Comments on: Transportation Broker Survey Results http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/05/07/transportation-broker-survey-results/689.html Discussion and opinions about the trucking industry Sun, 07 Sep 2008 10:20:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: The Lost Voices of a Brokered Load | Life on the Road - Trucking News Blog http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/05/07/transportation-broker-survey-results/689.html#comment-1951 The Lost Voices of a Brokered Load | Life on the Road - Trucking News Blog Tue, 20 May 2008 13:45:54 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/?p=689#comment-1951 [...] this was something brought up as a response to the Transportation Broker Survey Results, I thought I would elaborate on something that I do know to be [...] [...] this was something brought up as a response to the Transportation Broker Survey Results, I thought I would elaborate on something that I do know to be [...]

]]> By: Donna Snelling http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/05/07/transportation-broker-survey-results/689.html#comment-1944 Donna Snelling Mon, 19 May 2008 04:21:01 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/?p=689#comment-1944 Actually some of what you think people will not want is actually already happening. Think I'll go write about it!! Actually some of what you think people will not want is actually already happening. Think I’ll go write about it!!

]]> By: Robert Blair http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/05/07/transportation-broker-survey-results/689.html#comment-1936 Robert Blair Thu, 15 May 2008 16:16:13 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/?p=689#comment-1936 While a bidding system has its merits, ultimately shippers want to deal with people. They don't want their freight and its proper handling to become a tracking number in a faceless, paperless and impersonal system. It would be like putting your trucks PM out for bid on a computer system. Would you really let Company X service your truck because they came back with the best price and are qualified by criteria that you have no control over. You want to deal with people you know and trust. If there is a problem, you want to be able to pick up the phone and know the person you're talking to has your best interest in mind. And seriously, are you willing to pay that kind of money up front before the work is done. While a bidding system has its merits, ultimately shippers want to deal with people. They don’t want their freight and its proper handling to become a tracking number in a faceless, paperless and impersonal system. It would be like putting your trucks PM out for bid on a computer system. Would you really let Company X service your truck because they came back with the best price and are qualified by criteria that you have no control over. You want to deal with people you know and trust. If there is a problem, you want to be able to pick up the phone and know the person you’re talking to has your best interest in mind. And seriously, are you willing to pay that kind of money up front before the work is done.

]]> By: Donna Snelling http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/05/07/transportation-broker-survey-results/689.html#comment-1898 Donna Snelling Sat, 10 May 2008 02:17:24 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/?p=689#comment-1898 The bidding system could include safety ratings as well, to a broker (that cares about their load) that is something that is important - so I think it should be when booking a load as well. I think I would rather pay a driver more and KNOW the load is going to get there and arrive safely then to make a 40% profit margin by hiring some Joe Icantdrive guy that has a low safety rating and more of a chance of either falling off of the load or not making OTD. A bidding system would be a good idea. Then you could include your own FSC too. Great idea! The bidding system could include safety ratings as well, to a broker (that cares about their load) that is something that is important - so I think it should be when booking a load as well. I think I would rather pay a driver more and KNOW the load is going to get there and arrive safely then to make a 40% profit margin by hiring some Joe Icantdrive guy that has a low safety rating and more of a chance of either falling off of the load or not making OTD.

A bidding system would be a good idea. Then you could include your own FSC too. Great idea!

]]> By: Mark Spearman http://lifeontheroad.com/2008/05/07/transportation-broker-survey-results/689.html#comment-1891 Mark Spearman Thu, 08 May 2008 12:42:30 +0000 http://lifeontheroad.com/?p=689#comment-1891 I've never understood why we need a broker in today's world. It's outdated and many lazy people are getting rich. If a business ships with UPS or FedEx, they may have a line of credit, but they pay for the freight charges up front. Of course, that's a different world, but the concept of paying for delivery before the truck takes it is not an absurd idea. If you look at a website like uship.com, you can see that there is more than enough technology to set up a bid system with credentials for shippers and receivers in place. Most shippers are looking for a very cheap deal with that site, but when someone really wants something shipped fast and safe, they are willing to pay. Why do we need brokers when systems like this are so easy to build and maintain? If the government gets in the game, any idea of a free market is out of the question. Right now, the free market is being disrupted with the legal need for brokers who have very little interest in the shipping process and assume very little risk. I’ve never understood why we need a broker in today’s world. It’s outdated and many lazy people are getting rich.

If a business ships with UPS or FedEx, they may have a line of credit, but they pay for the freight charges up front. Of course, that’s a different world, but the concept of paying for delivery before the truck takes it is not an absurd idea.

If you look at a website like uship.com, you can see that there is more than enough technology to set up a bid system with credentials for shippers and receivers in place. Most shippers are looking for a very cheap deal with that site, but when someone really wants something shipped fast and safe, they are willing to pay. Why do we need brokers when systems like this are so easy to build and maintain?

If the government gets in the game, any idea of a free market is out of the question. Right now, the free market is being disrupted with the legal need for brokers who have very little interest in the shipping process and assume very little risk.

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