Status and location updates

Nov 02, 2018 at 09:43 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. I?m beginning to see an increase in emails and calls from certain brokers requesting continuous load updates. Yesterday in response to my questioning of the practice I was offered a load tracking device from this certain company. I told them I was not interested in being tracked. From an efficiency stand point I don?t see where my wait times are being positively affected by the practice. I haul the same product for the same end user for different brokers and aren?t required to give incremental updates, we just do the job. With that being said I have mixed emotions as I have called for many updates in the past myself. My concern is this, as some of the more efficient brokers gain more market share is absolute load tracking going to be forced upon owner operators? If so, what is the point of having your own authority? What has changed in industry and where are we headed. Thoughts?

Replied on Tue, Nov 06, 2018 at 12:37 PM CST + 2 - 3
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. I have seen the push is coming from the customer side primarily. I managed a small reefer carrier (65 trucks) for 3 years before opening this office. It is ALL about service these days. Unfortunately, the only people posting what a pain this stuff is are the guys that do their jobs day in and day out, like the OP. The issue is carriers that don't communicate and drivers who won't answer the phone. Also, the whole "I don't want to be tracked" argument is kind of silly IMHO. For carriers that have a good dispatch team and/or drivers that are professionals, it is not an issue. Now, as a broker, we have software that can track a truck for the duration of the load only. Assuming the driver accepts a text, we can see when he hits the shipper, if he's on schedule and when he hits the recevier and we never have to bother a driver or dispatcher. Our bread and butter is mom and pop carriers who always have limited staffing so this can be a good thing. Internally, we are on the fence about whether to make this tracking mandatory here as well. I do have carriers that I NEVER call after I send them a load because they do the job and call if there is an issue. However, over 17 years, super reliable carriers are now the exception rather than the rule.

Replied on Tue, Nov 06, 2018 at 12:37 PM CST

+ 2 - 3

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

I have seen the push is coming from the customer side primarily. I managed a small reefer carrier (65 trucks) for 3 years before opening this office. It is ALL about service these days. Unfortunately, the only people posting what a pain this stuff is are the guys that do their jobs day in and day out, like the OP. The issue is carriers that don't communicate and drivers who won't answer the phone. Also, the whole "I don't want to be tracked" argument is kind of silly IMHO. For carriers that have a good dispatch team and/or drivers that are professionals, it is not an issue.

Now, as a broker, we have software that can track a truck for the duration of the load only. Assuming the driver accepts a text, we can see when he hits the shipper, if he's on schedule and when he hits the recevier and we never have to bother a driver or dispatcher. Our bread and butter is mom and pop carriers who always have limited staffing so this can be a good thing. Internally, we are on the fence about whether to make this tracking mandatory here as well. I do have carriers that I NEVER call after I send them a load because they do the job and call if there is an issue. However, over 17 years, super reliable carriers are now the exception rather than the rule.

Replied on Tue, Nov 06, 2018 at 12:37 PM CST + 1 - 1
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. As a broker, we like to touch base in the AM for an ETA to the shipper. If you tell me noon for pickup, I will likely call sometime after 1PM if we haven't gotten a loaded call yet. From there, we get a delivery ETA. We will call once per day during transit to make sure you're still doing okay. The morning of delivery, we'll check in for a close ETA, and then same as pickup- call an hour or so after your ETA if we havent' heard anything else. Now every customer has different requirements, depending on product and how they choose to deal with updates. So you may be facing that with whoever you are dealing with. Drivers that do regular daily runs for me, we've began just texting for updates if they like. I prefer it personally, but everyone will be different in that regard. Properly updating your customer will set you ahead of your competition. If I have two carriers that are calling in for the same load and I know that one is terrible with updates/answering the phone, and the other is excellent, the well updating truck will get the nod every time, even if he is a buck or two per ton higher on price. Good service wins every time.

