Poor bidding practices?

CharlesD · Mar 12, 2009

One thing I keep hearing from leased on owner/operators is that they aren't getting enough loads due to their carrier's "poor bidding practices." That got me to thinking about bidding on freight and how the whole system works.

Could someone please clarify exactly what proper bidding practices are and what constitutes poor bidding practices?

If a carrier bids .90 a mile on a cargo van load and doesn't get awarded the load because someone bid .65, who is guilty of the poor bidding practices? Hint: It's not the carrier that is bidding an expedite rate for an expedite load.

If your carrier is not keeping you as busy as you would like to be, don't blame their bidding practices. Blame the cheapskates that are bidding LTL rates on expedite loads. The carriers that are still trying to get a reasonable rate should be commended. When things improve and the dust settles, which carriers are going to be the ones still standing?

Moot · Mar 12, 2009

Excellent!

x06col · Mar 12, 2009

Charlee, i'll suggest it'll be the ones who are moving "enough" freight at an acceptable rate. It will be the ones still running down the road with 2-3 buks a mile. Chances are it won't be the ones with no pain toy trucks, no pain git a few skids at one stop an run, and no pain wait for the phone to ring dispatchers, or other minimal effort business practices.

When i'd have a driver, o/o whine bout the amount, kind,or, whatever of their freight, i'd "allow" them to git in the "hot seat" for a couple days an keep the rest of em running. That practice proved to be an eye opener for some that found they couldn't recognize "good bidding practices" if'n it hit em in the smacker. Gave em a perspective tho. They wouldn't whine again if they had to sit a fer hours, bump too many docks, etc.

BTW: Ban the Van!!!

OntarioVanMan · Mar 12, 2009

x06col said:
Charlee, i'll suggest it'll be the ones who are moving "enough" freight at an acceptable rate. It will be the ones still running down the road with 2-3 buks a mile. Chances are it won't be the ones with no pain toy trucks, no pain git a few skids at one stop an run, and no pain wait for the phone to ring dispatchers, or other minimal effort business practices.

When i'd have a driver, o/o whine bout the amount, kind,or, whatever of their freight, i'd "allow" them to git in the "hot seat" for a couple days an keep the rest of em running. That practice proved to be an eye opener for some that found they couldn't recognize "good bidding practices" if'n it hit em in the smacker. Gave em a perspective tho. They wouldn't whine again if they had to sit a fer hours, bump too many docks, etc.

BTW: Ban the Van!!!

*LOL* Your jes jealous.....

Moot · Mar 12, 2009

x06col said:
BTW: Ban the Van!!!

Hey what kind of subversive commie crap is that?

OntarioVanMan · Mar 12, 2009

Moot said:
Hey what kind of subversive commie crap is that?

Whadda expect?...he's a Hoosier!!!

Can't help himself...

Moot · Mar 12, 2009

OntarioVanMan said:
Whadda expect?...he's a Hoosier!!!

Can't help himself...

Oh! It just sounded like something that crackhead Moot would post.

ATeam · Mar 12, 2009

x06col said:
Charlee, i'll suggest it'll be the ones who are moving "enough" freight at an acceptable rate....

Colonel, this is one of the best posts you have ever made; not because it is one of the best posts you have ever made, but because you wrote it in mostly plain English with complete sentences and properly spelled words. Yor posts are often worth reading. Thank you for not making me wade through the feigned baby talk this time.

P.S. No nomenclature Nazi, grammar gestapo or spelling SS here. Just someone who appreciates the ability to read a post without having to translate it first.

Turtle · Mar 12, 2009

I concur. If the purpose of posting is to communicate your thoughts to others, ya might as well post it in a manner that be easily and unambiguously understood. If the purpose is otherwise, well, there ya go.

oldfeller · Mar 12, 2009

Looking Bad ?

I been expediting since 1994 .We had some rough years but never 1 like this 1 .Does any1 see any light at the end of the tunnel or we all going 2 go broke?

Slo-Ride · Mar 12, 2009

x06col said:
When i'd have a driver, o/o whine bout the amount, kind,or, whatever of their freight, i'd "allow" them to git in the "hot seat" for a couple days an keep the rest of em running

I agree its a good post in defence of the carriers

I assume this qoute means letting a driver do a dispatchers or load planners job?
Kinda unfair comparsion if he knows nothing about it.
Wont that be like telling someone that never drove before to get this load dileverded on time and safely??

P.S. Hope Im not off base with this,,Ill read it agin to make I sure I understood it.

Moot · Mar 12, 2009

ATeam, please proof read Turtle's post.

Turtle, please proof read ATeam's post.

One of you misspelled a word and the other omitted a word.

Poke Salad Annie; grammar Nazis got your granny.

always confused · Mar 12, 2009

Re: Looking Bad ?

oldfeller said:
I been expediting since 1994 .We had some rough years but never 1 like this 1 .Does any1 see any light at the end of the tunnel or we all going 2 go broke?

i've only been out here since 2000, but agree thats its bad right now. i'm sure lots of companies will survive as they use 'independent contactors' and will adjust staff size according to income. not sure about the o/o's ... i know i need to generate a certain level of income to cover the bills at home. the bank balance can only go so low then bills don't get paid on time. basically have been running in the red most of this year if i look at my bank balance. i make money on the runs i get, but just don't get enough of them lately. lots of idle time, lots of repositioning chasing freight, and lots of time to worry.

i am sure some will survive, just not sure if i'll be one of them. kind of in a box. got the truck, but its not really suited for anything else. from most of what i read and hear not much freight for most of the companies right now, so changing doesn't present much hope. for those who have freight today might not have it tomorrow as fast as the country is sliding. and as i am happy with who i'm signed with in other respects will try to stick it out and hope it works.

always confused · Mar 12, 2009

Re: Looking Bad ?

the concept of 'poor bidding' seems like a no win situation for the bidder. bid to high and you don't get the freight. bid to low and you can't find a driver to take the load. so unless you are bidding to put freight on 'your truck' where refusal isn't a problem bidding low doesn't work.

but if you have a bunch of 'new players' moving in willing to make anything then it throws a real monkey wrench in the works. that is until they don't deliver on time, damage the freight, and other such things that the shipper'\/consignee aren't willing to tolerate and quit giving them the freight. yes expedited freight can be treated as ltl, but then its not expedited. the future will decide weather expedited will still be requested by the customer. i would like to think it will, but i was careless as a child and broke my crystal ball.

Turtle · Mar 12, 2009

Mine be missin' a word only if'n ya ain't a bruthah.

OntarioVanMan · Mar 12, 2009

Turtle said

well post it in a manner that CAN be easily and unambiguously understood.

If you are going to use a word like "umambiguously" you can sure insert the word ...CAN.....

pjjjjj · Mar 12, 2009

Turtle said:
Mine be missin' a word only if'n ya ain't a bruthah.

Obviously OVM is NOT of the bruthahood

termite289 · Mar 12, 2009

how much longer do we have to wait until the guys hauling freight for half price go out of buisness?

greg334 · Mar 12, 2009

termite289 said:
how much longer do we have to wait until the guys hauling freight for half price go out of buisness?

There will always be someone that will haul freight for less than what others will. This has been a problem created by the very nature of the business, competition.

fastrod · Mar 13, 2009

termite289 said:
how much longer do we have to wait until the guys hauling freight for half price go out of buisness?

You might be waiting a long time because there are a lot of real small carriers out there that can move freight for a low price and make money doing it.