What are you looking for from a carrier?

[CharlesD]

This is really a pretty honest question here, not one of my rhetorical things to make a point like I have been known to do in the past. We have some recruiting ads running and I've been hit with some questions I had never really considered in the past, so I'd like to see the kinds of things you would ask a recruiter if you were looking at a new company and what some of the things are that you're looking for in a carrier. Here are a few of the topics I can think of off hand.

1. Base plates. What do you expect here? I know a lot of larger carriers offer to handle this for the owner, but it's a pretty good up front expense, depending on the size of the truck, and that can be a sizable outlay for a small company.

2. Insurance. Do you expect the carrier to foot the bill for the liability and cargo or do you expect to have it deducted from your settlements? That can be another large expense for a carrier. With the straight trucks it's not much of a deal because they're going to bring in more than enough revenue to cover it, but with vans it can be kind of iffy the way van freight has been lately.

3. Fuel advances. Another tricky thing for a small carrier. Our factoring company used to do advances on booked loads, but recently changed their policy and doesn't want to do them anymore. Do you have an expectation that the carrier should advance you a certain percentage of the load up front for fuel, or do you figure it's your responsibility as an owner to have enough money to at least run the next load?

Those are the main topics I get asked about on a regular basis from people thinking about signing on, so I'd like to get a good handle on what the expectation is out there regarding those areas, and any others you might think of. Those are all things that are easier for a larger carrier to handle because of the amount of money involved and because there usually involves an expenditure before any money is collected. With larger companies promising the moon sometimes, a smaller carrier like us has to find a way to compete when it comes to recruiting, but I stop at being as blatantly dishonest as some recruiters are. I don't want to blow smoke when I'm talking with someone, because if you lie to a potential recruit, it's only going to come back on you in the end anyway.

So I guess the point is this. Besides the amount and frequency of pay, what things are important when someone is considering a company to lease to? Are you looking for personal attention, someone to take care of the base plate and insurance, a regularly available fuel advance, or does it just boil down to keeping busy and making money? It seems a lot of the people I've spoken to recently are more concerned with what "perks" are available than the kind of miles and rates they can expect. What do y'all think?

 

[davekc]

Just for me.

No interest in plates supplied by the carrier.
Fuel advances help on new folks if paying the fuel but for me it wouldn't matter. Have to remember that many new folks have very limited resources if just starting.
Carrier should supply cargo and liability. It is their freight. If I am running my own authority, then I should pay. But of course I wouldn't be passing anything to the carrier.

Miles and all that are subjective as many carriers just give averages or exaggerations
Biggest issue for me would be that flexibility to haul my own loads. Don't have alot of patience for a carrier that can't find freight.

 

[idtrans]

This is really a pretty honest question here, not one of my rhetorical things to make a point like I have been known to do in the past. We have some recruiting ads running and I've been hit with some questions I had never really considered in the past, so I'd like to see the kinds of things you would ask a recruiter if you were looking at a new company and what some of the things are that you're looking for in a carrier. Here are a few of the topics I can think of off hand.

1. Base plates. What do you expect here? I know a lot of larger carriers offer to handle this for the owner, but it's a pretty good up front expense, depending on the size of the truck, and that can be a sizable outlay for a small company.

2. Insurance. Do you expect the carrier to foot the bill for the liability and cargo or do you expect to have it deducted from your settlements? That can be another large expense for a carrier. With the straight trucks it's not much of a deal because they're going to bring in more than enough revenue to cover it, but with vans it can be kind of iffy the way van freight has been lately.

3. Fuel advances. Another tricky thing for a small carrier. Our factoring company used to do advances on booked loads, but recently changed their policy and doesn't want to do them anymore. Do you have an expectation that the carrier should advance you a certain percentage of the load up front for fuel, or do you figure it's your responsibility as an owner to have enough money to at least run the next load?

Those are the main topics I get asked about on a regular basis from people thinking about signing on, so I'd like to get a good handle on what the expectation is out there regarding those areas, and any others you might think of. Those are all things that are easier for a larger carrier to handle because of the amount of money involved and because there usually involves an expenditure before any money is collected. With larger companies promising the moon sometimes, a smaller carrier like us has to find a way to compete when it comes to recruiting, but I stop at being as blatantly dishonest as some recruiters are. I don't want to blow smoke when I'm talking with someone, because if you lie to a potential recruit, it's only going to come back on you in the end anyway.

So I guess the point is this. Besides the amount and frequency of pay, what things are important when someone is considering a company to lease to? Are you looking for personal attention, someone to take care of the base plate and insurance, a regularly available fuel advance, or does it just boil down to keeping busy and making money? It seems a lot of the people I've spoken to recently are more concerned with what "perks" are available than the kind of miles and rates they can expect. What do y'all think?

Well myself Charles I like the following.

1- Fast on time pay for the runs the truck made on time with out issues.
2- that the carrier work hard to find my truck good paying freight
3- Honesty and respect
4- There for my truck for support lets say for break downs and or directions to some of the off the wall delivery locations expeditors end up at that are not even on a gps or a map.
5-24/7 operations are nice but of course not as cost effective since not lots of freight after 6pm so I understand this one.

