http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=73701

http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.cfm?intDocID=26194

http://www.sys-con.com/node/1791848

Call it reserving, conserving, withholding or whatever else you wish, some truckload carriers seem to be hoarding capacity from all but their best customers , and seeing an additional 4 to 7 cents per mile doing so, according to Transport Capital Partners, a trucking consulting firm recently cited in a Journal of Commerce article. Simple supply and demand principles guide this behavior called Firing the Customer. A recent poll by TCP shows nearly 40% of carriers do not plan to add any capacity in the next 12 months. The poll also shows that less than 5% of carriers plan to increase capacity by 16% or more in the next 12 months. Simply, it’s more profitable to raise prices for current capacity than to make additional capital investments. And because of the increasing regulatory oversight, many fleets are actually downsizing.

If you work in the transportation industry you likely know about CSA 2010, a new initiative by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The purpose of CSA 2010 is to increase safety among motor carriers but the immediate results have been devastating to capacity. Take ABC Trucking (fake name, although real life example). When the new carrier scores were made visible to ABC prior to being made public , the ABC fleet was shown to be deficient in four of the five rated categories. ABC could do two things: terminate the lowest scored drivers from the fleet, or go out of business because customers and brokers won’t risk using them anymore. The choice they made? Let go 100 drivers – out of 300!

Unlike the past when an individual driver’s record did not affect his company’s federal carrier scores nor follow him should he relocate to a new company, a motor carrier’s scores are directly related to the drivers in the fleet. Similar to ABC but from a shipper’s perspective, a large national retailer recently began screening and weeding out risky carriers. Naturally, those fleets losing contracts due to poor CSA score find themselves in a precarious position.

There seems to be a perfect storm of rising fuel prices, falling supply of trucks, and increased federal regulation all of which are beginning to have a dramatic impact on truckload prices. Align yourself with the UN-broker and benefit from our strong carrier relationships and our pulse on the marketplace.

WARNING: Names and locations have been changed to protect the innocent and not tattle on the guilty.

From: Forwarder “Bob”
Date: February 28, 2011 3:12:35 PM EST
To: “Doug Reybuck” <doug.reybuck@bouncelogistics.com>, Forwarder “Bob’s Boss”
Cc: “Someone else at forwarder Bobs office” “Lad Johnson” <lad.johnson@bouncelogistics.com>
Subject: RE: Bounce Logistics

Doug

We appreciate you watching out for us… it does not go un noticed

Rgds,

“bob”

Branch Manager

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PH(XXXXXXXX)

Fax(XXXXXXXX)

Cell(XXXXXXXX)

From: Doug Reybuck [mailto:doug.reybuck@bouncelogistics.com]
Sent: Monday, February 28, 2011 2:22 PM
To: Forwarder Sue who works for “Bob”
Cc: Subject: Bounce Logistics

Good afternoon “Sue”.

I just spoke with “Bob” in your office about this and I want to let you know as well.

I just received a call from your customer Ray at “disloyal shippers inc”  inquiring about getting a truck from New York.

I told Ray I could not go direct and would have to work thru you.

Just want you to be sure that we do not ever betray a trust with any of our customers.

Call if you have any questions.

Doug @ Bounce

Doug Reybuck

doug.reybuck@bouncelogistics.com
My Group Email: pod1@bouncelogistics.com

Bounce Logistics, Inc | 5838 W Brick Rd | South Bend, IN 46628
direct: (574) 344-4468 office: (877) 245-6397 fax: (574) 243-1584

When the driver – let’s call him Mike – arrived at the Chicago facility he was asked by the guard for his cell phone number so they could notify him which dock to use, but inside the compound the driver was flagged and pointed to the correct dock. Mike was loaded and the trailer sealed before taking off for Indianapolis.

An hour and a half down the road in Jasper County, Indiana, Mike got a call on his cell phone.

“Mike, this is the shipper. We think we may have loaded your trailer with the wrong freight. We need you to pull over at the truck stop up the road.”

What happened next was a blur: Mike called us and alerted us of the situation. But while we were still on the phone with Mike, the shipper’s internal security team called us and said the truck was being followed. The team had suspected the trailer to be a target for the cartel and decided to keep an eye on it en route to Indianapolis.

