Load express.com?

whats interesting about it ?

be really nice if they have it where you can actually see what outfit is bidding what.... so that everyone can see the lowballers.....

well , while i dunno about the trucks without drivers part...... i can definitely see and understand the shippers without brokers part. and to be honest.... really think the abscense of brokers would even the market and improve rates and the ability to do business.

Not that long ago, if you wanted to buy or sell stock, you had to jump in your car and drive down to a brick and mortar place, and visit your local stock broker. Today you just go online and use e-trade.

They appear to have traction, because all of the people who work there are generating a paycheck for themselves by moving freight. That said I can't help but feel that there is something seriously wrong with the picture, when there is no longer enough money to go around for all parties involved. If you cut the broker out today who does the shipper cut out tomorrow ?

We’ve been working on a rate request system where you as a verified carrier can request rates on specific loads with a click of a button, or request to be added to a shipper’s ‘trusted list’ to gain access to their non-public load list.

Would also adding the ability to send rate bids on a load be useful?

Any feedback is appreciated!

Thanks,
BulkLoads.com

A rate index would definitely change things up. As a broker, something similar to DAT Rate Index for van/reefer/flat is preferred. They show loads posted v trucks posted, recent price trends, price history, etc. it keeps us in tune with seasonal changes in AZ for example. I've had more than one lane that I thought was priced great for bulk, only to find out I was $0.60/ mile cheap for one reason or another. Loser soup is my least favorite meal.

This is the same sort of vibe I get from uber freight as well. Obviously we get how uber makes its money, but if the shippers solely set the price and there's no avenue for negotiation, then there is no benefit to the carrier. As someone who no longer posts load lists from customers, I expect these things to basically turn into that. Cheap load postings to sort through etc. Now I don't know how other brokers operate, but I don't waste my time quoting outrageously low, I quote for volume. I'd rather get 10 loads that are priced where I know that I can quote them for an easy cover and provide excellent service to the customer then have loads that are too cheap and scrambling at the last minute/push out pickups etc. This is a very interesting time in the industry.

The website they had up last week was much more detailed than the one that came up this week. The way they make their money is by selling a membership to the shipper. It's not designed for brokers who are looking to post loads and re-broker them. It's designed for shippers who are interested only in getting their product to market, and are tired of only being able to get drivers who don't speak English, because a broker skimmed 50% of the rate off the top. They just don't want to deal with contaminated product, or damaged loads anymore.

Kevin I would have to agree with you on that, I have always done my best that way too. However I have made ok money working with the "Right brokers". I have had positive and negative experiences with brokers. I feel that it is extremely unfortunate that the good ones have to take heat, for what the bad ones do. The bad ones are the ones providing ammo to this new business model that is emerging. Nothing pisses a shipper or receiver off more than damaged product, especially when they paid top dollar to a broker to move it, only to find out that he pocketed all the money and skimped on the carrier. The end result is crushed glass mixed in with a load of beans, turkey manure mixed in with a load of corn, chunks of scrap metal mixed in with material going to a concrete plant, or a damaged piece of freight that a customer waited months for, probably coming from over sea's. Everyone here will agree that the quality of driver out here has deteriorated rapidly over recent years. About a third of the nations trucks are parked right now, and a bidding war has now broken out for drivers between the private carriers and the for hire carriers. I recently had a construction company that I have worked with in the past offer me $30.00 bucks an hour, with a full benefit package to come be a company driver for them. As a carrier I could never dream of paying a driver that much, and to find a quality owner operator now is impossible. So how does someone like myself expand their business in this climate?

The only reason I would want to expand, is so that I could live the same quality of life that a well paid company driver enjoys working for a private carrier. Some of these guys moving equipment for a construction company are seasonal workers, and are making over 100k a year. They work about 7 months, and with their overtime and unemployment come out at that figure, not to mention the benefit package they enjoy. You would think that a individual with their own authority and equipment would be able to match that, but I'm not even close.

Bear with me, this is extreme because it's specialized compared to van/flat/etc.-

Last week I did a bid for a direct shipper OS/OW with a "target rate" of $12,500 (rediculously low). I got to see the final quote sheet. I was $22,500; a carrier with company trucks & O/O's- $24,000 company & $21,500 O/O; 3 brokers at $12k-$18k. They gave it to one of the brokers. I've completely given up saying "it will never move for that", because it probally will (or hopefully I'll get it later as a JIT for big$$!)- but with over $7k in permits and escorts/pilots, off-route miles, etc. it's going negative cash flow running legal.

Now here is the rub- if I or the other carrier got the loads at the higher price direct that wouldn't show on the rate index, only the brokers #'s at a price so low neither of us would even consider looking at anything priced using that index. If the broker can't move it and the shipper comes back to us at the higher rate, does that offered price still get included in an average offered price index?

You're right on for oversized. I was replying to the Bulkloads.com rate index post. Actually truckstop.com does have oversized rate index. As of now we don't broker for oversized. For bulk I think it would be very useful.