But pay is the most important especially now with the super high fuel prices and higher tolls and all.

 

[pjjjjj]

.....I don't want to blow smoke when I'm talking with someone, because if you lie to a potential recruit, it's only going to come back on you in the end anyway.

So I guess the point is this. Besides the amount and frequency of pay, what things are important when someone is considering a company to lease to? Are you looking for personal attention, someone to take care of the base plate and insurance, a regularly available fuel advance, or does it just boil down to keeping busy and making money? It seems a lot of the people I've spoken to recently are more concerned with what "perks" are available than the kind of miles and rates they can expect. What do y'all think?

The part about it 'only going to come back on you in the end anyway', is a good one. Especially when you are a very small carrier, you cannot afford negative advertising. I feel that the more you offer to do for people, the less they understand of their own business, and it can come around to bite you in the rear. There seems to be some misunderstanding and/or refusal to educate oneself amongst some newbies, so that even if you don't blow smoke, and you offer simple, straightforward services, your efforts can still be misunderstood and give you a bad rap anyway... so why bother? It's easier NOT to offer them.

There are fuel programs/cards you, as a small carrier, can become involved with, but you'll need to do some heavy-duty bookkeeping with that to be sure you follow all the charges for each truck. I have no idea what the charges are, but my guess is that they are high.... and when you deduct them from the driver's settlement, it could be perceived as unfair gouging. (It is, but it wouldn't be *your* unfair gouging, you would only be passing it along).

I believe a carrier should be responsible for paying the cargo portion of the insurance premium, and pass the liability portion onto each truck as billed. Most insurers seem to want the carrier to hold the insurance though, and it is probably in your best interests to do so. You wouldn't want to risk your entire business on whether someone not in your control paid their premium on time, or renewed, or whether they had enough coverage to begin with.

In any case, whatever you decide to offer, make sure it is in writing and as clear as possible to show how the issue will be dealt with (reimbursed) in the event monies are still owing at the time a contract is ended.

It's really difficult being a *small* carrier. People seem to be used to the 'buy now, pay later' mentality, but you can easily become the bad guy when it is time to pay. Being small, if you get stiffed by a driver, it can really hurt you financially.

In most cases, one would hope that anyone getting into expediting as their self employed business would have the funds to pay for a month's worth of fuel (or whatever). OTOH, some good and honest OOs might be in a temporarily bad financial position for whatever reason (ie coming from a carrier who broke them down financially?), and you might want to help. In those cases, it might be better to just loan them a sum of money to be deducted over the first couple/few settlements. That might keep things cleaner, and be appreciated at the same time.

 

[x06col]

It's simple Charles, they want an already hunted, cleaned and roasted goose served up as often as humanly possible.

 

[pjjjjj]

It's simple Charles, they want an already hunted, cleaned and roasted goose served up as often as humanly possible.

Col, you forgot the silver platter.

 

[BillChaffey]

Fairness in dealing with the Front office.

 

[LisaLouHoo]

LOL, I think I stated my case on this subject before....

"Bruises fade and bones will mend-but a psyche can be ruined FOREVER" : LisaLouHoo, c. 2008

 

[purgoose10]

Just for me.

No interest in plates supplied by the carrier.
Fuel advances help on new folks if paying the fuel but for me it wouldn't matter. Have to remember that many new folks have very limited resources if just starting.
Carrier should supply cargo and liability. It is their freight. If I am running my own authority, then I should pay. But of course I wouldn't be passing anything to the carrier.

Miles and all that are subjective as many carriers just give averages or exaggerations
Biggest issue for me would be that flexibility to haul my own loads. Don't have alot of patience for a carrier that can't find freight.

Me too!! Miles and revenue and if they pay on time.

 

[idtrans]

On time pay and hard working load searcher for many miles are the most important without that all the other offers are garbage IMHO Miles =$ and $= more money for more fuel to run more miles real easy no money = no miles

 

[turritrans]

On time performance and good communication, which is exactly what Charles provides.... not exactly what you were looking for I know..LOL

 

[x06col]

Col, you forgot the silver platter.

Kant do the platter anymore, Silvers getting to 50 buks, they'd slicy that too.

Vince, happy to read Charles is holding up his end!! Ya always wonder.

 

[nightcreacher]

It's easy,I expect the company I lease to to do all the leg work.If I have to find my own loads for them,I may as well run with my own authority.Company needs to find my loads and give me a reasonable pay for doing the work.
Ontime pay,and keep a good safety rating.Its that simple.
As long as my bottom line pay is where I think it should be,the company is doing their job.I already know in the expedite business,it's not a everyday pick up and deliver kind of business,so If I have to wait for my next dispatch,there is no surprize.If a company lies to me about what they tell me what I will get,I wont be there long

 

[jimlookup]

Being able to easily communicate with reasonable, knowledgeable people is #1 for me. Being put on hold for 15 minutes, or calls never being returned is a real pain. Small carriers generally score much higher than large in this catagory. If I feel I have to fight, rather than cooperate, to reach a just determination on an issue, I'll move on down the road. Sure, contracts cover most issues, but there is always grey areas where partys have to work together for the good of all.
Spoken from the back of my white horse dressed in my shining armour.

