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Correlation of High Grain Prices and Less Grain Haulers

Aug 22, 2022 at 10:40 AM CST
+ 6
Jared brings on Jon Scheve of Superior Feed Ingredients to discuss current market conditions and how they relate to trucking. He talks about high-dollar freight and what merchandisers have seen from carriers.

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Replied on Mon, Aug 29, 2022 at 09:50 AM CST
I’m surprised nobody commented on this one.
Replied on Mon, Aug 29, 2022 at 10:48 AM CST
Quote: "I’m surprised nobody commented on this one."

I thought the same thing.. I'm getting to the point of why bother.. I don't see things changing any time soon.

Replied on Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 07:57 AM CST
+ 1
Quote: "I thought the same thing.. I'm getting to the point of why bother.. I don't see things changing any time soon."

Everyone has trucks, but nobody has drivers? Apparently that 8 bucks a mile that’s mentioned in the podcast isn’t making to the drivers pocket, so who’s keeping it? The carrier? The broker? That’s the problem with drivers being paid on a percentage instead of hourly, there are too many shady characters in this game, that’s why everything is done in secret, behind closed doors, rates are never published.
Replied on Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 09:01 AM CST

I'm probably going to Bulkloads jail... I hope someone bails me out!!!

Replied on Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 09:01 AM CST

Hey Dave, Did you listen to the next podcast about fertilizer? Basically the same theme..They tee up the subject of rates and say the merchandisers are trying to "help the trucks" buy purchasing the fertilizer closer to the truck, but must pay less to move it because of the increased distance to the end user. They say they can buy the product closer to the end user, but they wouldn't be able to "help the truck". I say, buy it where it is most convenient and least miles to the end user, but be prepared to pay a fare rate to who ever moves it. If the truck they are "trying to help" got a good enough rate to begin with, it wouldn't need help getting out of wherever it is. Maybe, the "help the truck" angle is the problem. In my opinion, if merchandisers paid a fair rate every time, carriers wouldn't need help. It's like, I'm from the government and I'm here to help, give me a break...How about, pay a decent rate and get out of the way, I got this...

Replied on Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 09:29 AM CST
+ 1
Quote: "Hey Dave, Did you listen to the next podcast about fertilizer? Basically the same theme..They tee up the subject of rates and say the merchandisers are trying to "help the trucks" buy purchasing the fertilizer closer to the truck, but must pay less to move it because of the increased distance to the end user. They say they can buy the product closer to the end user, but they wouldn't be able to "help the truck". I say, buy it where it is most convenient and least miles to the end user, but be prepared to pay a fare rate to who ever moves it. If the truck they are "trying to help" got a good enough rate to begin with, it wouldn't need help getting out of wherever it is. Maybe, the "help the truck" angle is the problem. In my opinion, if merchandisers paid a fair rate every time, carriers wouldn't need help. It's like, I'm from the government and I'm here to help, give me a break...How about, pay a decent rate and get out of the way, I got this..."

Supply and demand are supposed to balance each other and find a equilibrium, but that doesn’t seem to be happening anymore, the economy is supposed to provide for every one’s needs, be it business or personal, yet that’s no longer the case, what you see right now is what it looked like in Venezuela before the Collapse, yet nobody sees it. I will check out the podcast you mentioned, I haven’t heard it yet.
Replied on Wed, Aug 31, 2022 at 06:02 PM CST
Dead head to load washout or sweep out your trailer, sit in line for an hour drive for 2 hours, check in, unload, dead head for and hour. $400. Please send me all you got, not. Do brokers and shippers think there is a truck sitting next to every load?
Replied on Thu, Sep 01, 2022 at 11:53 AM CST

Maybe they should do a podcast from our point of view...I vote Dave to be the expert. I'd get too mad and use a few bad words..🤦

Replied on Thu, Sep 01, 2022 at 01:11 PM CST
Quote: "Everyone has trucks, but nobody has drivers? Apparently that 8 bucks a mile that’s mentioned in the podcast isn’t making to the drivers pocket, so who’s keeping it? The carrier? The broker? That’s the problem with drivers being paid on a percentage instead of hourly, there are too many shady characters in this game, that’s why everything is done in secret, behind closed doors, rates are never published."

Drivers are very difficult to find. I have a friend who is an excellent employer with nice trucks, fair pay, and fantastic bonuses, who has issues finding qualified drivers.

I, myself, am struggling finding drivers.