Replied on Tue, Nov 06, 2018 at 12:37 PM CST

+ 1 - 1

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

As a broker, we like to touch base in the AM for an ETA to the shipper. If you tell me noon for pickup, I will likely call sometime after 1PM if we haven't gotten a loaded call yet. From there, we get a delivery ETA. We will call once per day during transit to make sure you're still doing okay. The morning of delivery, we'll check in for a close ETA, and then same as pickup- call an hour or so after your ETA if we havent' heard anything else.

Now every customer has different requirements, depending on product and how they choose to deal with updates. So you may be facing that with whoever you are dealing with. Drivers that do regular daily runs for me, we've began just texting for updates if they like. I prefer it personally, but everyone will be different in that regard.

Properly updating your customer will set you ahead of your competition. If I have two carriers that are calling in for the same load and I know that one is terrible with updates/answering the phone, and the other is excellent, the well updating truck will get the nod every time, even if he is a buck or two per ton higher on price. Good service wins every time.

Replied on Wed, Nov 07, 2018 at 11:11 AM CST + 4 - 2
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. The day myself or one of my drivers are required to be tracked will be be the day I hang up the keys. I became an owner operator to run the truck my way and provide unquestionable good service, communicating dailey without being asked. O/O's Grow up and and get your balls out of the glove box!

Replied on Wed, Nov 07, 2018 at 04:42 PM CST + 2
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. Quote: "As a broker, we like to touch base in the AM for an ETA to the shipper. If you tell me noon for pickup, I will likely call sometime after 1PM if we haven't gotten a loaded call yet. From there, we get a delivery ETA. We will call once per day during transit to make sure you're still doing okay. The morning of delivery, we'll check in for a close ETA, and then same as pickup- call an hour or so after your ETA if we havent' heard anything else. Now every customer has different requirements, depending on product and how they choose to deal with updates. So you may be facing that with whoever you are dealing with. Drivers that do regular daily runs for me, we've began just texting for updates if they like. I prefer it personally, but everyone will be different in that regard. Properly updating your customer will set you ahead of your competition. If I have two carriers that are calling in for the same load and I know that one is terrible with updates/answering the phone, and the other is excellent, the well updating truck will get the nod every time, even if he is a buck or two per ton higher on price. Good service wins every time." Steve we have hauled loads for your company in the past. I, like many other small companies, strive for excellent service. When our company takes a load, it can be considered to be completed unless I call and say there is an issue. I understand that brokers want to know where their freight is, BUT I will not call my drivers at 7,8,9 or 10 am just to see how things are going. Drivers sometimes, especially since the ELD mandate, have a tough time finding a spot to park. If the driver does not shut down real early, I do not want to interupt his/her rest. Next point being if we spent the day answering calls about the loads we are hauling, then we will not get their next loads hauled. My recomendation to you is find carriers you can trust and then trust that they will get the freight moved and if there is a problem, they will call you. That's just my 2 cents worth.

Replied on Wed, Nov 07, 2018 at 04:42 PM CST

+ 2

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

Quote: "As a broker, we like to touch base in the AM for an ETA to the shipper. If you tell me noon for pickup, I will likely call sometime after 1PM if we haven't gotten a loaded call yet. From there, we get a delivery ETA. We will call once per day during transit to make sure you're still doing okay. The morning of delivery, we'll check in for a close ETA, and then same as pickup- call an hour or so after your ETA if we havent' heard anything else. Now every customer has different requirements, depending on product and how they choose to deal with updates. So you may be facing that with whoever you are dealing with. Drivers that do regular daily runs for me, we've began just texting for updates if they like. I prefer it personally, but everyone will be different in that regard. Properly updating your customer will set you ahead of your competition. If I have two carriers that are calling in for the same load and I know that one is terrible with updates/answering the phone, and the other is excellent, the well updating truck will get the nod every time, even if he is a buck or two per ton higher on price. Good service wins every time."