 

[idtrans]

Being able to easily communicate with reasonable, knowledgeable people is #1 for me. Being put on hold for 15 minutes, or calls never being returned is a real pain. Small carriers generally score much higher than large in this catagory. If I feel I have to fight, rather than cooperate, to reach a just determination on an issue, I'll move on down the road. Sure, contracts cover most issues, but there is always grey areas where partys have to work together for the good of all.
Spoken from the back of my white horse dressed in my shining armour.

I agree with the call thing and getting a text message "ON PHONE" while your trying to call dispatch is extremely out of line. And when you never get a call back when you call is out of line also.

What amazes me is when a carrier has their truck on a load and then gives all the drivers info to the shipper to make their own check up calls and the company you work for just sits back and forgets about you until they think your unloaded.

The driver can run across many issues on the road and nothing worse than letting a shipper deal with your truck issues may it be a accident or a break down or what ever can happen to us on the road.

And the fight issue also nothing worse than having to argue to get paid for a job you did well for your company and then they try to weasel their way out of paying or paying real slow saying I have no money or I have bills to pay LOL "WE ALL HAVE BILLS TO PAY"

 

[chefdennis]

Freight....from there, I'll deal with the rest as it comes...

 

[davekc]

I agree with the call thing and getting a text message "ON PHONE" while your trying to call dispatch is extremely out of line. And when you never get a call back when you call is out of line also.

What amazes me is when a carrier has their truck on a load and then gives all the drivers info to the shipper to make their own check up calls and the company you work for just sits back and forgets about you until they think your unloaded.

The driver can run across many issues on the road and nothing worse than letting a shipper deal with your truck issues may it be a accident or a break down or what ever can happen to us on the road.

And the fight issue also nothing worse than having to argue to get paid for a job you did well for your company and then they try to weasel their way out of paying or paying real slow saying I have no money or I have bills to pay LOL "WE ALL HAVE BILLS TO PAY"

Another place I would have absolutely no patience. If a carrier can't manage their own finances, they likely aren't managing their freight finding abilities either.

 

[idtrans]

Another place I would have absolutely no patience. If a carrier can't manage their own finances, they likely aren't managing their freight finding abilities either.

I just got rid of a company for these exact reasons !

 

[Dynamite 1]

plain and simple, we just need a carrier to abide by the contract they provided and the one we read, understood and took upon ourselves to sign. then for the carrier to do their best at finding freight.

i think this is what most contractors want. there are however, some contractors who think that there should be an unlimited supply of freight. that they should be running the maximum amount of miles the log book allows and should have to do nothing other than load, drive, unload and wait for the next load. contractors who jump ship simply cause they sit for some time without freight. there are remedies for this and all us experienced expediters know that from time to time this happens. sometimes you just hit a stint where you cant buy freight for the truck. we do put most of this on the carrier but we have to be understanding and work with the carrier also.

i guess the point we are trying to make is, what we all expect from a carrier is all the same for the most part, with the exception that some carriers do some things differently. we know what these are from the get go if we did our due diligence. all carriers have problems. its just being patient enough to work with them to resolve them into a working relationship. for example :::: davekc, been with panther for years. do you all think its been a bed of roses for the entire time, but he is still there. another owner we know @ RJR, went unpaid and racked up quite a bundle owed to them but worked it out and are paid and still there [ that one was way above what most would consider workable ]. ateam & the caffees, been with fedex for some time and despite all the complaining some do they are still there. there are many more cases like this. of course there is the small number of carriers that are bad news from the get go, the problems with them are found in their contracts and the outrageous things they want a contractor to do just to sign on. things not of industry standard.

so, i guess in closing the answer to what we expect from a carrier is what i stated. i also think that contractors should ask themselves a few questions as to how much they are willing to let a carrier expect from them. we have very little flexibility when it come to the money side of running our business. we do however realize that working with the carrier to help them understand how your business works is also important. granted, this is easier to do at a small carrier versus a large. despite how much smoke you think is being blown up your !!!, with diligence and respectable conversation you can usually find your way to a workable relationship. it does however, require some work. this business is not as cut an dry as sign the contract and haul freight.

sorry for going on. just trying to make a point that this is not a one way street. over the last several weeks we have had some people we know wanting to jump ship from their carriers, who have treated them well for asinine reasons. others who did not even give enough time to a carrier to have an opinion. this is posted for them.

kudos to charles for asking. we have no doubt he is one of the carriers that take the time to talk and try to understand. we have not forgotten you !!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pjjjjj]

I would like to think that honesty, respect, forthrightness, and perhaps even transparency are things that are high up on the list of what to expect from a carrier.