believe that the time is far overdue from just complaining, whining, and sitting back with no or little action. Now is the time to get together and form a band of brothers that believe in the same cause. Money is just one part of the cause, our lifestyle is the bigger part of the cause. Most of us that choose to do this as a profession do not do it just for the money. We would have left a long time ago over that.\n \n My dad (who is now 70) and I were talking about the good old days at the Royals game last night. We remembered him going into the broker and signing the contract for the return load back to KC, getting the magnets from him putting them on the truck and returning back home. We remembered that the load was only $60 less than the load that we had hauled to New Jersey. Now the speed limit was 55 back than, but we still ran down the road at about 70, going truck stop to truck stop and stopping in every once in a while to BS with the other truckers, take a little break and head out again. I remember sitting by the pay phone while my dad slept and taking messages for all the truckers from their dispatchers so they could rest. I remember the phones at the tables, the free dinners with a fill up, the windows were washed, oil checked, sometimes a free truck wash, and some places even parked the trucks for you as well. I thought to myself as a kid growing up around this, no wonder my dad loves this, he is treated like a king. The money was adequate to good, as my dad was still a greenhorn in the early eighties, but in comparison to what these poor guys make now, it was far better. All the old school guys were just the best, they would pat me on the head and say young man you will make a kick ass trucker one day.\n \n I must apologize to all of you that have been holding down the fort for the past 28 - 35 years. I was off doing other things, like serving our country 1986 - 1996, running my own warehouse as a shipper and receiver 1996 - 1999, running my own construction company 2000- 2008. I did not get back to the life until 2008, when I came back out here again, I wondered what had happened. I asked my dad, and all he could say was that it was the governments fault, while I may agree to a certain extent with that statement, I came to the realization that the first problem was deregulation, the second was the greed of the shipper, the third was the greed of the broker, and finally the greed of the modern day trucker. Truckers stopped living the life and started cutting each other for money. The shippers and brokers have had a heyday with this since 1998, we have forgot the trucker code. \"Help each other even if it hurts\" , that is what I was taught by the old school guys that most are dead and gone. The modern trucker motto is \"Cut them tell they hurt, I will drive my rig my way and you drive yours your way\". What kind of crap is that?\n \n If there are still enough of us that believe in the trucker code, than maybe we should get together here in Peculiar, MO. There is a truckstop that is front of my office, we can meet for coffee, and discuss as to whether or not we can make a difference or is it all a lost cause. i for one believe that if we work with each other we may still be able to salvage a little bit of the trucker code and pass it on to the next group of guys and gals. I know the guys over in Oak Grove, MO started to do what was right years ago, but they stopped when they felt like enough was enough and decided to make money on selling insurance to truckers instead of really educating them on how to be and remain successful.\n \n I wish to thank all of the old school guys that were free enough with me to give me the information that I needed in order to arrive at the numbers that I now know. Without their help I would have been like most of the others out their. Clueless\n", "contentHtml": "The only reason I know about it Jeff, is because I rode with my dad back before it all went to the sewer pit it has become. I have learned more from guys like you, Art, Jason and others than I would ever learn from the modern day truckers and I use that term rather loosely. I guess when I hire guys my expectations are what I remember seeing as a kid growing up. I realize that being a trucker means having a little extra around the middle, but my God, some of these guys can barely walk across the parking lot. Deregulation was not for the trucker it was for the shipper, the only winners were the shippers and the government. They now have a greater pool of little companies to extract taxes from, while still failing to fix the roads for the taxes they receive. \r\n \r\nI believe that the time is far overdue from just complaining, whining, and sitting back with no or little action. Now is the time to get together and form a band of brothers that believe in the same cause. Money is just one part of the cause, our lifestyle is the bigger part of the cause. Most of us that choose to do this as a profession do not do it just for the money. We would have left a long time ago over that. \r\n \r\nMy dad (who is now 70) and I were talking about the good old days at the Royals game last night. We remembered him going into the broker and signing the contract for the return load back to KC, getting the magnets from him putting them on the truck and returning back home. We remembered that the load was only $60 less than the load that we had hauled to New Jersey. Now the speed limit was 55 back than, but we still ran down the road at about 70, going truck stop to truck stop and stopping in every once in a while to BS with the other truckers, take a little break and head out again. I remember sitting by the pay phone while my dad slept and taking messages for all the truckers from their dispatchers so they could rest. I remember the phones at the tables, the free dinners with a fill up, the windows were washed, oil checked, sometimes a free truck wash, and some places even parked the trucks for you as well. I thought to myself as a kid growing up around this, no wonder my dad loves this, he is treated like a king. The money was adequate to good, as my dad was still a greenhorn in the early eighties, but in comparison to what these poor guys make now, it was far better. All the old school guys were just the best, they would pat me on the head and say young man you will make a kick ass trucker one day. \r\n \r\nI must apologize to all of you that have been holding down the fort for the past 28 - 35 years. I was off doing other things, like serving our country 1986 - 1996, running my own warehouse as a shipper and receiver 1996 - 1999, running my own construction company 2000- 2008. I did not get back to the life until 2008, when I came back out here again, I wondered what had happened. I asked my dad, and all he could say was that it was the governments fault, while I may agree to a certain extent with that statement, I came to the realization that the first problem was deregulation, the second was the greed of the shipper, the third was the greed of the broker, and finally the greed of the modern day trucker. Truckers stopped living the life and started cutting each other for money. The shippers and brokers have had a heyday with this since 1998, we have forgot the trucker code. "Help each other even if it hurts" , that is what I was taught by the old school guys that most are dead and gone. The modern trucker motto is "Cut them tell they hurt, I will drive my rig my way and you drive yours your way". What kind of crap is that? \r\n \r\nIf there are still enough of us that believe in the trucker code, than maybe we should get together here in Peculiar, MO. There is a truckstop that is front of my office, we can meet for coffee, and discuss as to whether or not we can make a difference or is it all a lost cause. i for one believe that if we work with each other we may still be able to salvage a little bit of the trucker code and pass it on to the next group of guys and gals. I know the guys over in Oak Grove, MO started to do what was right years ago, but they stopped when they felt like enough was enough and decided to make money on selling insurance to truckers instead of really educating them on how to be and remain successful. \r\n \r\nI wish to thank all of the old school guys that were free enough with me to give me the information that I needed in order to arrive at the numbers that I now know. Without their help I would have been like most of the others out their. Clueless ", "parentReplyId": 31719, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-06-26", "dateAdded": "2015-06-03T20:02:23Z", "likes": 4, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 11426, "firstName": "ALFRED", "lastName": "JORDAN", "companyName": "POWERHOUSE TRANSPORTATION, LLC ", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "PECULIAR", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 1182, "userLikes": 206, "userDislikes": 6, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31734, "content": "Alfred,I agree with you and you make a lot of sense out of this mad business.", "contentHtml": "Alfred,I agree with you and you make a lot of sense out of this mad business.", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2010-06-03", "dateAdded": "2015-06-04T09:57:58Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 1721, "firstName": "Mike", "lastName": "Huellinghoff", "companyName": "HUELLINGHOFF BROS", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Union", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 28, "userLikes": 6, "userDislikes": 0, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31737, "content": "I miss my cabover", "contentHtml": "I miss my cabover", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2015-06-05T00:00:32Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31738, "content": "I was just thinking I remember sitting at home late at night and all of a sudden a show would come onand either JB Hunt or sneider and advertise their Trucking program. remember their motto see the world through the windshield I remember seeing them old international cabover and laughing thinking yeah till you're running across Interstate 40 in Arkansas them were the days. my kidneys and butt are still mad at me", "contentHtml": "I was just thinking I remember sitting at home late at night and all of a sudden a show would come onand either JB Hunt or sneider and advertise their Trucking program. remember their motto see the world through the windshield I remember seeing them old international cabover and laughing thinking yeah till you're running across Interstate 40 in Arkansas them were the days. my kidneys and butt are still mad at me", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2015-06-05T00:54:55Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31743, "content": "Remember whenever we hit a bump, my head would hit the ceiling. My dad would laugh and tell me that's what you get for shooting up so tall. I remember sleeping on the doghouse while he was in the bunk. The trucks may have sucked in comparison to today, but man it was a blast.\n", "contentHtml": "Remember whenever we hit a bump, my head would hit the ceiling. My dad would laugh and tell me that's what you get for shooting up so tall. I remember sleeping on the doghouse while he was in the bunk. The trucks may have sucked in comparison to today, but man it was a blast. ", "parentReplyId": 31738, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-06-26", "dateAdded": "2015-06-05T15:09:29Z", "likes": 3, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 11426, "firstName": "ALFRED", "lastName": "JORDAN", "companyName": "POWERHOUSE TRANSPORTATION, LLC ", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "PECULIAR", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 1182, "userLikes": 206, "userDislikes": 6, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31766, "content": "I had several trucks in the 80s and then 4 dump trucks in the early 90s. I had been away from the business until last Feburary when I bought a truck and hopper. To say that things are different than when I was doing this before would be a gross understatment.\n \n Rates on some things if you were to haul them are below levels I had contracts for in the 80s. However as we all know, eq. as well as each and every other cost has gone out the roof.\n \n I have a Real Estate Appraisal Office and have had for the past 20 years. It is something, that two completely different things could have so much in common from the business side of things.\n \n In the appraisal business over the past 20 years things have gone out the roof also, however I had not noticed it as much because it happened slowly. Seems every couple of years there was a new fee for this, or another one for that, but they were slow, almost like they were under the radar. Insurance cost up, license fee up, software cost up, tech support up, MLS fees up.... The one saving item however is the fact that rates, for my office anyway, have gone up as well. That said, we now have appraisal management companies (broker) that will get you work for,,,,,,,,,,, you guessed it \"a fee\". I typically will not work for them as they have fees that are not as good as when I started. When I do work for them, they meet my fee or call somebody else. Which by the way, why is it that brokers tell us what the rate will be for our trucks? I have had AMCs call and tell me they want an appraisal on some property and then tell me the fee, at which this time I ask them to hold on for a minute and after about 30 seconds I will tell them I just checked the door and my name is still on it, so I will be quoting the fee.\n \n Is this what happened with the trucking? Things just worked there way up slowly and tried to go un-noticed? I will tell you that after having been gone for 20 years things really seem out there. 125 an hour shop time. Charge for 'Shop Supplies',,,,,,,,,,, who thought that up? Charge to plug into your computer, while they are charging shop time. Tires 400 plus. Tell you a load loads in one place when in fact it loads 25 miles away and then the same on the other end, unloads in xxxx city, when in fact it is 12 miles out in the country. That said, I went into this with my eyes open, but would like to work with / help to get things back to where this is a fun business. \n \n 80s / 90s, I was a young man wanting to have my own business and wanting to get ahead. I was not alone, as there were several of my friends that wanted the same. Everybody was looking to better themselves and what better way than to own your own business.