Steve we have hauled loads for your company in the past. I, like many other small companies, strive for excellent service. When our company takes a load, it can be considered to be completed unless I call and say there is an issue. I understand that brokers want to know where their freight is, BUT I will not call my drivers at 7,8,9 or 10 am just to see how things are going. Drivers sometimes, especially since the ELD mandate, have a tough time finding a spot to park. If the driver does not shut down real early, I do not want to interupt his/her rest. Next point being if we spent the day answering calls about the loads we are hauling, then we will not get their next loads hauled.

My recomendation to you is find carriers you can trust and then trust that they will get the freight moved and if there is a problem, they will call you.

That's just my 2 cents worth.

Replied on Wed, Nov 07, 2018 at 04:56 PM CST
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. Ed I don't disagree with anything you've said here. Although that trust does have to be established. Early on with a carrier relationship though, we definitely have to be careful. There's nothing worse in my world than getting a call from a customer and going "I haven't talked to him." I imagine we all have that customer or two who expects you to know what mile marker your truck is at that exact moment. My honest to goodness bare minimum is give me a pickup ETA on the booking, loaded call and delivered call. Otherwise I will call asking. I never close a load without hearing "the truck is being unloaded now" I got burned a few times by assuming things and looked pretty dumb to my customers. You guys are a great example of someone who does do it right. So I definitely have to give credit where it is due. We haven't done a ton of work together, but I know from our past experiences that if I put you on something, I can expect things are going to go well and I definitely do appreciate that. I can't say that for quite a few carriers however. Overall there has to be a balance. At the end of the day, the customer deserves to be well serviced because they are the ones writing the check, whether I'm getting paid or you're going direct... For me well serviced is having all the answers, for the truck it's picking and delivering as expected in a professional manner. That all involves communication and that is the #1 thing I hear about in meetings with potential and existing customers.

Replied on Wed, Nov 07, 2018 at 04:56 PM CST

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

Ed I don't disagree with anything you've said here. Although that trust does have to be established. Early on with a carrier relationship though, we definitely have to be careful. There's nothing worse in my world than getting a call from a customer and going "I haven't talked to him." I imagine we all have that customer or two who expects you to know what mile marker your truck is at that exact moment.

My honest to goodness bare minimum is give me a pickup ETA on the booking, loaded call and delivered call. Otherwise I will call asking. I never close a load without hearing "the truck is being unloaded now" I got burned a few times by assuming things and looked pretty dumb to my customers.

You guys are a great example of someone who does do it right. So I definitely have to give credit where it is due. We haven't done a ton of work together, but I know from our past experiences that if I put you on something, I can expect things are going to go well and I definitely do appreciate that. I can't say that for quite a few carriers however.

Overall there has to be a balance. At the end of the day, the customer deserves to be well serviced because they are the ones writing the check, whether I'm getting paid or you're going direct... For me well serviced is having all the answers, for the truck it's picking and delivering as expected in a professional manner. That all involves communication and that is the #1 thing I hear about in meetings with potential and existing customers.

Replied on Thu, Nov 08, 2018 at 11:10 AM CST + 2
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. Well let me say Ed I totally agree with you. And Steve or any other broker I always say truck SHOULD be there on such eta. Now that being said I am 99% always a couple hours early for I give plenty of time to get there. I dont have a crystal ball to look at and see if there going to be a 10 car pile up in front of the truck minutes before i get there, or every driver within 100 miles is going to pull into fuel stop and get fuel ahead of me or Mr Dot is lonely and wants to chat for an hour or two. Now that might sound like exuses to some but its real life trucking and I plan for it, and like Ed stated if the truck is going through a tough time getting loaded at the shipper and throw in a few other lucky charms the last thing the truck needs is someone calling and asking is everything ok. And Im pretty sure you brokers dont have a crystal ball either but if asked I provide times to the best I can with the first priority being the load getting from point A to B then notifying broker with a quick call while getting fuel. And as for trust thats a two way street I dont know how many times I've called brokers when under a load and got right threw everytime but as soon as delivered its like they fell off the planet until they got another load that needs done ASAP. I write this after the Mrs calms me down and tells me I need let some know what its like being the driver also.

