Communication skills

Mar 19, 2025 at 03:19 PM CST + 24
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Anyone else seeing the lack of communications skills in this industry? I can not tell you the amount of times in the past month that I have called and emailed people who I have worked with for years and have been totally ghosted! I'm a big boy and can handle it if you don't want me to have a load you have, just don't waste my time calling and emailing! Have the decency to just tell me. Seems the world has either forgotten how to talk or has lost it's balls to tell it like it is!!!!

Replied on Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 08:20 PM CST + 2
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I'm a small carrier, and I wear all the hats. Making time for better communication is a real struggle for me. However, if they don't want my business, I'm on to the next one. Make America Honest Again

Replied on Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 07:47 AM CST + 4
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I think it has something to do with the generation that we are dealing with today. Their is no loyalty left in this business. Customers (shippers) are using carriers mainly based on price and not on service. It doesnt matter anymore about the great service you have given them in the past. They will choose someone else if it saves them $1 per ton on shipping. Then then they are the first one to complain because the carrier that they hired is not doing a good job. We have just come to the conclusion to stick with our prices and service that has gotten us this far and let the Lord take care of the rest.

Replied on Fri, Mar 21, 2025 at 07:47 AM CST

+ 4

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

I think it has something to do with the generation that we are dealing with today. Their is no loyalty left in this business. Customers (shippers) are using carriers mainly based on price and not on service. It doesnt matter anymore about the great service you have given them in the past. They will choose someone else if it saves them $1 per ton on shipping. Then then they are the first one to complain because the carrier that they hired is not doing a good job. We have just come to the conclusion to stick with our prices and service that has gotten us this far and let the Lord take care of the rest.

Replied on Mon, May 19, 2025 at 09:11 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Absolutely agree with you. Loyalty in this business is getting harder to find, and rates are being driven into the ground by shippers chasing pennies instead of quality service. But here's the thing — if more truckers and small carriers got on the same page, stopped undercutting each other just to stay moving, and refused to haul for rates that don't cover costs, the market would be forced to shift. If even a fraction of us said “no” for a week, shippers would panic to get product moved — and they'd start realizing that service does matter. The problem? Too many companies are willing to run at or below operating cost, just to say they’re staying busy. And those of us trying to run smart, fair businesses get buried in the process. The question is — how do we educate and unify this new wave of carriers that don’t know their own numbers? Because until that happens, we’re stuck in this cycle. But I truly believe if enough of us speak up, set standards, and stick to them — things can change.

Replied on Mon, May 19, 2025 at 09:11 AM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Absolutely agree with you. Loyalty in this business is getting harder to find, and rates are being driven into the ground by shippers chasing pennies instead of quality service.

But here's the thing — if more truckers and small carriers got on the same page, stopped undercutting each other just to stay moving, and refused to haul for rates that don't cover costs, the market would be forced to shift. If even a fraction of us said “no” for a week, shippers would panic to get product moved — and they'd start realizing that service does matter.

The problem? Too many companies are willing to run at or below operating cost, just to say they’re staying busy. And those of us trying to run smart, fair businesses get buried in the process.

The question is — how do we educate and unify this new wave of carriers that don’t know their own numbers? Because until that happens, we’re stuck in this cycle.

But I truly believe if enough of us speak up, set standards, and stick to them — things can change.

Replied on Mon, May 19, 2025 at 09:50 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Absolutely agree with you. Loyalty in this business is getting harder to find, and rates are being driven into the ground by shippers chasing pennies instead of quality service. But here's the thing — if more truckers and small carriers got on the same page, stopped undercutting each other just to stay moving, and refused to haul for rates that don't cover costs, the market would be forced to shift. If even a fraction of us said “no” for a week, shippers would panic to get product moved — and they'd start realizing that service does matter. The problem? Too many companies are willing to run at or below operating cost, just to say they’re staying busy. And those of us trying to run smart, fair businesses get buried in the process. The question is — how do we educate and unify this new wave of carriers that don’t know their own numbers? Because until that happens, we’re stuck in this cycle. But I truly believe if enough of us speak up, set standards, and stick to them — things can change." It's still supply and demand. The last thing you want to do is help your poor competition. You have to wait for them to fail. There is plenty of information out there on how to run a successful business. But that is not the objective of some.