\n \n Early 90s when I went back to school to get license for the appraisal business, much the same, several others my age wanting again to move forward. It still seemed people had a plan or at least a desire to better themselves.\n \n Now, I am not a young man anymore, but have not lost the desire to continue forward. Much like days gone by, when I visit with other truck owners I again see people my own age. Same with appraisers, people my own age. While attending a continuing ed class I was visiting with the instructor and he said he has not had a new student wanting to get their license in the past 4 years. The goverment has made it all but impossible to do enough to get your certification, along with the fact most new people are going to have to work for the 'Broker\", so no money to be made. I notice the same in trucking, no younger owners. But who could blame them for not wanting in?\n \n Where are the younger people? Who is going to run things when some of us decide enough is enough?\n \n I have to go do an appraisal now so I can pay for a 'check engine' light that came on yesterday afternoon.\n \n Have a good day.\n", "contentHtml": "I had several trucks in the 80s and then 4 dump trucks in the early 90s. I had been away from the business until last Feburary when I bought a truck and hopper. To say that things are different than when I was doing this before would be a gross understatment. \r\n \r\nRates on some things if you were to haul them are below levels I had contracts for in the 80s. However as we all know, eq. as well as each and every other cost has gone out the roof. \r\n \r\nI have a Real Estate Appraisal Office and have had for the past 20 years. It is something, that two completely different things could have so much in common from the business side of things. \r\n \r\nIn the appraisal business over the past 20 years things have gone out the roof also, however I had not noticed it as much because it happened slowly. Seems every couple of years there was a new fee for this, or another one for that, but they were slow, almost like they were under the radar. Insurance cost up, license fee up, software cost up, tech support up, MLS fees up.... The one saving item however is the fact that rates, for my office anyway, have gone up as well. That said, we now have appraisal management companies (broker) that will get you work for,,,,,,,,,,, you guessed it "a fee". I typically will not work for them as they have fees that are not as good as when I started. When I do work for them, they meet my fee or call somebody else. Which by the way, why is it that brokers tell us what the rate will be for our trucks? I have had AMCs call and tell me they want an appraisal on some property and then tell me the fee, at which this time I ask them to hold on for a minute and after about 30 seconds I will tell them I just checked the door and my name is still on it, so I will be quoting the fee. \r\n \r\nIs this what happened with the trucking? Things just worked there way up slowly and tried to go un-noticed? I will tell you that after having been gone for 20 years things really seem out there. 125 an hour shop time. Charge for 'Shop Supplies',,,,,,,,,,, who thought that up? Charge to plug into your computer, while they are charging shop time. Tires 400 plus. Tell you a load loads in one place when in fact it loads 25 miles away and then the same on the other end, unloads in xxxx city, when in fact it is 12 miles out in the country. That said, I went into this with my eyes open, but would like to work with / help to get things back to where this is a fun business. \r\n \r\n80s / 90s, I was a young man wanting to have my own business and wanting to get ahead. I was not alone, as there were several of my friends that wanted the same. Everybody was looking to better themselves and what better way than to own your own business. \r\n \r\nEarly 90s when I went back to school to get license for the appraisal business, much the same, several others my age wanting again to move forward. It still seemed people had a plan or at least a desire to better themselves. \r\n \r\nNow, I am not a young man anymore, but have not lost the desire to continue forward. Much like days gone by, when I visit with other truck owners I again see people my own age. Same with appraisers, people my own age. While attending a continuing ed class I was visiting with the instructor and he said he has not had a new student wanting to get their license in the past 4 years. The goverment has made it all but impossible to do enough to get your certification, along with the fact most new people are going to have to work for the 'Broker", so no money to be made. I notice the same in trucking, no younger owners. But who could blame them for not wanting in? \r\n \r\nWhere are the younger people? Who is going to run things when some of us decide enough is enough? \r\n \r\nI have to go do an appraisal now so I can pay for a 'check engine' light that came on yesterday afternoon. \r\n \r\nHave a good day. ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-02-22", "dateAdded": "2015-06-10T12:00:18Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 47042, "firstName": "ARNIE", "lastName": "SHEARER", "companyName": "BEST SHOT TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Excello", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 50, "userLikes": 7, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31770, "content": "as a shipper, freight forwarder and also being a dispatcher in my short decade in the industry i have learned one thing before signing off on any rate on any load, verify the information given for the money being paid. doing precalls on both loading and delivery destinations BEFORE you sign the confirmation and send it back, all the standard phone stuff we all used to do before emails and texting. i find sometimes doing things old school saves the most money. i have worked both sides of the table and have found doing your homework ahead of time saves money (or makes money) every time.", "contentHtml": "as a shipper, freight forwarder and also being a dispatcher in my short decade in the industry i have learned one thing before signing off on any rate on any load, verify the information given for the money being paid. doing precalls on both loading and delivery destinations BEFORE you sign the confirmation and send it back, all the standard phone stuff we all used to do before emails and texting. i find sometimes doing things old school saves the most money. i have worked both sides of the table and have found doing your homework ahead of time saves money (or makes money) every time. ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-10-30", "dateAdded": "2015-06-10T16:28:32Z", "likes": 1, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 12560, "firstName": "NANCY", "lastName": "HARDER", "companyName": "CORBO AGRO LTD.", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "SASKATOON", "state": "SK", "userCommentCount": 258, "userLikes": 166, "userDislikes": 18, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31772, "content": "Curious what does that have to do with this conversation? And you only been doing it for 10yrs. Umm your not only a rookie but your not a trucker. Go back to officeland where you belong", "contentHtml": "Curious what does that have to do with this conversation? And you only been doing it for 10yrs. Umm your not only a rookie but your not a trucker. Go back to officeland where you belong ", "parentReplyId": 31770, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2015-06-10T20:04:56Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 7, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31773, "content": "WOW.. tough room to play in..", "contentHtml": "WOW.. tough room to play in..", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2010-11-12", "dateAdded": "2015-06-10T22:22:33Z", "likes": 3, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 3078, "firstName": "JEFF", "lastName": "PEARSON", "companyName": "C & R TRUCKING INC", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "PAYSON", "state": "UT", "userCommentCount": 927, "userLikes": 225, "userDislikes": 94, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31776, "content": "Not long ago I remember back in the late 80's early 90's it was a norm to run 1000miles overnight shippers threatened to get someone else brokers (well they still lie cheat steal) DOT would mess with you cause your truck was dirty. I remember growing up getting woke up late at night because the cops wanted my mom to pick my dad up from jail cause he was fighting either the scabs or the Canadian truckers for backing up to a union dock, I also remember having to pay a tariff to the mob whenever you backed to one of their docks to unload they also controlled the lumpers. Today dot doesn't bother u nearly as bad, I run for revenue not miles. But I still am making the same money at the end of the week after 22yrs. I make an averase of 5k for 4 days work and still do the same Bummer. I'm ready to majorly stir up the s*it and would luv if everyone would grow sum gonadotropin and shit it all down, but I know it won't happen because the industry is training puppets not truck drivers it really sucks to see someone pump fuel in their pajamas and flip flops eating a candy bar., as my girlfriend says all the time yea baby I want sum of that", "contentHtml": "Not long ago I remember back in the late 80's early 90's it was a norm to run 1000miles overnight shippers threatened to get someone else brokers (well they still lie cheat steal) DOT would mess with you cause your truck was dirty. I remember growing up getting woke up late at night because the cops wanted my mom to pick my dad up from jail cause he was fighting either the scabs or the Canadian truckers for backing up to a union dock, I also remember having to pay a tariff to the mob whenever you backed to one of their docks to unload they also controlled the lumpers. Today dot doesn't bother u nearly as bad, I run for revenue not miles. But I still am making the same money at the end of the week after 22yrs. I make an averase of 5k for 4 days work and still do the same Bummer. I'm ready to majorly stir up the s*it and would luv if everyone would grow sum gonadotropin and shit it all down, but I know it won't happen because the industry is training puppets not truck drivers it really sucks to see someone pump fuel in their pajamas and flip flops eating a candy bar., as my girlfriend says all the time yea baby I want sum of that", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2015-06-10T23:35:00Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 2, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31780, "content": "Nancy, I will step out on a limb here and guess that your comment is directed at my statement about where the load is picked up and where it is unloaded. You are correct, everybody should do their due-diligence on each and every load. There was a load I had in mind when I wrote that, it was on here a couple of weeks ago. It was listed as loading in Moberly, MO and headed to Kansas City. Most people looking at the loads on this site in this area know that about any load out of Moberly is out of the local MFA and is headed to St Louis. I called about this load as Moberly is not the Commodity Capital of anything and I wanted to see what was going on. Turns out it loaded 3-4 miles East of Macon which is ~25 miles away.\n \n You are again correct about doing things \"old school\". Years ago, there would be no mis-leading as to where the above mentioned load was to load, because you would have somebody on the phone and they could not tell you Moberly when in fact it was Macon. However today with this site, somebody can hide behind the screen and write anything. The guy posting the load, well all he is looking for is somebody to call, then he becomes a salesman. He can just say 'oh, I posted that wrong, it really is in Macon, but that is only 22 miles (don't mention the plant is 3-4 miles east of town and the 22 miles is from city limit to city limit)'. He does this knowing he most likely has somebody on the line with an empty trailer and wanting to move on.\n \n The argument could be made that in the overall scheme of things the 25 miles should not be a deal breaker and, with that I would have to agree. However it seems the rates are so close that if you don't figure everything just right you are running behind. This guy with this load is starting you out behind the 8 ball. Had that load headed south instead of west, well that would have been a 50 mile typo.\n \n My comment was more of a \"we should not have to check out everything, as it should be laid out there correctly in the first place\".