True story

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
So I was sitting in a TS a few weeks ago...and this series of events went on...

I was sitting with a Bolt and Panther van....Bolt guy gets an offer... worked out to .64 cents a mile inclusive of fsc... turns it down....

10 minutes later the P2 guy gets offered the same load...get this...75/mile and .06 fsc...

Difference of .17 per mile

Draw your own conclusions on whom was getting fleeced...

Don't load planners know we actually talk with each other out here?
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
My guess is that it was a bid load. Bolt bid cheaper but then couldn't cover it. Just a competition thing.
We had the same situation reversed a month or so ago in OK.
Good load going to MI was sent to us and we accepted it.
Twenty minutes later it cancelled and a Fedex reefer truck parked next to us took the same load for .30 cent per mile less than our offer.
On the up side, we did get another load several hours later to the Carolinas.
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
I understand Dave...one bids on it thinking it can be covered...expecting the driver to run it at that price but won't and then they have to ditch the loads back or sell it at a loss...

it wasn't a slam... I just used the real names...
 

Dakota

Veteran Expediter
It's a dog eat dog business, if you won't do it for a certain price then someone else out there will do it and for cheaper usually.
Maybe we need government intervention OBAMA will save us:rolleyes:
Just kidding;)
 

FIS53

Veteran Expediter
Oh yeah could you even imagine the Obama Trucking Regulation. 5000 pages of legalise crapolla that half of us couldn't understand and the scale guys in each state interpreting in a different manner so we get a ticket for something everywhere.
Rob
 

Dakota

Veteran Expediter
Oh yeah could you even imagine the Obama Trucking Regulation. 5000 pages of legalise crapolla that half of us couldn't understand and the scale guys in each state interpreting in a different manner so we get a ticket for something everywhere.
Rob

5000 pages but it has to be passed in 24 hours, resistance is futile, you will be assimilated:eek:
And for all those making more than me you have to give me some of your money so all is equal.:rolleyes:
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Oh yeah could you even imagine the Obama Trucking Regulation. 5000 pages of legalise crapolla that half of us couldn't understand and the scale guys in each state interpreting in a different manner so we get a ticket for something everywhere.
Rob

*LOL* we already got that....:D
 

RLENT

Veteran Expediter
Draw your own conclusions on whom was getting fleeced...
As Dave pointed out, you can't really draw the conclusion that you attempted to ..... (nobody is necessarily getting "fleeced" - it may well just be "competition")

On the flip side, consider this: last Saturday afternoon I was sitting in Olive Branch with a couple of Panther vans and an Express 1 Sprinter ..... they had all been there since at least the evening before (Friday), hanging out.

I got dispatched on a couple hundred mile run ..... just a little van load (small box, probably didn't weigh 5 lbs) ..... but it paid me $1.50 per mile (loaded miles, with a 10 mile deadhead to pick it up) ......

Two questions:

1. Just how high were the two companies mentioned above bidding on that load, so as to cause them not to get it ?

and maybe more importantly,

2. What would they have paid the driver or o/o, had they gotten it ? ..... :rolleyes:
 
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Tennesseahawk

Veteran Expediter
Ahh... but that's irrelevant, since both Panther and E1 have contract rates. Yes, Panther and E1 are going to bid high on loads they know they can get for a good price. In the end, it tends to even out against the runs they make a couple of cents off to move their trucks.
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
As Dave pointed out, you can't really draw the conclusion that you attempted to ..... (nobody is necessarily getting "fleeced" - it may well just be "competition")

On the flip side, consider this: last Saturday afternoon I was sitting in Olive Branch with a couple of Panther vans and an Express 1 Sprinter ..... they had all been there since at least the evening before (Friday), hanging out.

I got dispatched on a couple hundred mile run ..... just a little van load (small box, probably didn't weigh 5 lbs) ..... but it paid me $1.50 per mile per loaded mile (with a 10 mile deadhead to pick it up) ......

Two questions:

1. Just how high were the two companies mentioned above bidding on that load, so as to cause them not to get it ?

and maybe more importantly,

2. What would they have paid the driver or o/o had they gotten it ? ..... :rolleyes:

1. Maybe they didn't bid on it because it didn't come on a bid board?

2. Maybe the sprinter and van had been dispatched already for a Sunday load?

3. Maybe the customer called your carrier directly?

I am not going to get into a peeing match Rlent.;)..I already admitted what Dave eluded to...a case of just plain ole competition...:D
 

RLENT

Veteran Expediter
Yea right.... E-1 there thought the contractors didn't talk to each other either.
Heheheh ... yup .... don't they all ...... :D

I once had a dispatcher say to me: "I wish you guys wouldn't talk to each other ..... it makes my job so much harder ...."

..... yeah, no doubt ...... :rolleyes:
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Heheheh ... yup .... don't they all ...... :D

I once had a dispatcher say to me: "I wish you guys wouldn't talk to each other ..... it makes my job so much harder ...."

..... yeah, no doubt ...... :rolleyes:

I've had them call and ask...is so and so close to you?*LOL*
 

RLENT

Veteran Expediter
1. Maybe ......
Yup - all possible ..... point being, one often may not know the entirety of any situation, and while guessing is much fun, it may not lead one to accurate conclusions .....

I am not going to get into a peeing match Rlent.;)..I already admitted what Dave eluded to...a case of just plain ole competition...:D
Me neither .... it wasn't a slam on either of the companies mentioned ...... I just used the actual company names to illustrate a point is all ..... :rolleyes:
 
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FIS53

Veteran Expediter
I know our dispatch turns down runs for too little money. Quite often they don't even offer it to one of us. They do try to compete and I've had lots of calls for under the normal rates it is just one of those situations we face today. It seems some of the competition out there will bid low, real low to try and drum up some business. This only creates negativity within the company.
Rob
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
Yup - all possible ..... point being, one often may not know the entirety of any situation, and while guessing is much fun, it may not lead one to accurate conclusions .....


Me neither .... it wasn't a slam on either of the companies mentioned ...... I just used the actual company names to illustrate a point is all ..... :rolleyes:

Phew... good...afterall it was just a story...I didn't intend a cat fight...*LOL*
 

OntarioVanMan

Retired Expediter
Owner/Operator
I know our dispatch turns down runs for too little money. Quite often they don't even offer it to one of us. They do try to compete and I've had lots of calls for under the normal rates it is just one of those situations we face today. It seems some of the competition out there will bid low, real low to try and drum up some business. This only creates negativity within the company.
Rob

That is the problem...some dispatchers THINK any run is a good run to beef up the load count and save their own jobs and when we refuse the load as inadequate....they get Pizzy about it...
Some actually call first and say ...Hey got this load opps we can bid on would ya do for this amount....we say no and they don't bid and don't look stupid...
 
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