Replied on Mon, May 19, 2025 at 09:50 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "Absolutely agree with you. Loyalty in this business is getting harder to find, and rates are being driven into the ground by shippers chasing pennies instead of quality service. But here's the thing — if more truckers and small carriers got on the same page, stopped undercutting each other just to stay moving, and refused to haul for rates that don't cover costs, the market would be forced to shift. If even a fraction of us said “no” for a week, shippers would panic to get product moved — and they'd start realizing that service does matter. The problem? Too many companies are willing to run at or below operating cost, just to say they’re staying busy. And those of us trying to run smart, fair businesses get buried in the process. The question is — how do we educate and unify this new wave of carriers that don’t know their own numbers? Because until that happens, we’re stuck in this cycle. But I truly believe if enough of us speak up, set standards, and stick to them — things can change."

It's still supply and demand. The last thing you want to do is help your poor competition. You have to wait for them to fail. There is plenty of information out there on how to run a successful business. But that is not the objective of some.

Replied on Wed, May 21, 2025 at 01:46 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Absolutely agree with you. Loyalty in this business is getting harder to find, and rates are being driven into the ground by shippers chasing pennies instead of quality service. But here's the thing — if more truckers and small carriers got on the same page, stopped undercutting each other just to stay moving, and refused to haul for rates that don't cover costs, the market would be forced to shift. If even a fraction of us said “no” for a week, shippers would panic to get product moved — and they'd start realizing that service does matter. The problem? Too many companies are willing to run at or below operating cost, just to say they’re staying busy. And those of us trying to run smart, fair businesses get buried in the process. The question is — how do we educate and unify this new wave of carriers that don’t know their own numbers? Because until that happens, we’re stuck in this cycle. But I truly believe if enough of us speak up, set standards, and stick to them — things can change." We were hauling some loads for a customer. A broker got in and cut the rate we were hauling for and then called to ask if we would haul the loads for a reduced rate. I politely declined and 7 days later got the loads back at a higher rate, as the broker could not get anything moved. I guess you get what you pay for?!

Replied on Wed, May 21, 2025 at 01:46 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

We were hauling some loads for a customer. A broker got in and cut the rate we were hauling for and then called to ask if we would haul the loads for a reduced rate. I politely declined and 7 days later got the loads back at a higher rate, as the broker could not get anything moved. I guess you get what you pay for?!

Replied on Thu, May 22, 2025 at 09:22 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "We were hauling some loads for a customer. A broker got in and cut the rate we were hauling for and then called to ask if we would haul the loads for a reduced rate. I politely declined and 7 days later got the loads back at a higher rate, as the broker could not get anything moved. I guess you get what you pay for?! " That a boy. That's how you do that.

Replied on Thu, May 22, 2025 at 09:22 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "We were hauling some loads for a customer. A broker got in and cut the rate we were hauling for and then called to ask if we would haul the loads for a reduced rate. I politely declined and 7 days later got the loads back at a higher rate, as the broker could not get anything moved. I guess you get what you pay for?! "

That a boy. That's how you do that.

Replied on Thu, May 22, 2025 at 04:40 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I see it everyday from the Brokers i try to work for. I ask about work, and its hours or a couple a days before they answer back. NO or YES is not that hard to type. I can handle " hey i got work but have it covered" better than no reply at all..when your working for the broker and they are texting and calling about the progress of the load, how would they feel if drivers didnt answer or text back? they get pissy real quick!

Replied on Thu, May 22, 2025 at 04:40 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

I see it everyday from the Brokers i try to work for. I ask about work, and its hours or a couple a days before they answer back. NO or YES is not that hard to type. I can handle " hey i got work but have it covered" better than no reply at all..when your working for the broker and they are texting and calling about the progress of the load, how would they feel if drivers didnt answer or text back? they get pissy real quick!

Replied on Thu, Jun 05, 2025 at 09:06 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. No more riding for the brand.its all about the dollar