\n", "contentHtml": "Nancy, I will step out on a limb here and guess that your comment is directed at my statement about where the load is picked up and where it is unloaded. You are correct, everybody should do their due-diligence on each and every load. There was a load I had in mind when I wrote that, it was on here a couple of weeks ago. It was listed as loading in Moberly, MO and headed to Kansas City. Most people looking at the loads on this site in this area know that about any load out of Moberly is out of the local MFA and is headed to St Louis. I called about this load as Moberly is not the Commodity Capital of anything and I wanted to see what was going on. Turns out it loaded 3-4 miles East of Macon which is ~25 miles away. \r\n \r\nYou are again correct about doing things "old school". Years ago, there would be no mis-leading as to where the above mentioned load was to load, because you would have somebody on the phone and they could not tell you Moberly when in fact it was Macon. However today with this site, somebody can hide behind the screen and write anything. The guy posting the load, well all he is looking for is somebody to call, then he becomes a salesman. He can just say 'oh, I posted that wrong, it really is in Macon, but that is only 22 miles (don't mention the plant is 3-4 miles east of town and the 22 miles is from city limit to city limit)'. He does this knowing he most likely has somebody on the line with an empty trailer and wanting to move on. \r\n \r\nThe argument could be made that in the overall scheme of things the 25 miles should not be a deal breaker and, with that I would have to agree. However it seems the rates are so close that if you don't figure everything just right you are running behind. This guy with this load is starting you out behind the 8 ball. Had that load headed south instead of west, well that would have been a 50 mile typo. \r\n \r\nMy comment was more of a "we should not have to check out everything, as it should be laid out there correctly in the first place". ", "parentReplyId": 31770, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-02-22", "dateAdded": "2015-06-11T11:29:11Z", "likes": 2, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 47042, "firstName": "ARNIE", "lastName": "SHEARER", "companyName": "BEST SHOT TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Excello", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 50, "userLikes": 7, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31782, "content": "yes indeed, i keep forgetting to hit the with reply button, lol\n yes, i totally agree, that is why i insist on phoning the actual shipper and receiver, i first want to ensure the numbers are correct for the truck and then get more info if needed, it takes more time but at least the truck doesn't have to waste time on bad info which costs me money as well. people like the ones your describe don't have the credibility and imo don;t deserve the truck they are given.\n \n", "contentHtml": "yes indeed, i keep forgetting to hit the with reply button, lol \r\nyes, i totally agree, that is why i insist on phoning the actual shipper and receiver, i first want to ensure the numbers are correct for the truck and then get more info if needed, it takes more time but at least the truck doesn't have to waste time on bad info which costs me money as well. people like the ones your describe don't have the credibility and imo don;t deserve the truck they are given. \r\n ", "parentReplyId": 31780, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-10-30", "dateAdded": "2015-06-11T14:47:27Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 12560, "firstName": "NANCY", "lastName": "HARDER", "companyName": "CORBO AGRO LTD.", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "SASKATOON", "state": "SK", "userCommentCount": 258, "userLikes": 166, "userDislikes": 18, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31792, "content": "Geez Jason, it's an open forum. If we allow people to ramble on about a subject they are passionate about such as, oh I dont know, \"HOW BROKERS ARE THE DEATH OF THE BUSINESS\" or maybe how only a select few people in this business actually know what they're doing and everyone else is an idiot becaus they dont do it the same way, maybe we can allow others to maybe see a similarity and talk about it.", "contentHtml": "Geez Jason, it's an open forum. If we allow people to ramble on about a subject they are passionate about such as, oh I dont know, "HOW BROKERS ARE THE DEATH OF THE BUSINESS" or maybe how only a select few people in this business actually know what they're doing and everyone else is an idiot becaus they dont do it the same way, maybe we can allow others to maybe see a similarity and talk about it.", "parentReplyId": 31772, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/JIM-NOLTE-SANDERS INC.-4853-611713-Jims Pics 023.jpg", "signUpDate": "2011-07-01", "dateAdded": "2015-06-12T14:39:48Z", "likes": 2, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 4853, "firstName": "Jim", "lastName": "Nolte", "companyName": "SANDERS INC.", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Ellsworth", "state": "MN", "userCommentCount": 100, "userLikes": 13, "userDislikes": 0, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31793, "content": "You are absolutely right, not bad coming from a guy calling me a hater. I was referring to how she said how she keeps her independents busy which has nothing to do with this and if they were true independents they would only use her for at the very most just gap fill here and there. Actually I love to tell guys how to make it on their own, I do it all the time.", "contentHtml": "You are absolutely right, not bad coming from a guy calling me a hater. I was referring to how she said how she keeps her independents busy which has nothing to do with this and if they were true independents they would only use her for at the very most just gap fill here and there. Actually I love to tell guys how to make it on their own, I do it all the time. ", "parentReplyId": 31792, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2015-06-12T14:44:35Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 1, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31797, "content": "According to the SMS website your a new entrant , talk about rookies !", "contentHtml": "According to the SMS website your a new entrant , talk about rookies !", "parentReplyId": 31772, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2010-05-27", "dateAdded": "2015-06-12T15:26:09Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 1644, "firstName": "STEVE", "lastName": "MCCLURE", "companyName": "MCCLURE TRANSPORT LLC", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "ALGER", "state": "OH", "userCommentCount": 26, "userLikes": 8, "userDislikes": 29, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31798, "content": "We forgot to mention the IFTA system that tracks our every movement and eliminates competition between states. A system from the federallies that determines our authority and right to ultimately make a living and DOT officers that are disrespectful and treat us like wanted fugitives from justice. Where have citizens endured the harassment and abuse of random searches and \"papers please\". Thats right WW II and the soviet block countries while being hidden behind the banner of \"public safety\". Wake up sheeple, we are the last generation of citizens that will remember what freedom felt like if we do not stem the tide now. When the last 3 day work slow down was called for in protest, what did you do?", "contentHtml": "We forgot to mention the IFTA system that tracks our every movement and eliminates competition between states. A system from the federallies that determines our authority and right to ultimately make a living and DOT officers that are disrespectful and treat us like wanted fugitives from justice. Where have citizens endured the harassment and abuse of random searches and "papers please". Thats right WW II and the soviet block countries while being hidden behind the banner of "public safety". Wake up sheeple, we are the last generation of citizens that will remember what freedom felt like if we do not stem the tide now. When the last 3 day work slow down was called for in protest, what did you do?", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-02-03", "dateAdded": "2015-06-12T15:30:38Z", "likes": 1, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 44816, "firstName": "DAN", "lastName": "HOFFMAN ", "companyName": "TLC", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Worland", "state": "WY", "userCommentCount": 4, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 0, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31799, "content": "You guys need to come to Detroit. It is like the wild wild west here. Between the overly aggresive d.o.t. and all of the Canadian garbage trucks, and the non-english speaking no cdl driving arabs. It is like the good ole days. Trucks parking outside of whore houses and crack houses. It is all over the local news. Drivers hitting bridges, blowing up fuel tankers and so on. Every time I see one of these stories I check to see where all of my trucks are and laugh.\n I still run my grandpa's old K-100 cabover just for fun. Bouncing down our pothole ridden roads jaring my neck all to crap. Whenever I get a new driver complaing that his new truck isn't as \"Driver friendly\" as the one he drove at swift I offer him the keys to the un-airconditioned twin stick cabover. After 1 day they are begging to get the newer truck back. I spent every summer vacation riding with grandpa in that old girl. They did it right back then. 6 pack and a spit cup on the floor, routing our trips based on which bar is in the area. I absolutely agree with you guys, those were the days. \n", "contentHtml": "You guys need to come to Detroit. It is like the wild wild west here. Between the overly aggresive d.o.t. and all of the Canadian garbage trucks, and the non-english speaking no cdl driving arabs. It is like the good ole days. Trucks parking outside of whore houses and crack houses. It is all over the local news. Drivers hitting bridges, blowing up fuel tankers and so on. Every time I see one of these stories I check to see where all of my trucks are and laugh. \r\n I still run my grandpa's old K-100 cabover just for fun. Bouncing down our pothole ridden roads jaring my neck all to crap. Whenever I get a new driver complaing that his new truck isn't as "Driver friendly" as the one he drove at swift I offer him the keys to the un-airconditioned twin stick cabover. After 1 day they are begging to get the newer truck back. I spent every summer vacation riding with grandpa in that old girl. They did it right back then. 6 pack and a spit cup on the floor, routing our trips based on which bar is in the area. I absolutely agree with you guys, those were the days. ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-11-06", "dateAdded": "2015-06-12T15:38:25Z", "likes": 2, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 37551, "firstName": "SCOTT", "lastName": "WACHTEL", "companyName": "BSI TRANSPORT", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "New Baltimore", "state": "MI", "userCommentCount": 64, "userLikes": 3, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31801, "content": "Unfortunately I went through the big D a couple of years ago and had to give up my rights that I got in 94 cause the x name was on it been in business with my pops since he startwd in 87. fairgrovetrucking.com n ope not new anymore questions feel free to ask", "contentHtml": "Unfortunately I went through the big D a couple of years ago and had to give up my rights that I got in 94 cause the x name was on it been in business with my pops since he startwd in 87. fairgrovetrucking.com n ope not new anymore questions feel free to ask ", "parentReplyId": 31797, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2015-06-12T17:13:32Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31804, "content": "Many people may have a new MC, but that does not mean that they are rookies. \n", "contentHtml": "Many people may have a new MC, but that does not mean that they are rookies. ", "parentReplyId": 31797, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-06-26", "dateAdded": "2015-06-12T17:49:14Z", "likes": 2, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 11426, "firstName": "ALFRED", "lastName": "JORDAN", "companyName": "POWERHOUSE TRANSPORTATION, LLC ", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "PECULIAR", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 1182, "userLikes": 206, "userDislikes": 6, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31807, "content": "You are a very intelligent man. One can hold multiple entities and things are not always what they appear. Wyoming has the best LLC privacy laws in the country, just saying. That being stated I am not a lifer but entered the trucking industry as a second career after being spit out by corporate America for basically being middle aged too successful and overpaid, lol. Saw an opportunity, seized it and have been independent ever since. I served my country and cannot stomach the direction we are headed and most of the public is oblivious. I enjoy the banter and the stories keep them coming. I realize not all share my opinion of government and unions (dont care for either) but thats what makes us americans we have the right to make those decisions for ourselves. Happy trails too you...", "contentHtml": "You are a very intelligent man. One can hold multiple entities and things are not always what they appear. Wyoming has the best LLC privacy laws in the country, just saying. That being stated I am not a lifer but entered the trucking industry as a second career after being spit out by corporate America for basically being middle aged too successful and overpaid, lol. Saw an opportunity, seized it and have been independent ever since. I served my country and cannot stomach the direction we are headed and most of the public is oblivious. I enjoy the banter and the stories keep them coming. I realize not all share my opinion of government and unions (dont care for either) but thats what makes us americans we have the right to make those decisions for ourselves. Happy trails too you...", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-02-03", "dateAdded": "2015-06-13T15:56:08Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 44816, "firstName": "DAN", "lastName": "HOFFMAN ", "companyName": "TLC", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Worland", "state": "WY", "userCommentCount": 4, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 0, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 31810, "content": "When the last 3 day work slow down was called for in protest, what did you do?\n \n We parked our trucks and took care of other business, fishing, working around the house, went to the movies. \n \n We are working on getting something together for all of us, the hardest part is getting everybody to agree on what is best for not just ourselves, but all parties concerned. This cannot be just about we truckers, it must be about our fellow man as well. We do not want to even resemble the problem that is occuring not only in our industry but others as well. Contrary to popular belief, GREED IS NOT GOOD!!! Profit is understandable and each and every party should be allowed to make profit as long as it does not enter into the greedfest that is currently occurring.