All the good drivers are already working for someone and those someone's are doing everything they can to keep the driver happy so they stay.

I don't know about any of that other stuff you mentioned.

Replied on Thu, Sep 01, 2022 at 03:27 PM CST
+ 1

Let's take a step back in time. Back to the days of bingo stamps and paying top dollar to buy someones authority. Back in the days when a driver could make a decent living (by percentage) hauling grain one way from the dakotas and outstate Mn to Duluth, even if you had to sit in grain line for a day and a half. Seems the government stepped in and deregulated everything and then anyone who wanted could get their own authority. The rates were good then, althought fuel was only .40/gallon, it seemed drivers made a good living and were held in high esteem for the hard job they did. now fast forward to a time in the not so distant past where the government stepped in and made you have to have a brokers license to move extra freight for your customers. Now anyone with a computer, internet and the start up money can now be a broker or in some cases, double broker (co broker). Is there a pattern here? Every time the government sticks their noses into the mix, we see a few more owner operators and mom and pop companies go away from the business. Take a step back and look around. The old guard, the old school trucker that can be depended on to get the loads from point a to point b in a timely fashion are gone, not to return. Forced out by a computer, a balck box or just by being fed up with all the BS that comes with being a truck driver. When I started driving full time in 1987, when I told someone what I did for a living, they said "you have a tough job"! Fast forward to 1990 when I told someone what I did and was told "you are just a damn old truck driver". The respect has left the profession! We need to get that respect back! Somehow, some way we need to have the respect of the people back, BUT we won't get it when the public is not taught how their everyday good are delivered!

I don't do pod casts so I have not listened to this one.

Replied on Thu, Sep 01, 2022 at 04:46 PM CST
+ 1
Kinda hard for the general public to respect us when every entrance ramp to a highway is full of out garbage and pee jugs. And we dump.our garbage in lots ware we park. With flip flops shorts and wife beater shirts sorry to say we kinda brought alot of.our own on.ourselves not all but a few wreck for the rest
Replied on Fri, Sep 02, 2022 at 07:04 AM CST
Quote: "Let's take a step back in time. Back to the days of bingo stamps and paying top dollar to buy someones authority. Back in the days when a driver could make a decent living (by percentage) hauling grain one way from the dakotas and outstate Mn to Duluth, even if you had to sit in grain line for a day and a half. Seems the government stepped in and deregulated everything and then anyone who wanted could get their own authority. The rates were good then, althought fuel was only .40/gallon, it seemed drivers made a good living and were held in high esteem for the hard job they did. now fast forward to a time in the not so distant past where the government stepped in and made you have to have a brokers license to move extra freight for your customers. Now anyone with a computer, internet and the start up money can now be a broker or in some cases, double broker (co broker). Is there a pattern here? Every time the government sticks their noses into the mix, we see a few more owner operators and mom and pop companies go away from the business. Take a step back and look around. The old guard, the old school trucker that can be depended on to get the loads from point a to point b in a timely fashion are gone, not to return. Forced out by a computer, a balck box or just by being fed up with all the BS that comes with being a truck driver. When I started driving full time in 1987, when I told someone what I did for a living, they said "you have a tough job"! Fast forward to 1990 when I told someone what I did and was told "you are just a damn old truck driver". The respect has left the profession! We need to get that respect back! Somehow, some way we need to have the respect of the people back, BUT we won't get it when the public is not taught how their everyday good are delivered! I don't do pod casts so I have not listened to this one."

I didn't start driving until I was in my late 20's, I'm 55 now, and Truckers were my hero as a kid. Everyone trusted and loved them. I always wanted to be a trucker and live that life.

Then, as you stated, in the 90's truckers because an enemy to society, the love and respect was gone. Carriers told us we were a dime a dozen and easily replaced, shippers and receievers treated us like garbage.

It's a different world. That's one reason I like hopper bottom, I don't run into many unpleasant people as far as shippers and receivers go. A majority of them are pretty decent.