When we told the security team about the phone call Mike received telling him to stop, they were ecstatic. They asked if Mike was comfortable playing a role in a sting operation (I think that’s the role of ‘bait’) and after a bit of persuasion and the promise of ample undercover police presence at the truck stop, Mike agreed to help catch the bad guys.

I can’t imagine pulling into the truck stop knowing cargo thieves are about to jump your equipment and maybe you. Like he was told, Mike parked the truck, took the keys, and walked directly into the restaurant. Before he even made it in, the cartel had swarmed his vehicle and smashed his window. That was all the police needed to close in and apprehend the perpetrators.

Thankfully the trailer wasn’t touched and the seal wasn’t broken. It was promptly picked up and driven (straight through, ha!) to our customer.

Do loads get hijacked? Yes, and increasingly so in this economic climate. Who you trust with your freight was never more important than it is now. For your high-value freight (plain ol’ boring freight too), we’ll work with you every step of the way to ensure its quick and safe delivery. And you might help catch some baddies in the process.

So I almost died yesterday making cold calls in St. Joseph, MI.

I drove by an old warehouse with a couple docks and a few cars in the parking lot. Business, I thought.

When I approached the front door it was propped open by one of those lounge chairs from a doctor’s office. After climbing over it to get inside, I arrive in the light-less lobby standing in a puddle of water. At this point my heart is racing. Get out, I told myself.

In front of me, to my right, and to my left were three hallways. Left hallway was pitch black — passed on that one. Straight in front presumably led to the factory area. May have been the best option.

Right hallway was Catch-22. There are two offices halfway down the hall that have lights on, yet this is the hallway most reminiscent of the Psycho hallway. You know what I’m talking about.

Against all better judgment, I picked the right hallway. Step by step I approached the first office and peered my head around. A lady was sitting at a desk and jumped when she saw my big blond hair coming around the doorjam. (Combing my hair might have helped).

Right after I startled her, I heard a low bark and a deep growl. Next thing I know, a 60-pound pit bull mutt is lurching across the office in the midst of the office lady screaming and me thinking that this is the Death of a Salesman.

Fortunately Angie the dog was nicer than expected and lapped up the puddle on the floor beneath me.

Kidding.

But I did think I was gonna die or suffer major arterial lacerations.

And at least I got a contact out of the whole situation.

Here we are–four months later. Although my life hasn’t changed much since graduation, my daily responsibilities have changed dramatically. At times this industry can be extremely stressful, but it reaps the rewards; and I’m not talking financially. The relationships you build with your carriers and customers are indescribable.

Ever think it’s possible to have a customer from across the country,  not to mention that you’ve never met, that you can undoubtedly call  a great friend?

In this industry, that isn’t unheard of. We spend an abundant amount of time on the phone, emailing and interacting with these people throughout each and every day.

Each day presents new challenges and no matter what side of the fence you are on, you’re all in it together. The occasional funny email or story about their weekend really helps you better relate to them and makes work that much more enjoyable.

It’s these relationships that truly make this job exciting, interesting and fun all at the same time! :)

Watch our new video on You Tube!

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/South-Bend-IN/Bounce-Logistics/358817424409?ref=ts

Despite the frustrations that come with working in freight, it is rewarding to see it all work out. In a time of crisis, due to the oil spill in The Gulf of Mexico, I have found a way to contribute to the relief effort.

I was given the opportunity to try and cover two truckloads of materials used for the cleanup from Canada to Louisiana. That day I made it my priority to help this customer out. Although I wasn’t down there physically helping with the cleanup, my efforts in the office and determination to get these trucks down there really put a smile on my face.

I have found this job to be more self-fulfilling than I ever anticipated. Nothing makes me happier than being able to not only help our customers cover their freight, but to cover freight that has the potential to change the world.

In addition to helping this customer, last week I was given the opportunity to look for a Reefer truck for an ICU medical company out of San Diego. The customer was struggling to find anyone to cover it and I was determined to help her.

Needless to say, I did. She was more than grateful for my efforts. Yesterday she emailed me and said, “Thanks!!! I appreciate your help!!  You saved the day!!” :)

Follow my blogs to see what’s next!