SHOW ME THE MONEY

Bummer my moto is already 3 gallons low on oil can't afford to get any more

Well looks like we all can get into a lower tax bracket without a problem

I haven't caught on to what's causing the problem yet but the last 6 months has been the worst period for me in the past 14 years.

The direct shippers we pull for haven't tried cutting rates but a couple of the mega brokers they use have cut about 20% to 25%.

Hi Jason, One thing i do every month is a P&L on my business and when i do it i include everything, and i don't care if it is one stamp to mail a letter, and if some of these people that are hauling some of this freight would do the same i garentee they would stop hauling it cause the old saying holds true liars don't figure and figures don't ly, o by the way my mechanic just told me his rates are going up $10.00 dollars per hour

Jason, first off let me say i have nothing but the utmost respect for ALL of you independent truck owners and operators. That being said, I dont think you know as much about whats going on as you claim, you say the shippers are paying as much now as they always have been? I'm not sure where you get your numbers from or if they come to you in a dream but you are WAY OFF!!!!. On an average the shippers I haul for in large have dropped their rates in the 17 1/2 - 30% range. They are all claiming the "Cheaper Fuel" reason for their actions, now I'm no math whiz but the percentage of drop in shippers pay has far exceeded the drop in average per mile rates paid to truck. Although I do understand your feeling towards brokers as I felt the same way till I became one, I am not just a broker though, I also run trucks so I get to see both sides. The way I see it, if your happy doing things the way you do and it works for you congratulations you've got it figured out. I only hope eventually you'll see most of us are standing with you and all the others on this forum in fighting for higher rates and refusing to work with the cut-throat rate killers. During this period of low rates, back stabbing, finger pointing, & false assumptions we all still need to run and make money, it is true rates now suck, but your blaming it on the brokers is simply short sided and wrong. I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you face to face, I would love to show you how much money I'm stealing from the faithful O/O's who haul for me. In closing, let me say as always I wish all of you hard working guys nothing but the bwest of luck, as you all say you ARE the ones keeping the business going and ones with your boots on the ground doing the hard work.

Mr. Nolte thanks for your comment there are a few grain buyers that advertise on the site that do exactly what I am talking about I would love to meet an honest broker everyone that I have met over the years by the time it is over has lied to me in some manner and every one of them I have went over their head and got the work myself that is a shame I don't like doing that but when you lie to me and when you steal from me what do you expect I've never met a broker that gives me the respect that I own a business and I don't need him I simply wanted to work with him not against him it always starts off great handshakes friendly maybe take him fishin but in the end they tried to steal from me its happen every time as a matter of fact I work with a new broker that just got his broker's authority last fall and he's already stealing from me what a shame I would like to meet you face to face too because between the people that I know might be able to help you out to get better rates likewise. P. S. One thing people fail to realize is that our trucks are the ones that show up out in the field to get this work done we are the ones talking directly with everyone and everyone talks to us we know a lot more than what you think that we do that's one of the reasons why we started the independent carrier group because we're all tired of this and there's a big thing coming and it's going to be great no brokers required at that point

Clint agree with you on a lot of things but on this particular one I would hate for government to get more involved than they already are. I would rather guys have enough balls to publicly announce who is not using good business ethics, and get these guys out of here we don't need them just my little ol opinion. I used one broker one time last year and he lied to me and he did not pay me even though he said he got all of my information he is going to be publicly announced ,if he doesn't pay his bill here directly those are things that we need to start doing majority of the guys are getting ready to go out of business anyway what else do we have to loose. You cannot sue a man for telling the truth.

I run the East Coast the only way I make money is I run NYC & New England for some reason alot of drivers refuse to go up to the Northeast.

I have direct customers that offer fair rates. Brokers I deal will now & then are cutting rates because of fuel prices, But have not once offered to raise them when tolls & insurance prices continue to rise.

I wish more shippers & brokers had a clue what costs we really have.

Everybody will be different on this one because there are many different factors. Some guys who don't have hired drivers and don't need worker's comp already have an advantage as that can cost anywhere from 10-25% of the driver's wage. Then depends on insurance which can fluctuate on what amounts of coverage you have, driver's record, number of drivers, their experience. Then there is payments on equipment. Some guys have them and some don't. Some advantages of having new stuff over older stuff is hopefully less breakdowns but then you may be still trying to pay the newer stuff off yet. Then there is maintenance on new or old. Some guys service more frequently than others. Some have the knowledge and ability to do their own while others don't have the abilities or place to do their own. So when you don't you have to pay someone at approximately $100 hr to do it for you plus supplies. Then there are long distance hauls and short distance hauls. Long distance hauls you are more likely to get better mileage and hopefully not starting and stopping as often which can save you brakes and tires. Also if you are doing a lot of short hauling you are doing more loading and unloading and sitting in line more so you have to figure that into the rate too. Especially if you have hired drivers as they will need paid for that time or you will not have a driver anymore. I know some owner operators who don't mind sitting in line which I guess is up to them but I have a family to feed and if I am not home I better be making it worth my time away. This is why there is no magic number. All depends on the situation and the way the trucker has his business set up. Sometimes when rates get low then the operator needs to make some changes. Sometimes they can and sometimes they can't. The rates are so low right now trucker's are stretched as thin as they can be and it still isn't enough money. The guys that are doing the cheap stuff won't last forever. There is just no possible way. This is coming from a guy who runs two trucks with two owners of the company driving the trucks. Both of us have no tickets or accidents on our insurance records. According to my agent we have some of the cheapest rates she has seen of all of the people she insures. I have price others every year and she is the lowest by atleast $1500 a year. I'm insured through Northland and have been really happy with them. Had a claim with them in 2010 where I had a truck sitting out and had a surprise hail storm come through with baseball size hail. Over $20000 damage to truck and trailer and next year insurance only went up $100 or so. So basically you tell me the job and I will tell you what I will do it for.

I have hauled for brokers that have gotten me stuck with loads two or three days and was told that they would take care of me. Never happened. I found out later that waiting time and FSC was paid so I asked about maybe receiving compensation for my time and fuel used. The reply I had gotten was let me make a few calls and see if we can get something. My truck hauled two more loads right after that then I deadheaded home for 264 miles and never hauled for them since. It's those that will make others look bad in the sight of us O/Os. I am struggling just to keep my bills paid as it is, I don't need to be loosing money just so brokers can keep their pockets lined with money we've worked for.