\n \n I want everyone to understand that we are not trying to slight anyone here, but I have learned from my years as a leader that having to many heads is just as bad as having none. I am hand selecting truckers to join our cause and when we get the bugs worked out amongst us, then we will invite the rest of you to join us. We must make sure our program works on a small scale before we attempt a much larger undertaking. The first step is to get three to five independents to agree on the same procedures, and avenues of approach for our industry. The second is to get 10 studs not 100 duds to test the procedures. Once the program has been tested than we can open the gate for more studs to join.\n \n The hardest thing to overcome thus far has been each individual's Trucker Pride. Most have been fooled and believe that they should make lots of money by bringing their little piece of pie to the table. They are missing the bigger picture about what we are trying to establish, they can't see the forrest because of the tree. We are asking all involved to understand the concept of ( \" I would rather make 1% of 100 peoples efforts, than 100% of my own \" ) . The pie is big enough for all of us to divide, eat very well, and still have some left over for tomorrow. \n \n If we were to try and please all parties we would never move forward. We would still be floundering around in the sewer pit that our country has become and blaming each other for the problems. As we can all see by the example of our Governments that those people can't agree on anything without adding to the burden of the people. Their are to many heads that are not accountable to the people, if each an every one of the heads knew that they would be fired or punished for not doing what was best for those they were chosen to represent, they would make much better choices for the people. When the heads have been bought and paid for by the bigger heads than they fall under subjection to those who paid for them to receive their power. This is what is wrong with the supposed democracy that we have today, it is now really an oligarchy with democracy as a front. Let's not forget that Adolf Hitler stated If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed. He and his cronies also stated that individual rights needed to be trounced on, for the greater good of security. Papers Please?\n \n \n This is where we are today, we have been told the lies for so long that we have chosen to believe them. It is much easier to just go along with the flow and not rock the boat. It is much easier to just gripe and complain instead of doing something about it. It is much easier to just think about yourself instead of your fellow man. I for one enjoy challenges and find easy to be boring, I realize that what we are about to embark on is the most challenging thing that I have ever been involved in attempting, but the rewards for all make it worth the challenge. The more of you that tell me it can't be done just stoke up the passion and fire that was created in me for freedom. I came back into trucking to recapture a little of my youth, the good old days when we were still somewhat free. Maybe I was nieve, imagine my surprise when I saw what trucking had become.\n \n Here is the motto I live by:\n \n Whatever I do in life I want it to challenging and fun\n I want that to provide for my family as well as others\n I want to do it honestly\n I should not have to steal from others to make my desires occur\n Whatever has been given freely to me I will likewise give in return\n There is nothing in this world worth giving my freedom for \"Give me liberty or give me death\" Patrick Henry\n \n God Bless all that are still concerned about our liberties and freedoms, I will keep you posted as our organization gets ready to open the gates.\n", "contentHtml": "When the last 3 day work slow down was called for in protest, what did you do? \r\n \r\nWe parked our trucks and took care of other business, fishing, working around the house, went to the movies. \r\n \r\nWe are working on getting something together for all of us, the hardest part is getting everybody to agree on what is best for not just ourselves, but all parties concerned. This cannot be just about we truckers, it must be about our fellow man as well. We do not want to even resemble the problem that is occuring not only in our industry but others as well. Contrary to popular belief, GREED IS NOT GOOD!!! Profit is understandable and each and every party should be allowed to make profit as long as it does not enter into the greedfest that is currently occurring. \r\n \r\nI want everyone to understand that we are not trying to slight anyone here, but I have learned from my years as a leader that having to many heads is just as bad as having none. I am hand selecting truckers to join our cause and when we get the bugs worked out amongst us, then we will invite the rest of you to join us. We must make sure our program works on a small scale before we attempt a much larger undertaking. The first step is to get three to five independents to agree on the same procedures, and avenues of approach for our industry. The second is to get 10 studs not 100 duds to test the procedures. Once the program has been tested than we can open the gate for more studs to join. \r\n \r\nThe hardest thing to overcome thus far has been each individual's Trucker Pride. Most have been fooled and believe that they should make lots of money by bringing their little piece of pie to the table. They are missing the bigger picture about what we are trying to establish, they can't see the forrest because of the tree. We are asking all involved to understand the concept of ( " I would rather make 1% of 100 peoples efforts, than 100% of my own " ) . The pie is big enough for all of us to divide, eat very well, and still have some left over for tomorrow. \r\n \r\nIf we were to try and please all parties we would never move forward. We would still be floundering around in the sewer pit that our country has become and blaming each other for the problems. As we can all see by the example of our Governments that those people can't agree on anything without adding to the burden of the people. Their are to many heads that are not accountable to the people, if each an every one of the heads knew that they would be fired or punished for not doing what was best for those they were chosen to represent, they would make much better choices for the people. When the heads have been bought and paid for by the bigger heads than they fall under subjection to those who paid for them to receive their power. This is what is wrong with the supposed democracy that we have today, it is now really an oligarchy with democracy as a front. Let's not forget that Adolf Hitler stated “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed.” He and his cronies also stated that individual rights needed to be trounced on, for the greater good of security. Papers Please? \r\n \r\n \r\nThis is where we are today, we have been told the lies for so long that we have chosen to believe them. It is much easier to just go along with the flow and not rock the boat. It is much easier to just gripe and complain instead of doing something about it. It is much easier to just think about yourself instead of your fellow man. I for one enjoy challenges and find easy to be boring, I realize that what we are about to embark on is the most challenging thing that I have ever been involved in attempting, but the rewards for all make it worth the challenge. The more of you that tell me it can't be done just stoke up the passion and fire that was created in me for freedom. I came back into trucking to recapture a little of my youth, the good old days when we were still somewhat free. Maybe I was nieve, imagine my surprise when I saw what trucking had become. \r\n \r\nHere is the motto I live by: \r\n \r\nWhatever I do in life I want it to challenging and fun \r\nI want that to provide for my family as well as others \r\nI want to do it honestly \r\nI should not have to steal from others to make my desires occur \r\nWhatever has been given freely to me I will likewise give in return \r\nThere is nothing in this world worth giving my freedom for "Give me liberty or give me death" Patrick Henry \r\n \r\nGod Bless all that are still concerned about our liberties and freedoms, I will keep you posted as our organization gets ready to open the gates. ", "parentReplyId": 31798, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-06-26", "dateAdded": "2015-06-14T22:44:35Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 1, "approved": 1, "userId": 11426, "firstName": "ALFRED", "lastName": "JORDAN", "companyName": "POWERHOUSE TRANSPORTATION, LLC ", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "PECULIAR", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 1182, "userLikes": 206, "userDislikes": 6, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36589, "content": "I posted this almost a year ago, and think some of those that have not read it need to read it. There are many that do not know the history of our industry and what it was like and what it can become again if we just choose to work together willingly.\n", "contentHtml": "I posted this almost a year ago, and think some of those that have not read it need to read it. There are many that do not know the history of our industry and what it was like and what it can become again if we just choose to work together willingly. ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-06-26", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T02:23:52Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 11426, "firstName": "ALFRED", "lastName": "JORDAN", "companyName": "POWERHOUSE TRANSPORTATION, LLC ", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "PECULIAR", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 1182, "userLikes": 206, "userDislikes": 6, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36591, "content": "I agree with you . honesty and integrity are something thats been lost out here , i don't even know if i'm on topic with what i'm saying , i have been fortunate enough trough the years that i have been lucky enough to stumble onto and into some pretty good deals and all have been through a phone discussion and a handshake. I have never signed nor been bound to any type of paper contract. so far , and luckily mine and thier word was good enough. not sure if thats just a Texas thing or what. One thought that I do live by though is that no matter wht written , spoken or anything else a man is only as good as his word. now i will admit that there are times that i give a little to get a little but so far it has balanced out for me in the end. sometimes i wonder if its because i'm just dumb or just country, hard work pays off in the end , it might not make yor pocketbook to fat but it sure does give you piece of mind. the same goes for honesty and integrity as well", "contentHtml": "I agree with you . honesty and integrity are something thats been lost out here , i don't even know if i'm on topic with what i'm saying , i have been fortunate enough trough the years that i have been lucky enough to stumble onto and into some pretty good deals and all have been through a phone discussion and a handshake. I have never signed nor been bound to any type of paper contract. so far , and luckily mine and thier word was good enough. not sure if thats just a Texas thing or what. One thought that I do live by though is that no matter wht written , spoken or anything else a man is only as good as his word. now i will admit that there are times that i give a little to get a little but so far it has balanced out for me in the end. sometimes i wonder if its because i'm just dumb or just country, hard work pays off in the end , it might not make yor pocketbook to fat but it sure does give you piece of mind. the same goes for honesty and integrity as well", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T02:52:53Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36592, "content": "Totally agree Kevin. I have a reputation for being a problem solver, I used to do this for short stints only, but now I will not solve others problems unless the give me a year contract at a minimum. This way instead of them paying a lot of money for my consulting services on one or two loads, now I want that spread out over a year. Seems to be working for me, it took a while for me to get the shippers and brokers to understand that we were not going to come in and take care of their problems any longer and just disappear. I want them to have as much skin in the game with us from now on. I have had a year to sit over here and study as to how was the best way for us Independent Carriers to recapture what is ours. I just signed another contract earlier today, and the customer was upset when I took my inkpen and started crossing out lines in the contract that I did not like, I then initialed those lines and asked them to do likewise, at first they did not want to do so, I picked up my dayplanner and started putting on my jacket. They asked what was happening, I told them that I was heading back to my office where I was the king and could do whatever the hell I wanted. The guy looked at me and said it does not have to be like that, I then told him it does indeed have to be like that. You either initial and sign the contract that I modified, or we can wait until Monday for our attorney's to do the contract modifications, or we can just scrap the whole deal. I told him that I would be out of pocket on Monday at a meeting in Wichita, so the next time we could get together would be three weeks from now. He said but we need your truck there Sunday night, I turned around and looked at the contract and said well I guess you better start signing then. He signed, and I have a truck enroute to do the gig.\n \n My fishing trips are now becoming hunting trips, this is fun, I should have done this earlier.