Replied on Fri, Sep 02, 2022 at 07:07 AM CST
Quote: "Drivers are very difficult to find. I have a friend who is an excellent employer with nice trucks, fair pay, and fantastic bonuses, who has issues finding qualified drivers. I, myself, am struggling finding drivers. All the good drivers are already working for someone and those someone's are doing everything they can to keep the driver happy so they stay. I don't know about any of that other stuff you mentioned. "

I have had dozens of people approach me asking me to put them on my authority or buy another truck and put them in it, pretty much anyone who has ever worked alongside me over the years has asked, but I refuse to do it because I know how fast stuff can turn in the market, and the rates I’ve seen offered are nowhere near enough to justify the headache in my opinion. Meanwhile I continue to watch the revolving door of new carriers around me recycle the same customers in the market thinking they stumbled onto something new. Like Bonjovi once said, it’s always the same, only the names will change.
Replied on Fri, Sep 02, 2022 at 07:08 AM CST
+ 1
For the most part I agree with his analysis. If the mega grain companies pay the producer low enough for their grain, they should be able to get that producer to haul that grain for them for next to free out of sheer desperation.... And if the mega company plays all those cards right, they should get that producer to haul fertilizer for them for next to free, then turn around and sell that fertilizer back to the producer at a huge markup and Bill them $5 per loaded mile for the product that they hauled for two. All I can say is that the past two years companies that pay well and pay fast have had zero trouble finding trucks. If a small company has more than one truck on the road it is pretty easy to max out a credit card in 14 days and these modern times. If it takes you more than 2 weeks to pay those trucks they aren't going to show up and I don't blame them. And I don't have a lot of sympathy for companies that can't find employees when they are offering only $25 an hour or $50,000 a year. I can't name a single unemployed person so it is a competitive market if you want help you must pay for it. As expensive as health insurance groceries clothing child care and a house and a car are, if you think a reliable driver is worth any less than $100,000 a year, then in my personal opinion you are not familiar with what it costs to raise a family with a modest standard of living in these modern times. The last couple years have been very good to me and I'm not here to tell people they are doing it wrong you are free to haul freight for whatever you think is fair, but I would just ask you why are you willing to let giant companies get rich off of you. I say get out there and grab your piece of the pie so that you can attain the American dream. Good luck to everybody nothing personal meant by my comments. When I get home this afternoon I'm going to give my wife a big fat paycheck and pick my kids up from school... And I'm going to wear shorts and flip-flops.
Replied on Fri, Sep 02, 2022 at 09:25 AM CST
Iam I wrong dale have we not done some of the disrespect to our selves
Replied on Fri, Sep 02, 2022 at 09:25 AM CST
Not on the job though shorts and flip flops
Replied on Fri, Sep 02, 2022 at 10:12 AM CST
+ 1
Quote: "Kinda hard for the general public to respect us when every entrance ramp to a highway is full of out garbage and pee jugs. And we dump.our garbage in lots ware we park. With flip flops shorts and wife beater shirts sorry to say we kinda brought alot of.our own on.ourselves not all but a few wreck for the rest"

Not sure if you noticed, but around the turn of the century there was a push to close public rest areas. Many did not allow a lot of parking but it still took away from parking and bacame part of the problem. In North dakota, I personally know of 6 rest area spots that were closed just while I was on the road. I saw the closure of the rest area near Fergus Falls Mn also. It wasn't real nice but the breeze coming off the lake on the south side was refreshing in the summer! As far as people leaving pee bottles and garbage along the road, that is not only from truck drivers. I know a lot is but to be fair, there are a lot of 4 wheelers that throw crap out too. Am I making excuses? Nope! Being a pig on the road is bread from your environment you grow up in. When we don't teach our children to clean up after themselves, they never will and they will leave the messes for others to clean up! It is not a trucker problem, it is a society problem that just gets highlighted by people with cell phones and to much time on their hands and looking for their 15 seconds of fame.

That's just my take. Also I honestly don't care what a driver wears as long as he is professional and courteous to the shippers and anyone they work with.

Replied on Fri, Sep 02, 2022 at 10:54 AM CST
Quote: "Iam I wrong dale have we not done some of the disrespect to our selves"

I definitely agree that we bring some of it on ourselves. 100 percent with you there. I just don't care what people wear. I wear shorts when it's hot, and I have a rock solid reputation, the guys that climbed in the grain bin last night at 9:30 pm to load me were also wearing shorts. They were hard workers, that's all I care about. I don't judge based on appearance. But smell on the other hand, I JUDGE.
Replied on Sat, Sep 03, 2022 at 10:06 AM CST

I think respect is in the person's perspective. When I was a kid there was a mix of respect for truckers.

If you look at all of the support we got during the trucker convoys it make me proud to be a driver.

Like Rush used to say, it all comes down to problems coming from democrats. They seem to have no respect for anybody that works for a living and not dependent on the government.