A Changing Marketplace

Oct 10, 2024 at 10:14 PM CST + 6
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. So I logged into the old Bulkloads this afternoon to see if there was anything happening in my area because we are kind of in between projects right now. I haven’t spent much time on the load board in the last year or so as I have found my direct freight and phone calls to trusted brokers yield the best results, but what I found was that the first 6 or so loads posted were by brokers with “no ratings yet”, i.e. brokers new to the bulk freight industry. Is anyone dealing with these newbies? Do they know anything about bulk freight? Has anyone else been seeing freight that they’ve hauled for years disappearing or reducing in volume? I know, I know, if I provided quality service I wouldn’t have to worry about being undercut or replaced, but until I figure that out I’m just curious what others are seeing in the marketplace. I am finding that the most important thing for a lot of customers right now is price. Reliability, quality equipment, pleasant drivers, cooperative problem solving, or the ability to speak English all seem secondary to price. We all started somewhere, and I don’t begrudge new entrants their opportunity, but how do we teach them what their value is? I have a very small company, and we have been fortunate to find enough stuff above break even to get by, but sometimes we bounce 1000 miles to avoid hauling garbage. I have a pretty sharp pencil, but there is ton of stuff on this site that is below my break even. So, I’m just wondering what people are doing to survive and if more folks are giving up and dealing with new broker faces or sticking to their direct freight. I’m not looking for secrets, I’m probably going to just keep doing what I’m doing but I like to freshen my perspective with the insights of others.

Oct 10, 2024 at 10:14 PM CST

+ 6

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

So I logged into the old Bulkloads this afternoon to see if there was anything happening in my area because we are kind of in between projects right now. I haven’t spent much time on the load board in the last year or so as I have found my direct freight and phone calls to trusted brokers yield the best results, but what I found was that the first 6 or so loads posted were by brokers with “no ratings yet”, i.e. brokers new to the bulk freight industry. Is anyone dealing with these newbies? Do they know anything about bulk freight? Has anyone else been seeing freight that they’ve hauled for years disappearing or reducing in volume? I know, I know, if I provided quality service I wouldn’t have to worry about being undercut or replaced, but until I figure that out I’m just curious what others are seeing in the marketplace. I am finding that the most important thing for a lot of customers right now is price. Reliability, quality equipment, pleasant drivers, cooperative problem solving, or the ability to speak English all seem secondary to price. We all started somewhere, and I don’t begrudge new entrants their opportunity, but how do we teach them what their value is? I have a very small company, and we have been fortunate to find enough stuff above break even to get by, but sometimes we bounce 1000 miles to avoid hauling garbage. I have a pretty sharp pencil, but there is ton of stuff on this site that is below my break even. So, I’m just wondering what people are doing to survive and if more folks are giving up and dealing with new broker faces or sticking to their direct freight. I’m not looking for secrets, I’m probably going to just keep doing what I’m doing but I like to freshen my perspective with the insights of others.

Replied on Sat, Oct 12, 2024 at 10:55 AM CST + 1 - 1
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. If you spend any time at all searching results across the country on a continuous basis you will notice the same trend everywhere, it’s been said that you reap what you sew, this industry was jumping up and down saying how you could get rich quick and all that did was flood the market, now it has to live with the consequences of its own actions, it’s a long way to the bottom.

Replied on Sat, Oct 12, 2024 at 10:55 AM CST

+ 1 - 1

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

If you spend any time at all searching results across the country on a continuous basis you will notice the same trend everywhere, it’s been said that you reap what you sew, this industry was jumping up and down saying how you could get rich quick and all that did was flood the market, now it has to live with the consequences of its own actions, it’s a long way to the bottom.

Replied on Mon, Oct 14, 2024 at 10:45 AM CST + 1 - 1
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. There are new brokers out here every day! With the new generation of people coming into the workforce, we old dinosaurs are a thing of the past! Texting and emails are replacing phone calls, the bottom line now trumps good service and being prompt, courteous and fair on rates are not what is looked at. It has become fair practice to lye to the carrier to get what you need done. Wish I had a magic 8 ball to tell me what the future holds, but with this ever changing world we live in, I don't honestly think there is a way to predict what will happen! Much luck to you!