\n", "contentHtml": "Totally agree Kevin. I have a reputation for being a problem solver, I used to do this for short stints only, but now I will not solve others problems unless the give me a year contract at a minimum. This way instead of them paying a lot of money for my consulting services on one or two loads, now I want that spread out over a year. Seems to be working for me, it took a while for me to get the shippers and brokers to understand that we were not going to come in and take care of their problems any longer and just disappear. I want them to have as much skin in the game with us from now on. I have had a year to sit over here and study as to how was the best way for us Independent Carriers to recapture what is ours. I just signed another contract earlier today, and the customer was upset when I took my inkpen and started crossing out lines in the contract that I did not like, I then initialed those lines and asked them to do likewise, at first they did not want to do so, I picked up my dayplanner and started putting on my jacket. They asked what was happening, I told them that I was heading back to my office where I was the king and could do whatever the hell I wanted. The guy looked at me and said it does not have to be like that, I then told him it does indeed have to be like that. You either initial and sign the contract that I modified, or we can wait until Monday for our attorney's to do the contract modifications, or we can just scrap the whole deal. I told him that I would be out of pocket on Monday at a meeting in Wichita, so the next time we could get together would be three weeks from now. He said but we need your truck there Sunday night, I turned around and looked at the contract and said well I guess you better start signing then. He signed, and I have a truck enroute to do the gig. \r\n \r\nMy fishing trips are now becoming hunting trips, this is fun, I should have done this earlier. ", "parentReplyId": 36591, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-06-26", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T03:05:34Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 11426, "firstName": "ALFRED", "lastName": "JORDAN", "companyName": "POWERHOUSE TRANSPORTATION, LLC ", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "PECULIAR", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 1182, "userLikes": 206, "userDislikes": 6, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36594, "content": "an msa is a good thing to have if you have all the right things in place to protect yourself , such as the insurance , the back up and such just like the shipppers do, but boy if you don't one toe stump and they can eat you alive. down here with the olfield you got to have them in place, i've seen them and read parts of them and it does work as an advantage. the ag side though not so much because theres so much give and take in what i have been involved in. although there would be no cost involved i have still seen places where it would cost me revenue buy having to abide by one.. i guess its one of those things where you could say...everything has a time and a place", "contentHtml": "an msa is a good thing to have if you have all the right things in place to protect yourself , such as the insurance , the back up and such just like the shipppers do, but boy if you don't one toe stump and they can eat you alive. down here with the olfield you got to have them in place, i've seen them and read parts of them and it does work as an advantage. the ag side though not so much because theres so much give and take in what i have been involved in. although there would be no cost involved i have still seen places where it would cost me revenue buy having to abide by one.. i guess its one of those things where you could say...everything has a time and a place", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T03:18:05Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36596, "content": "Amen. I talked with 3 separate mega reps this past week it snapped on me one more time. The big money megs have slipped in and stole the show.\n \n None of the 3 reps had the foggiest clue in what we were discussing. The one thing all 3 were thinking was that they could talk faster than I could listen. They seemed to have no pride in their job just simply an urge to get more truck for less money.", "contentHtml": "Amen. I talked with 3 separate mega reps this past week it snapped on me one more time. The big money megs have slipped in and stole the show. \r\n \r\nNone of the 3 reps had the foggiest clue in what we were discussing. The one thing all 3 were thinking was that they could talk faster than I could listen. They seemed to have no pride in their job just simply an urge to get more truck for less money.", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2012-06-18", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T03:19:47Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 7792, "firstName": "JERRY", "lastName": "BECK", "companyName": "BECK BULK", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "HANKAMER", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 517, "userLikes": 48, "userDislikes": 5, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36597, "content": "Most times with my Ag-Customers it goes like this, I get an email, text, or phone call that they need to move x# of bushels and how much will it cost. I shoot the email, text, or tell them over the phone. They haggle a little bit, we agree and I send the truck and they write me the check off of our bushel count sheet. Don't need a contract with my farmer customers we just do it the good old Missouri way, spit in the hand and shake, that is the contract. If the customer is publically traded, better have a contract, if they have the word broker or 3PL associated, better have a contract, if your gut just feels funny about them, better have a contract. In this day and age I very rarely operate without a contract. I guess I just don't trust too many people any more, a contract makes sure that both parties play by the rules. Really it is too bad our society has lost so much honor and integrity that you can't trust most people by their word anymore.\n", "contentHtml": "Most times with my Ag-Customers it goes like this, I get an email, text, or phone call that they need to move x# of bushels and how much will it cost. I shoot the email, text, or tell them over the phone. They haggle a little bit, we agree and I send the truck and they write me the check off of our bushel count sheet. Don't need a contract with my farmer customers we just do it the good old Missouri way, spit in the hand and shake, that is the contract. If the customer is publically traded, better have a contract, if they have the word broker or 3PL associated, better have a contract, if your gut just feels funny about them, better have a contract. In this day and age I very rarely operate without a contract. I guess I just don't trust too many people any more, a contract makes sure that both parties play by the rules. Really it is too bad our society has lost so much honor and integrity that you can't trust most people by their word anymore. ", "parentReplyId": 36594, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-06-26", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T03:27:11Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 11426, "firstName": "ALFRED", "lastName": "JORDAN", "companyName": "POWERHOUSE TRANSPORTATION, LLC ", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "PECULIAR", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 1182, "userLikes": 206, "userDislikes": 6, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36598, "content": "thats my biggest problem , i'll more than likely always be a 1 truck show because i just have it my mind nobody will ever do what i do the way i do it. and my name is all i have to back up my reputation. jerry i got a rate sheet for you as well as couple other things to look at if you are still interested in pondering what we tlked about.... you might think i'm a little goofy after our conversation but i promise i'm only half that dumb..lol", "contentHtml": "thats my biggest problem , i'll more than likely always be a 1 truck show because i just have it my mind nobody will ever do what i do the way i do it. and my name is all i have to back up my reputation. jerry i got a rate sheet for you as well as couple other things to look at if you are still interested in pondering what we tlked about.... you might think i'm a little goofy after our conversation but i promise i'm only half that dumb..lol", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T03:28:36Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36599, "content": "that right... i've gotten to the point to where the more they cuss and the less big words they use the more i like em.", "contentHtml": "that right... i've gotten to the point to where the more they cuss and the less big words they use the more i like em. ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T03:38:39Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36603, "content": "Ha ha. Actually I figgered I came across as a dummie. Sure let's meet up. I'm definitely interested. If nothing else we can drink a cup and visit. I was looking at that kind of trailers on truckpaper and found a few I think like you explained. \n \n All I have going Monday is I have to go into Houston to do a little paperwork and pickup a couple of tires. I doubt very serious the shop will have my trailer ready. Polar nor Brennar has a valve we need but it's supposed to be here Monday morning.", "contentHtml": "Ha ha. Actually I figgered I came across as a dummie. Sure let's meet up. I'm definitely interested. If nothing else we can drink a cup and visit. I was looking at that kind of trailers on truckpaper and found a few I think like you explained. \r\n \r\nAll I have going Monday is I have to go into Houston to do a little paperwork and pickup a couple of tires. I doubt very serious the shop will have my trailer ready. Polar nor Brennar has a valve we need but it's supposed to be here Monday morning.", "parentReplyId": 36598, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2012-06-18", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T03:43:35Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 7792, "firstName": "JERRY", "lastName": "BECK", "companyName": "BECK BULK", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "HANKAMER", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 517, "userLikes": 48, "userDislikes": 5, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36606, "content": "prolly be later or late in the week for me ,he put a pretty full load on me this week", "contentHtml": "prolly be later or late in the week for me ,he put a pretty full load on me this week ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T03:54:05Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36607, "content": "prolly be later or late in the week for me ,he put a pretty full load on me this week", "contentHtml": "prolly be later or late in the week for me ,he put a pretty full load on me this week ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T03:54:05Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36608, "content": "prolly be later or late in the week for me ,he put a pretty full load on me this week", "contentHtml": "prolly be later or late in the week for me ,he put a pretty full load on me this week ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T03:54:06Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36609, "content": "Okay. We'll get lined out.\n \n I don't think I'm gonna be any farther away than Ft Polk this week and not sure what day yet.", "contentHtml": "Okay. We'll get lined out. \r\n \r\nI don't think I'm gonna be any farther away than Ft Polk this week and not sure what day yet.", "parentReplyId": 36608, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2012-06-18", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T04:11:16Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 7792, "firstName": "JERRY", "lastName": "BECK", "companyName": "BECK BULK", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "HANKAMER", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 517, "userLikes": 48, "userDislikes": 5, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36613, "content": "Sounds like it's time to get out, besides I could make a better living of the goooberment or flipping burgers for 15 bucks an hour starting wage, it's a no brainer", "contentHtml": "Sounds like it's time to get out, besides I could make a better living of the goooberment or flipping burgers for 15 bucks an hour starting wage, it's a no brainer", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-01-29", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T16:04:37Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 9967, "firstName": "T", "lastName": "J", "companyName": "BONJO ENTERPRISES LLC", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "North Platte", "state": "NE", "userCommentCount": 261, "userLikes": 32, "userDislikes": 13, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36614, "content": "yeah but mickey d's don't have a burger flippin forum like we do..... and makin fun of the dolllar menu would'nt be half as entertaining as amkin fun of these dollar freight haulers.", "contentHtml": "yeah but mickey d's don't have a burger flippin forum like we do..... and makin fun of the dolllar menu would'nt be half as entertaining as amkin fun of these dollar freight haulers.", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T16:48:24Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36615, "content": "If we work at Micky's just where to heck would we get our Chester Crunchy Chicken ?? One driver I know is up to a 3 box a day habit.", "contentHtml": "If we work at Micky's just where to heck would we get our Chester Crunchy Chicken ?? One driver I know is up to a 3 box a day habit.", "parentReplyId": 36613, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2012-06-18", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T17:11:55Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 7792, "firstName": "JERRY", "lastName": "BECK", "companyName": "BECK BULK", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "HANKAMER", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 517, "userLikes": 48, "userDislikes": 5, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36616, "content": "Ha, ha", "contentHtml": "Ha, ha", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-01-29", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T20:13:46Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 9967, "firstName": "T", "lastName": "J", "companyName": "BONJO ENTERPRISES LLC", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "North Platte", "state": "NE", "userCommentCount": 261, "userLikes": 32, "userDislikes": 13, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36617, "content": "M7 has a load on here- julesburg co to ILL 788 miles 22 a ton= 69 cents a pile, what does that say to you , your not worth a dime", "contentHtml": "M7 has a load on here- julesburg co to ILL 788 miles 22 a ton= 69 cents a pile, what does that say to you , your not worth a dime", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-01-29", "dateAdded": "2016-05-15T23:49:10Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 9967, "firstName": "T", "lastName": "J", "companyName": "BONJO ENTERPRISES LLC", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "North Platte", "state": "NE", "userCommentCount": 261, "userLikes": 32, "userDislikes": 13, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36618, "content": "There's a large fleet owner here who can pull that load for .37 a mile. I sure hope he shows up before some body signs on it for too much money", "contentHtml": "There's a large fleet owner here who can pull that load for .37¢ a mile. I sure hope he shows up before some body signs on it for too much money", "parentReplyId": 36617, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2012-06-18", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T00:29:19Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 7792, "firstName": "JERRY", "lastName": "BECK", "companyName": "BECK BULK", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "HANKAMER", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 517, "userLikes": 48, "userDislikes": 5, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36619, "content": "When a guy works for a loss, wtf?", "contentHtml": "When a guy works for a loss, wtf? ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-01-29", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T00:35:38Z", "likes": 1, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 9967, "firstName": "T", "lastName": "J", "companyName": "BONJO ENTERPRISES LLC", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "North Platte", "state": "NE", "userCommentCount": 261, "userLikes": 32, "userDislikes": 13, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36620, "content": "if i had chicken lights and one of them 3 ft shift extenders i'd haul it , but my lil truck is just stock factory issue so i don' qulify for left lane freight.... wish i could help though.....\n", "contentHtml": "if i had chicken lights and one of them 3 ft shift extenders i'd haul it , but my lil truck is just stock factory issue so i don' qulify for left lane freight.... wish i could help though..... ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T00:56:29Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36622, "content": "I just drove a piece of PVC pipe down over my gear pole to extend it and painted it fake chrome. It would never pass a test by Billy Bigrigger but just peeking in while they pass nobody will catch it.\n \n I'm more worried about just having one stack and it's on the left side. The right side had an elbow rust out so I just cut it off and capped it.", "contentHtml": "I just drove a piece of PVC pipe down over my gear pole to extend it and painted it fake chrome. It would never pass a test by Billy Bigrigger but just peeking in while they pass nobody will catch it. \r\n \r\nI'm more worried about just having one stack and it's on the left side. The right side had an elbow rust out so I just cut it off and capped it.", "parentReplyId": 36620, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2012-06-18", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T01:05:30Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 7792, "firstName": "JERRY", "lastName": "BECK", "companyName": "BECK BULK", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "HANKAMER", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 517, "userLikes": 48, "userDislikes": 5, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36623, "content": "9 inch sch40 and tin foil wrap on both sides will bring back that cool look.....as long as you carry extra", "contentHtml": "9 inch sch40 and tin foil wrap on both sides will bring back that cool look.....as long as you carry extra", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T01:11:34Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36629, "content": "How are we going to get together, if we have \" Carriers / Ownwr-Ops \" hauling for next to nothing?\n Has any body seen the rates that the Mexicans of South Texas haul for? How about 3 ( Three ) Hindus from Northern Cal getting out of a truck at a truck stop, and hauling for nothing from California to the East Coast and back every Friday?\n How about the Cubans in Miami, and the Jamaicans from New York?\n And last but not least, the Afrikans hauling out from Minnesota, and the Polish out of Chicago and Detroit?\n That's our problem, this people are desperate to make a pay-check, and they have absolutely no idea of what the rates really are.\n This is not a racist comment or reply, this is reality, and complements Jeff's letter.\n Our worst enemy sleeps on the truck next to us at the truck stop every night.\n Don't blame the brokers or the shippers, blame oll of you who haul freight for pennies on the dollar.\n A multi-drop loads from Chicago used to pay $3800 to Orlando with 5 drops, load on Friday and Finish Tuesday next week, then I returned to Chicago for $ 2000.00\n during off season, and $ 2700.00 during produce season. For years I hauled from Chicago to Miami for $ 4500.00 during produce season and $ 5000.00 off season, because then you have a long dead-head at least back to Atlanta.\n So altogether, it was very easy to gross $ 5500 to $ 6000.00 on one run down and back, plus a little fuel short back-haul here and there.\n Detroit used to gross about $ 5700.00 round trip.\n Same from Buffalo Ny, or Elizabeth NJ.\n The Canadians used to gross $ 7500.00 on a 10 day Round, I'm a northern carrier, for the last 27 years, right after deregulation I got started with Dry vans and flat beds, then I moved to reefers for the last 19 yrs.\n Canada to California used to Gross $ 10,000 every 2 weeks ( $ 20,000/month ).\n California to Boston was $ 8500.00 plus unloading, no questions asked, just like that.\n Yes ladies and gentleman, this is the kind of money we used to make until the stupids in DC crashed our economy and sold us out.\n And it actually got really bad after 2014. We have had more rate declines in the last 2 years, than we have had since the economy collapsed in 2008.\n Also, word of advise to all the new ones out there : Don't haul cheap freight, don't haul for CH Rob, Coyote or TQL.....Capish?\n If you start hauling for them you will go bankrupt in 90 days or less and lose your truck, your house, your family and your sanity.\n \n", "contentHtml": "How are we going to get together, if we have " Carriers / Ownwr-Ops " hauling for next to nothing? \r\nHas any body seen the rates that the Mexicans of South Texas haul for? How about 3 ( Three ) Hindus from Northern Cal getting out of a truck at a truck stop, and hauling for nothing from California to the East Coast and back every Friday? \r\nHow about the Cubans in Miami, and the Jamaicans from New York? \r\nAnd last but not least, the Afrikans hauling out from Minnesota, and the Polish out of Chicago and Detroit? \r\nThat's our problem, this people are desperate to make a pay-check, and they have absolutely no idea of what the rates really are. \r\nThis is not a racist comment or reply, this is reality, and complements Jeff's letter. \r\nOur worst enemy sleeps on the truck next to us at the truck stop every night. \r\nDon't blame the brokers or the shippers, blame oll of you who haul freight for pennies on the dollar. \r\nA multi-drop loads from Chicago used to pay $3800 to Orlando with 5 drops, load on Friday and Finish Tuesday next week, then I returned to Chicago for $ 2000.00 \r\nduring off season, and $ 2700.00 during produce season. For years I hauled from Chicago to Miami for $ 4500.00 during produce season and $ 5000.00 off season, because then you have a long dead-head at least back to Atlanta. \r\nSo altogether, it was very easy to gross $ 5500 to $ 6000.00 on one run down and back, plus a little fuel short back-haul here and there. \r\nDetroit used to gross about $ 5700.00 round trip. \r\nSame from Buffalo Ny, or Elizabeth NJ. \r\nThe Canadians used to gross $ 7500.00 on a 10 day Round, I'm a northern carrier, for the last 27 years, right after deregulation I got started with Dry vans and flat beds, then I moved to reefers for the last 19 yrs. \r\nCanada to California used to Gross $ 10,000 every 2 weeks ( $ 20,000/month ). \r\nCalifornia to Boston was $ 8500.00 plus unloading, no questions asked, just like that. \r\nYes ladies and gentleman, this is the kind of money we used to make until the stupids in DC crashed our economy and sold us out. \r\nAnd it actually got really bad after 2014. We have had more rate declines in the last 2 years, than we have had since the economy collapsed in 2008. \r\nAlso, word of advise to all the new ones out there : Don't haul cheap freight, don't haul for CH Rob, Coyote or TQL.....Capish? \r\nIf you start hauling for them you will go bankrupt in 90 days or less and lose your truck, your house, your family and your sanity. \r\n ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2013-02-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T17:00:08Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 10290, "firstName": "JAY ", "lastName": "GREENE", "companyName": "GREENE TRANSPORT", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "DETROIT", "state": "MI", "userCommentCount": 1, "userLikes": 3, "userDislikes": 0, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36631, "content": "I wanna be Billy jackoffer, but bummer, I have a automatic. STBM,grrr", "contentHtml": "I wanna be Billy jackoffer, but bummer, I have a automatic. STBM,grrr", "parentReplyId": 36623, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T17:17:28Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36632, "content": "you know , i drove an automatic in 2014 several times helping a guy move a big front end loader. combined gross weight was a little over 94000 and that 450 cummins and i shift handled it quite well and easy.... so i can;t say tat in the future if i ever were to buy myself another trucki would'nt seriuosly consider an auto.", "contentHtml": "you know , i drove an automatic in 2014 several times helping a guy move a big front end loader. combined gross weight was a little over 94000 and that 450 cummins and i shift handled it quite well and easy.... so i can;t say tat in the future if i ever were to buy myself another trucki would'nt seriuosly consider an auto.", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T17:31:16Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36633, "content": "Kevin, I have had zero problems. I haul on some mean roads over my way. I can out pull a standard all day long, the key is keeping the cruise on. It's a autoshift with a 650hp detroit in front and a 2350 torque clutch. Ol lady loves the extra room", "contentHtml": "Kevin, I have had zero problems. I haul on some mean roads over my way. I can out pull a standard all day long, the key is keeping the cruise on. It's a autoshift with a 650hp detroit in front and a 2350 torque clutch. Ol lady loves the extra room ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T17:36:15Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36634, "content": "your right , and its been like that for years. but, there are also alot of good deals out there waiting to be taken , you just have to find them , go after them and provide unexcelled service when you get them. myself , i will not chase freight nor deal with a broker , i will only work direct. and most of that type work is either short haul and deadhead back or distribution. I' m different than most though , as I have never really seen the benefits or the money in long haul freight. not saying its not there in the 70's everyone was for deregulation because independants wanted the freedom to operate on thier own without having to work under someone else , along with that freedom came the freedom to negotiate rates etc. and in the process lowered rates took away the fsc , the insurance surcharge , and other benefits that regulation provided for us. I guess you could say that in a way , us wanting more actually ended up with us getting less and over the years it has gotten worse. Texas was once regulated by the railroad comission , and they set the rates as well as mandated a fsc , an insurance surcharge , detention time and other things , the downside was that there were a handful of companies that owned all the authority to haul intrastate and obtaining authority for an independant was close to impossible unless you were willing to buy it from someone that had it at an overly expensive cost. when they deregulated it ended the surcharges as well as the rate guidelines and made it every man for himself. one of the main problems we face now and have for years . theres alot more complications to the picture than just that but as long as used truck dealers are getting guys with no money financed and as long as authority is virtually to operate is virtually free the problems will remain , the only answer is for us to work together and regulate ourselves. i'm all for someone going into business for themselves , but every time i hear a driver taling about buying his own truck i stop what i'm doing and sit down with him and show him on paper just what the start up cost alone is , because a big part of what we are facing now is too many people think all there is too it is ...buy a truck and money just starts appearing magically. . when they find out thats not the case desperation sets in and rates get cut. its up to us to educate each other and work together otherwise nothing will chage", "contentHtml": "your right , and its been like that for years. but, there are also alot of good deals out there