Replied on Thu, Nov 08, 2018 at 11:10 AM CST

+ 2

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

Well let me say Ed I totally agree with you. And Steve or any other broker I always say truck SHOULD be there on such eta. Now that being said I am 99% always a couple hours early for I give plenty of time to get there. I dont have a crystal ball to look at and see if there going to be a 10 car pile up in front of the truck minutes before i get there, or every driver within 100 miles is going to pull into fuel stop and get fuel ahead of me or Mr Dot is lonely and wants to chat for an hour or two. Now that might sound like exuses to some but its real life trucking and I plan for it, and like Ed stated if the truck is going through a tough time getting loaded at the shipper and throw in a few other lucky charms the last thing the truck needs is someone calling and asking is everything ok. And Im pretty sure you brokers dont have a crystal ball either but if asked I provide times to the best I can with the first priority being the load getting from point A to B then notifying broker with a quick call while getting fuel. And as for trust thats a two way street I dont know how many times I've called brokers when under a load and got right threw everytime but as soon as delivered its like they fell off the planet until they got another load that needs done ASAP. I write this after the Mrs calms me down and tells me I need let some know what its like being the driver also.

Replied on Fri, Dec 21, 2018 at 07:25 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.	Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member. Quote: "Well let me say Ed I totally agree with you. And Steve or any other broker I always say truck SHOULD be there on such eta. Now that being said I am 99% always a couple hours early for I give plenty of time to get there. I dont have a crystal ball to look at and see if there going to be a 10 car pile up in front of the truck minutes before i get there, or every driver within 100 miles is going to pull into fuel stop and get fuel ahead of me or Mr Dot is lonely and wants to chat for an hour or two. Now that might sound like exuses to some but its real life trucking and I plan for it, and like Ed stated if the truck is going through a tough time getting loaded at the shipper and throw in a few other lucky charms the last thing the truck needs is someone calling and asking is everything ok. And Im pretty sure you brokers dont have a crystal ball either but if asked I provide times to the best I can with the first priority being the load getting from point A to B then notifying broker with a quick call while getting fuel. And as for trust thats a two way street I dont know how many times I've called brokers when under a load and got right threw everytime but as soon as delivered its like they fell off the planet until they got another load that needs done ASAP. I write this after the Mrs calms me down and tells me I need let some know what its like being the driver also." I couldn't agree more and maybe if brokers got off this kick of 2$ mile freight is good u could also get better service

Replied on Fri, Dec 21, 2018 at 07:25 PM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private FlatLoads.com member.

Quote: "Well let me say Ed I totally agree with you. And Steve or any other broker I always say truck SHOULD be there on such eta. Now that being said I am 99% always a couple hours early for I give plenty of time to get there. I dont have a crystal ball to look at and see if there going to be a 10 car pile up in front of the truck minutes before i get there, or every driver within 100 miles is going to pull into fuel stop and get fuel ahead of me or Mr Dot is lonely and wants to chat for an hour or two. Now that might sound like exuses to some but its real life trucking and I plan for it, and like Ed stated if the truck is going through a tough time getting loaded at the shipper and throw in a few other lucky charms the last thing the truck needs is someone calling and asking is everything ok. And Im pretty sure you brokers dont have a crystal ball either but if asked I provide times to the best I can with the first priority being the load getting from point A to B then notifying broker with a quick call while getting fuel. And as for trust thats a two way street I dont know how many times I've called brokers when under a load and got right threw everytime but as soon as delivered its like they fell off the planet until they got another load that needs done ASAP. I write this after the Mrs calms me down and tells me I need let some know what its like being the driver also."

I couldn't agree more and maybe if brokers got off this kick of 2$ mile freight is good u could also get better service

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