QuestionQUESTION: hey jim I own a trucking company with a common carrier authority utilizing about 8 tractors with no trailers split between two major reefer carriers.I do operate under my own authority but the rates that we get from both these carriers are ugly.I'm ready to buy my own trailers and to start to deal directly with the shippers shipping meat products. I have been out networking but I just can't seem to get any of the major meat suppliers to offer us a load. Can you point me in the right direction to help my company get its feet off the ground
ANSWER: Grant, I don't have an easy solution for this one. In this economy there are still way too many trucks chasing too little freight. And it's particularly rough for the small operator to find the loads to keep his fleet moving profitably. And I am sure your major shippers have all the capacity they need with their regular carriers.
I would suggest a phased approach. Keep your current contract with the better of the the two current carriers while you develop business for the rest of your fleet. Check with your current carriers or other reefer fleets to see what they will pay with your trailer. If you are in Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago or Central Florida I can give you a lead on a company that I know pays more for carriers with trailers than without. And I think they will take multi-unit operators.
But don't necessarily be locked in to refrigerated. Explore all possibilities starting with any manufacturer, shipper, 3PL, warehouse or anyone else in your geography of interest. Research as much as you can on-line then start making the phone calls and the in person visits to show them what you can offer. Consider the expedited market; check these websites:
http://www.expeditersonline.com/
http://www.expresstrucking.com/index.html
Also your more sophisticated shippers will want insurance certificates, operating authority and a satisfactory safety rating. Check yours online at http://www.safersys.org/
What you have is the classic sales problem. If you make the sale directly you keep the margin. If you have to relay on intermediaries you split the profit/
Good luck. Jim
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QUESTION: TKS JIM EVERY BIT COUNTS RIGHT NOW I HAVE TAKEN YOUR ADVICE AN HAVE STARTED PUSHING THE TEMP-CONTROL MARKET VERY HARD SINCE I'VE RECEIEVED YOUR ADVICE. THAT LEAD ON THAT COMPANY WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED AND HELPFUL.I'VE CHECKED OUT THOSE SITES IN THE EXPEDITED MARKET AN I WAS WONDERING DO YOU THINK THAT I SHOULD PURSUE THIS MARKET INSTEAD OF THE REEFER MARKET OR DO YOU THINK THAT I SHOULD INVEST IN A DRY BOX OR TWO AN PURSUE BOTH MARKETS
AnswerGrant, here is a good reefer company to lease on to:
http://www.suncocarriers.com/operator.shtml
Talk to them before you buy refrigerated trailers to see what they pay.
If you want to drive dry vans try their sister company:
http://www.landspan.com/asp/Frames.asp?DfltPage=driverrecrform.asp?Division=LSPN
By the way where are you located?