waiting to be taken , you just have to find them , go after them and provide unexcelled service when you get them. myself , i will not chase freight nor deal with a broker , i will only work direct. and most of that type work is either short haul and deadhead back or distribution. I' m different than most though , as I have never really seen the benefits or the money in long haul freight. not saying its not there in the 70's everyone was for deregulation because independants wanted the freedom to operate on thier own without having to work under someone else , along with that freedom came the freedom to negotiate rates etc. and in the process lowered rates took away the fsc , the insurance surcharge , and other benefits that regulation provided for us. I guess you could say that in a way , us wanting more actually ended up with us getting less and over the years it has gotten worse. Texas was once regulated by the railroad comission , and they set the rates as well as mandated a fsc , an insurance surcharge , detention time and other things , the downside was that there were a handful of companies that owned all the authority to haul intrastate and obtaining authority for an independant was close to impossible unless you were willing to buy it from someone that had it at an overly expensive cost. when they deregulated it ended the surcharges as well as the rate guidelines and made it every man for himself. one of the main problems we face now and have for years . theres alot more complications to the picture than just that but as long as used truck dealers are getting guys with no money financed and as long as authority is virtually to operate is virtually free the problems will remain , the only answer is for us to work together and regulate ourselves. i'm all for someone going into business for themselves , but every time i hear a driver taling about buying his own truck i stop what i'm doing and sit down with him and show him on paper just what the start up cost alone is , because a big part of what we are facing now is too many people think all there is too it is ...buy a truck and money just starts appearing magically. . when they find out thats not the case desperation sets in and rates get cut. its up to us to educate each other and work together otherwise nothing will chage", "parentReplyId": 36629, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T18:03:29Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36635, "content": "lol , why did i start hearing hagard singing lets chase each other round the room tonight...lol", "contentHtml": "lol , why did i start hearing hagard singing lets chase each other round the room tonight...lol", "parentReplyId": 36633, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T18:06:50Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36636, "content": "That's what she said.\n \n", "contentHtml": "That's what she said. \r\n ", "parentReplyId": 36635, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T18:32:33Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36637, "content": "Why do you guys keep railing on the dumb trucker and the smart broker who takes advantage of them? We have got a great group going, and we will continue to prosper. Let them live in the yard with the sodimites. If the dumb trucker wants to change then he will be taught correctly. I don't blame the brokers, I use too, but with Prime in my backyard and the 1000's of truckers lives they have ruined, because of a wrong dream, I have come to the conclusion many years ago, with a saying my dad swore up and down about, :\n You can't teach stupid but you can breed it!!!", "contentHtml": "Why do you guys keep railing on the dumb trucker and the smart broker who takes advantage of them? We have got a great group going, and we will continue to prosper. Let them live in the yard with the sodimites. If the dumb trucker wants to change then he will be taught correctly. I don't blame the brokers, I use too, but with Prime in my backyard and the 1000's of truckers lives they have ruined, because of a wrong dream, I have come to the conclusion many years ago, with a saying my dad swore up and down about, : \r\nYou can't teach stupid but you can breed it!!!", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T18:42:39Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36638, "content": "dang jason..... and therei was hopin i might have made at least one good point.", "contentHtml": "dang jason..... and therei was hopin i might have made at least one good point. ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T18:55:42Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36639, "content": "Kevin you and several others have made many good points. All I'm saying is it's not the Brokers fault that they continually find dumb truckers and dumb trucker carriers to haul cheap Freight all a broker is doing is trying to run their business there's no law against the amount of profit anyone can make in this country. Everyone seems to forget that. It amazes me the amount of dumb business owners in our Marketplace today and a very small amount of smart successful business owners today. I still think that there should be a $50,000 fee on a broker's business license as well as a carrier, that would stop a lot of the shit that's going on right now.\n Our government makes it way too easy for anyone to get into a trucking or a broker's business today.\n One of the reasons why we need a businessman to run our country today rather than a politician perfect example is happening in front of our eyes on TV everyday", "contentHtml": "Kevin you and several others have made many good points. All I'm saying is it's not the Brokers fault that they continually find dumb truckers and dumb trucker carriers to haul cheap Freight all a broker is doing is trying to run their business there's no law against the amount of profit anyone can make in this country. Everyone seems to forget that. It amazes me the amount of dumb business owners in our Marketplace today and a very small amount of smart successful business owners today. I still think that there should be a $50,000 fee on a broker's business license as well as a carrier, that would stop a lot of the shit that's going on right now. \r\nOur government makes it way too easy for anyone to get into a trucking or a broker's business today. \r\nOne of the reasons why we need a businessman to run our country today rather than a politician perfect example is happening in front of our eyes on TV everyday", "parentReplyId": 36638, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T19:45:11Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36640, "content": "you are correct . and the key words you used are business and businessman . and owning a truck is owning a business and every time you take a load you are making a business decision. . but i see so many guys out here that rather than operate a business , they are just using a truck as a rolling atm machine . I have a brother in law that does that . he has no backup , no fall back nothing , he goes out runs makes a little money and comes home until he is broke , gets an advance to buy fuel to leave to go back out. thats bad, very bad business. like you i would agree that there should be some checks and balances in place to insure that you are both financially and mentally capapble of going into business before being allowed to , but thats not the case in our free enterprise system , the broker comment ...spot on , they are operating thier business as they see fit and doing quite well at the expense of those not capable of making wise decisions for their own business.", "contentHtml": "you are correct . and the key words you used are business and businessman . and owning a truck is owning a business and every time you take a load you are making a business decision. . but i see so many guys out here that rather than operate a business , they are just using a truck as a rolling atm machine . I have a brother in law that does that . he has no backup , no fall back nothing , he goes out runs makes a little money and comes home until he is broke , gets an advance to buy fuel to leave to go back out. thats bad, very bad business. like you i would agree that there should be some checks and balances in place to insure that you are both financially and mentally capapble of going into business before being allowed to , but thats not the case in our free enterprise system , the broker comment ...spot on , they are operating thier business as they see fit and doing quite well at the expense of those not capable of making wise decisions for their own business. ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T20:20:21Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36641, "content": "Talking about the Mexican truckers of south Texas I've seen it first hand and have to deal with it daily. It's nothing to see those guys rent a house with acreage and base themselves out of it running local. Signs on the truck still have a valley town on them but for all purpose see they are now local since they have set up housing and shop here. It's gotten so bad down here with rates that all the local Mexican owner ops that pull belly dumps have gone north to Dallas because they can't compete with the rates that they are hauling for. The only way those guys can stay in business is to either purchase stolen fuel/tires, live 6 plus in a small house, and receive some sort of government subisidy (welfare) or haul drugs or any combination thereof. You know somethings not right when you see a driver get out of his large car truck covered in chrome and they have on a huge gold necklace and his hands look like he's got on golden knuckles. And then you get a look at their tags and they're running seasonal permits for tags. I see it every year in the grain lines. As long as these guys are bringing home a check larger than drivers wages they think they're making money. When one finally goes bust there's 10 more waiting to buy the truck and do it all over again. A visicous cycle it is but that's south TX in a nutshell.", "contentHtml": "Talking about the Mexican truckers of south Texas I've seen it first hand and have to deal with it daily. It's nothing to see those guys rent a house with acreage and base themselves out of it running local. Signs on the truck still have a valley town on them but for all purpose see they are now local since they have set up housing and shop here. It's gotten so bad down here with rates that all the local Mexican owner ops that pull belly dumps have gone north to Dallas because they can't compete with the rates that they are hauling for. The only way those guys can stay in business is to either purchase stolen fuel/tires, live 6 plus in a small house, and receive some sort of government subisidy (welfare) or haul drugs or any combination thereof. You know somethings not right when you see a driver get out of his large car truck covered in chrome and they have on a huge gold necklace and his hands look like he's got on golden knuckles. And then you get a look at their tags and they're running seasonal permits for tags. I see it every year in the grain lines. As long as these guys are bringing home a check larger than drivers wages they think they're making money. When one finally goes bust there's 10 more waiting to buy the truck and do it all over again. A visicous cycle it is but that's south TX in a nutshell. ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-02-18", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T20:28:11Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 46643, "firstName": "SCOTT", "lastName": "BARRAZA", "companyName": "BARRAZA TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Corpus Christi", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 56, "userLikes": 3, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36642, "content": "oh.... you notice that too huh......", "contentHtml": "oh.... you notice that too huh......", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T20:48:02Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36643, "content": "Kevin I often wonder if it would be easier to get a Brokers license and find a bunch of dumb truckers at the local truck stop going broke and fill their heads full of shit and all kind of fantasy such as seeing the world through the windshield and stupid shit like that and me make my Millions doing it that way.", "contentHtml": "Kevin I often wonder if it would be easier to get a Brokers license and find a bunch of dumb truckers at the local truck stop going broke and fill their heads full of shit and all kind of fantasy such as seeing the world through the windshield and stupid shit like that and me make my Millions doing it that way. ", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T21:56:01Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36644, "content": "Prime does it everday", "contentHtml": "Prime does it everday", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2014-06-12", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T21:56:47Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 15182, "firstName": "JASON", "lastName": "WEAST", "companyName": "FAIR GROVE TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Fair Grove", "state": "MO", "userCommentCount": 608, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 1, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 }, { "replyId": 36645, "content": "just offer them a dollar a mile loaded and empty", "contentHtml": "just offer them a dollar a mile loaded and empty", "parentReplyId": null, "thumbUrl": "", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "signUpDate": "2015-09-21", "dateAdded": "2016-05-16T22:40:41Z", "likes": 0, "dislikes": 0, "approved": 1, "userId": 69406, "firstName": "KEVIN", "lastName": "SINGLETARY", "companyName": "SINGLETARY TRUCKING", "email": "[email protected]", "city": "Livingston", "state": "TX", "userCommentCount": 404, "userLikes": 0, "userDislikes": 3, "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0 } ], "userDislikes": 6, "signUpDate": "2013-06-26", "avatarThumbUrl": "https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.bulkloads.com/user_files/profile/thumbs/default.png", "links": [], "files": [], "iLike": 0, "iDislike": 0, "iSubscribe": 0 }

