bubblehead
Veteran Expediter
A few months ago we were all treated with a live saga of a loyal high end contractor comming to the realization that the Carrier he had been with since he had began his carreer in expediting was changing their buisness model. We all read on EO about the emotional energy expended and the expenses (not in detail) involved in changing carriers.
Was there a "winner" in this bout between contractor and carrier? Clearly yes! And it was the EO readers.
Now to get a better grasp of this buisness, I try to look at things from the carriers position and evaluate the actions as if I was the carrier.
This is to reflect and learn and improve.
In the following examples, If you were the carrier, what would you do?
1. CARB deadlines are arriving and many of the contractors expressed no desire to invest in equipment upgrades due to the current economic conditions.
2. Many of the high dollar super sleeper truck owner are unwilling to yield to the downward market and refuse to adjust their minimum charge to current market rates for running loads.
3. Canada has become less attractive because of longer dead heads, speed limiters, and unpredictable border crossings.
4. Unconfirmed reefer loads are met with threats to "turn off the reefer" if additional money isn't paid for the extra hours running time.
5. Increased breakdowns from trucks because of poor maintenance and or new market CARB trucks failing.
6. It is snowing/raining/windy....
7. The blogging craze is telling all who wishes to read (including the bad guys) that you haul special freight, what your truck looks like and the routes you take. [A one stop shop for terrorist]
I am sure there are many more problems/challenges for the carriers than just this but these are the ones I have come accross the most often.
So if you were the carrier?
In one action, one carrier has nearly eliminated most of the above problems. By equipping themselves with their own reefer trailers, the carrier can now use current model tractors from contractors or tractors from any of their divisions to haul the customers freight and remain competitive. This includes rail transport.
Not CARB compliant? Reefer on non CARB tractor runs to some point enroute then unhooks for a CARB tractor to complete the run.
High dollar super sleeper? Carrier will no longer fund excesses.
Canada? Again. tractor to border and unhook.
Threaten to turn off reefer if no additional dollars? Well you get the idea.
And it goes with breakdowns, weather etc.
Can't put a 53' to some customers? Use a city tractor or a reefer pup (I have seen them as small as 18' in Miami) and now they can get into areas that are difficult for a straight truck.
Bloggers that blog with wreckless abandon, provinding route and pictures of their uniquely designed trucks may have a role in the current re-branding being initiated by one carrier. Some very lucrative shippers such as in the art industry loathe attention grabbing trucks. They prefer low profile (automomy) in moving their cargo (as does many other shippers for various reasons). By creating a uniformed fleet, the carrier makes a more difficult target for the bad guy or terrorist to score decisively. "those who transport priceless artwork are 'black ops' truckers, driving unmarked trucks..." [Roadking: January/February 2012 pp17]
So how I govern my activities can make a difference in how the carrier governs theirs. I read and learn and adjust my stratigies as needed.
I have found over the years that "educated" dose not always equate to "intelligent" and have observed such on this wbesite.
All in all I am grateful for EO and have benefited from it in the expedite business.
Was there a "winner" in this bout between contractor and carrier? Clearly yes! And it was the EO readers.
Now to get a better grasp of this buisness, I try to look at things from the carriers position and evaluate the actions as if I was the carrier.
This is to reflect and learn and improve.
In the following examples, If you were the carrier, what would you do?
1. CARB deadlines are arriving and many of the contractors expressed no desire to invest in equipment upgrades due to the current economic conditions.
2. Many of the high dollar super sleeper truck owner are unwilling to yield to the downward market and refuse to adjust their minimum charge to current market rates for running loads.
3. Canada has become less attractive because of longer dead heads, speed limiters, and unpredictable border crossings.
4. Unconfirmed reefer loads are met with threats to "turn off the reefer" if additional money isn't paid for the extra hours running time.
5. Increased breakdowns from trucks because of poor maintenance and or new market CARB trucks failing.
6. It is snowing/raining/windy....
7. The blogging craze is telling all who wishes to read (including the bad guys) that you haul special freight, what your truck looks like and the routes you take. [A one stop shop for terrorist]
I am sure there are many more problems/challenges for the carriers than just this but these are the ones I have come accross the most often.
So if you were the carrier?
In one action, one carrier has nearly eliminated most of the above problems. By equipping themselves with their own reefer trailers, the carrier can now use current model tractors from contractors or tractors from any of their divisions to haul the customers freight and remain competitive. This includes rail transport.
Not CARB compliant? Reefer on non CARB tractor runs to some point enroute then unhooks for a CARB tractor to complete the run.
High dollar super sleeper? Carrier will no longer fund excesses.
Canada? Again. tractor to border and unhook.
Threaten to turn off reefer if no additional dollars? Well you get the idea.
And it goes with breakdowns, weather etc.
Can't put a 53' to some customers? Use a city tractor or a reefer pup (I have seen them as small as 18' in Miami) and now they can get into areas that are difficult for a straight truck.
Bloggers that blog with wreckless abandon, provinding route and pictures of their uniquely designed trucks may have a role in the current re-branding being initiated by one carrier. Some very lucrative shippers such as in the art industry loathe attention grabbing trucks. They prefer low profile (automomy) in moving their cargo (as does many other shippers for various reasons). By creating a uniformed fleet, the carrier makes a more difficult target for the bad guy or terrorist to score decisively. "those who transport priceless artwork are 'black ops' truckers, driving unmarked trucks..." [Roadking: January/February 2012 pp17]
So how I govern my activities can make a difference in how the carrier governs theirs. I read and learn and adjust my stratigies as needed.
I have found over the years that "educated" dose not always equate to "intelligent" and have observed such on this wbesite.
All in all I am grateful for EO and have benefited from it in the expedite business.