Replied on Mon, Oct 14, 2024 at 10:45 AM CST

+ 1 - 1

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

There are new brokers out here every day! With the new generation of people coming into the workforce, we old dinosaurs are a thing of the past! Texting and emails are replacing phone calls, the bottom line now trumps good service and being prompt, courteous and fair on rates are not what is looked at. It has become fair practice to lye to the carrier to get what you need done. Wish I had a magic 8 ball to tell me what the future holds, but with this ever changing world we live in, I don't honestly think there is a way to predict what will happen!

Much luck to you!

Replied on Mon, Oct 14, 2024 at 10:46 AM CST + 1 - 1
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. Quote: "If you spend any time at all searching results across the country on a continuous basis you will notice the same trend everywhere, it’s been said that you reap what you sew, this industry was jumping up and down saying how you could get rich quick and all that did was flood the market, now it has to live with the consequences of its own actions, it’s a long way to the bottom." With as much as I agree with you Dave, I think if we look back in the past, you will see a pattern that evolves. This same correction came when the frac sand was going hot and heavy. Every Jim, Tom and Sherry pulled every piece of junk they could find out of the weeds to haul frac sand. I know a lot of guys that were hauling the loads one way. They would load in the evening, drive all night to get dumped and then sleep during the day and head back under the cover of darkness when the chances of DOT were the slimmest. When the oil prices fell, rail sidings went in and the bottom fell out of the Bakken, we saw an influx of trucks into the hopper world, which drove rates down and made it hard to operate for quite a while, but if you did not have your eggs all in that basket, you could survive. With that said, I believe that this is the same thing, fueled by Covid and now the correction is going strong and we have seen a lot of companies go under. That will happen more and more with time. If a person were looking to expand, now would be the time. Iron prices are low and we should see things changing for the better. Keep the faith everyone and stick to what you know. You will be fine and this too shall pass!

Replied on Mon, Oct 14, 2024 at 10:46 AM CST

+ 1 - 1

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

Quote: "If you spend any time at all searching results across the country on a continuous basis you will notice the same trend everywhere, it’s been said that you reap what you sew, this industry was jumping up and down saying how you could get rich quick and all that did was flood the market, now it has to live with the consequences of its own actions, it’s a long way to the bottom."

With as much as I agree with you Dave, I think if we look back in the past, you will see a pattern that evolves. This same correction came when the frac sand was going hot and heavy. Every Jim, Tom and Sherry pulled every piece of junk they could find out of the weeds to haul frac sand. I know a lot of guys that were hauling the loads one way. They would load in the evening, drive all night to get dumped and then sleep during the day and head back under the cover of darkness when the chances of DOT were the slimmest. When the oil prices fell, rail sidings went in and the bottom fell out of the Bakken, we saw an influx of trucks into the hopper world, which drove rates down and made it hard to operate for quite a while, but if you did not have your eggs all in that basket, you could survive. With that said, I believe that this is the same thing, fueled by Covid and now the correction is going strong and we have seen a lot of companies go under. That will happen more and more with time. If a person were looking to expand, now would be the time. Iron prices are low and we should see things changing for the better.

Keep the faith everyone and stick to what you know. You will be fine and this too shall pass!

Replied on Tue, Oct 15, 2024 at 08:20 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. The election will determine most of everything, If Camela and the dip s*** from MN. win we are all sunk with the new world order and going woke and broke!! Also the pages need cleaned up with old loads and there should be a section for livable wages that pay at least $3.00@mile or more. That would clear out most of this cheap freight and shorten looking thru all of this clutter!! May God Bless America!!

Replied on Tue, Oct 15, 2024 at 08:20 AM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

The election will determine most of everything, If Camela and the dip s*** from MN. win we are all sunk with the new world order and going woke and broke!! Also the pages need cleaned up with old loads and there should be a section for livable wages that pay at least $3.00@mile or more. That would clear out most of this cheap freight and shorten looking thru all of this clutter!! May God Bless America!!

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