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How trucking used to be and where it is today!!!

Posted on Mon, Jun 1, 2015 at 4:00 PM CST in PECULIAR, MO

How trucking used to be and where it is today!!!

The way it used to be in trucking

Yesteryear

Not to long ago trucking used to be fun as well as profitable for all parties concerned. The shippers made money, the broker made money, and the trucker made money. What was not to love about this environment. Most everybody treated each other with respect and dignity while understanding the fine delicate balance of profitability, service, and working together for the common good of all parties.

The shipper would locate a broker or carrier that would offer them a discount for their services, it usually broke out as follows.

Shipper Cost: X$ per mile

Broker discount to shipper: X$ per mile minus 5%

Carrier discount to broker: X$ per mile minus 10%

Carrier discount to shipper: X$ per mile minus 15%

The shipper would then in return mark up their cost by 10-15% and list it as shipping and handling charges to the end customer (receiver).

In this environment each party received what was rightfully theirs. But alas good old American greed entered in and this is what is going on today.

Current Times

As time has went along Corporate greed entered into our country and the motto became make the most money you can and don't worry about who you hurt to do it. We no longer are a nation that looks after each other, we only look as to how we can get over on each other. The shipper no longer cared about the broker, or the trucker, because they had learned that they could pay less and get more. They started with their own employees, once they were successful in getting their own employees to fall for the trap, this in turn lowered their cost to do it themselves. Now this became the ball of crap that started rolling downhill until it hit the bottom. Once the bottom hit it becomes harder and harder to rise to the top. Shipper were no longer happy with paying adequate prices for good service, they just wanted to increase their bottom line. They started pushing brokers to get the loads cheaper and cheaper and told the brokers, we don't care what you sell the loads for as long as you get us cheaper rates. The brokers and truckers followed suit, the next thing you know is you have brokers cutting brokers to get the cheap freight, truckers cutting truckers to haul the cheap freight. The bottom just keeps getting bigger and bigger until hardly anybody but the shippers know what the real rates should be. The brokers blame the shippers (which there is a certain level of truth in that), the truckers blame the brokers (and there is a certain level of truth in that) but in the end confusion is the master of greed. Here is the break out today:

Shipper Cost: X$ per mile (this has went up not down, Labor cost up by 1.5, new equipment cost up by 3, insurance cost up by 2.5, fuel cost up by 7, maintenance cost up by 5, taxes up by .05)

Broker discount to the shipper: X$ per mile minus 15% (or more)

Carrier discount to broker: X$ per mile minus 15% (or more)

Carrier discount to shipper: X$ per mile minus 30% (or more)

Looks like the only one really winning is the shipper. In this type of environment the only way the broker and trucker make more money is to move more drugs (miles, loads). Who do you think pushed for deregulation in the first place? Do you think those little guys that started OOIDA did it? Do you think the brokers did it? It would take a lot more money than that to lobby Congress, and get Jimmy Carter to sign off on it. They had a president and congress that despised Unions and this was they right time for them to make their move, along with the unrest in the trucker ranks to ease up on one getting their authority so the little guy could have a shot at the American dream. The end result is that the little guy is getting squeezed out by the Corporate American Greed and the cycle will go back to where it started.

The future of trucking

It can go two ways, I will describe both and you can decide which one you like.

We the independents truckers and brokers start working together like the days of old. We quit blaming each other for the problem and fix the problem. We need to understand that each and every party needs to be profitable to include our end customers the shippers. We need to quit operating in debt and desperation. We need to hold solid to our rates even if it is painful, we need to reach out and help one another instead of laughing at the failures of those to the left and right of us. If we can do this with a quickness, we may actually salvage our industry from the sewer pit that it has become. If we don't than we will fall into option 2.

Corporate Greed continues and the death of the truly independent trucker and broker will occur. Over the past few years the popular thing has become to offer Power Only to carriers that have their own authority either by bigger shippers, carriers, brokers. Now this looks good on the surface but you are taking the majority of the risks, and now are just a glorified lease operator. The independent broker have been absorbed by the bigger brokers due to the recent bond increases. This drove the small Mom and Pop's out of the game, many of you cheered when the bond went up. Now who are you cheering for, your allies were killed off and the only thing that is left is:

A. Shippers that are starting Logistic Arms and brokering or offering Power Only deals
B. Mega-Brokers that have very little to no skin in the game
C. Large carriers that are brokering or offering Power Only deals

Why is this happening? It is all by design, now it has taken over 35 years to get to this point. I remember reading a brief while in the Army about how to control the American Trucker and the freight that they hauled. You see they were really scared the last time the truckers got together and started parking, they were ill prepared for the ramifications that were occurring. Now with the art of confusion acting on their behalf they pretty much control the truckers at will. This is the military and corporate strategy as to control the last dying cowboy or free spirit in this country:

Confuse the truckers with irregular rates and a controlled fuel surcharge
Break their spirit by Re-regulating them to the point that they are under such a burden to add to their confusion
Discourage them from talking amongst themselves as to keep communications controlled
Extend their working day while limiting the amount of revenue they can make
Raise their taxes so they are paying more than they keep
Watch every move they make in order to be prepared for the next strike
Convince them that it is Unpatriotic to revolt against the system
Get them to sign an agreement for their CDL that if they refuse to drive the truck by government orders that they could be tried for treason
Keep them in debt so they have to keep on working for the system

Now this looks very much like our country in general, break the free-will of the people by convincing them that their security is more important than their freedom. We are not only the last stand for truckers but the last stand for all Americans. Don't fall for the lies that have been told to you, stand up for yourselves, stand up for others, stand up for America.

In ending, I realize that most of you out there think I am a wackjob conspiracy nut, or some kind of religious nut-job. I swore an oath in 1986 to defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic, I see more domestic enemies in our country than I have ever seen foreign. I am not asking for bloodshed, although Thomas Jefferson said “I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. “

The Love of Money (Greed), is the root of all evil

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul (freedom)?

We are all afforded the right to freedom by God through the Constitution of the United States, why then are we so willing to just give our freedom away?

Good luck to all through this hard time and hopefully you will learn to work together instead of bickering amongst yourselves. This is a call to brokers and truckers alike, we must work together freely or we will end up working together by force.

Alfred Jordan

Powerhouse Transportation

NSDQ

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How trucking used to be and where it is today!!! - Bulk Trucking Forum & Discussion Board & Bulkloads.com

How trucking used to be and where it is today!!!

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