Comments By Anton

Would any of you write reviews for such project? If yes, why? If no, again, why?

I don't put a whole lot into Yelp. I think it's a false analogy to use Yelp, a place to visit for a meal, and your product, apparently a tool to use for a driver to base a decision on whether or not to take a load (if they even have that option w/ their company) in order to make some money. To me, the ability to choose whether or not to take a load, is definitely something that could make your idea "nonsense," as you put it.

Maybe you can sell your idea to O/O. Best of luck.

I would think that if you knew that a certain shipper/receiver had a reputation of delays, it would help in because you could factor the delay in your pre-plans, and since you expected it then you wouldn't be so impatient/frustrated. Just a thought!!!

Yes, thank you Serah, great thought! Less unknown, less stress, better planning.

Sorry Anton, you caught me on a day when I'm feeling a bit ornery and argumentative. I honestly don't see the business magic in your idea, at least in how you first presented it and then argued for it, but what does that matter? It's your idea.

I appreciate your thoughts, 6 string rhythm. I am here to present idea and listen to any feedback I can get. By arguing I am trying to explain idea from other angle and see if it makes sense to you.

I don't put a whole lot into Yelp. I think it's a false analogy to use Yelp, a place to visit for a meal, and your product, apparently a tool to use for a driver to base a decision on whether or not to take a load (if they even have that option w/ their company) in order to make some money. To me, the ability to choose whether or not to take a load, is definitely something that could make your idea "nonsense," as you put it.

Maybe you can sell your idea to O/O. Best of luck.

Thank you

In this case of this site - it is pretty much dedicated to "new entrants" in the industry.

1 - Would be interesting to see a product like this - but…

2 - 99.9% of site users here are "company drivers" running "forced dispatch". Highly unlikely that a driver could (or would) tell their DM/FM that they refuse the load, because the shipper/receiver sucks.

3 - See #1

It is a common problem in the industry, that drivers are the "low man on the totem pole". While wait times, etc., have been looked at and commented on, at the regulatory level - I doubt that anything is going to change to our (the drivers) benefit.

Rick

Thank you, Rick. What do you by "but..."?

I wasn't trying too be a "downer" on your project.

Was just venturing a few observations based on:

This post/topic was your first on the board. My take on it was as either soliciting suggestions (a good thing), or marketing.

My response to you was based on the fact that - a compilation of shipper/receiver data is an interesting proposition. I won't debate the viability of data/storage capabilities raised by you elsewhere in the thread (being in IT myself), but…

(lol)

1 - A "full guide" based on whose input for data? As many of us observe on other boards - user input can be "somewhat biased". A daunting task to say the least - to assemble accurate and current info for every shipper/receiver in the country. Again, wasn't trying to be a "bummer" on your project, just that much if this info is provided by the carrier.

2 - Again, by my original comment - company drivers (which are what you are going to find on this board) are typically "forced dispatch" - so the premise of question #2 in your original post - is of no consequence. I know of some horrible places in my area to be dispatched to - but as a company driver, if I'm sent there - I GO - whether I want to, or not.

I'm not trying to argue or debate this with you - you asked for opinions - I expressed mine.

Rick

I started this thread with only one thought - ask for opinions, get opinions, think about them and use them to make this world a little bit better. I don't believe in the marketing you suggested I might be doing - very little help from it. It is just not worth it. I believe in good quality of product, which is the best marketing possible.

Full guide. What I mean by that is that when you get to such database, you will find: directions to difficult locations (where gps is of no help), information about location (in case they have specific procedure to follow - step A,B,C - in order to make loading/unloading smooth and leave no space for stress neither for driver nor for staff at location), contact information (in case you are late and want to arrange agreement on this issue) etc. Input of such sensitive data is made internally by the project's staff. This is where I have to make sure project provides correct information. Reviews, of course, are to be written by drivers. This way it will show clearly how come there is room for inefficiency in shipper/receiver-driver relationship.

Company drivers. I see a problem in what you say, and possibility at the same time. You know horrible places, and you forced to go. This is not how it supposed to be. There should be a choice, there should be smart choice (why would someone want to go to horrible place? do they pay 10x more than others?). Based on reviews, company dispatchers can make choices. What if we talk about small carrier companies, who actually care where to send their drivers? They can't possibly keep all the opinions of their drivers in their heads - there might be some help to have one central source of knowledge based on reviews. There is even a chance for shipper/receiver to learn more about its own business based on general picture from truck drivers point of view. And decide to fix if there is anything wrong.

Rick, I am very glad you keep this conversation alive. And I am thankful for all remarks you made - this is the only way for me to make sure I do smth worth doing. Let me know if there anything you can think of to doubt what I have mentioned above.

Even if you can get such a thing together, I would have to be wary of the accuracy. I will give a couple of reasons:

1. Company A has a contract with shipper B. How is C going to find the details needed for such a database? My experience at the shipper may be completely different from yours based on several criteria. Who pays detention, lumpers, loads expedited?... and so on.

2. OPSEC. Sure would be convenient for a bad actor if he had access to this info.

I`m not trying to throw a wrench into your idea machine, but, there are a ton of things to consider.

My thoughts as well. Besides wondering how and from where such data could be pulled, what about the objectivity of it? Is that even possible since it will be based off subjective experiences? And then there's the question on whether it is even a good business idea. Who are you selling this to? Company drivers that are forced dispatched? Would a driver really consider turning a load down because of another driver's experience? Would ANY driver consider turning down a load because of another driver's experience?

So yes, Anton, based on what you've said, I think it sounds like not only a HUGE undertaking, but a service that might not be in high demand. But I admire your desire to better the trucking industry, even if for profit - nothing wrong w/ making a living while making a positive impact. Good luck!

Let's consider Yelp as an example. It is completely on subjective experiences. Why so many people decide on which place to visit based on what other people have to say? We all know, that we all have different tastes - so why would I care about someone writing bad things about the way meat is cooked at this place unless I try by myself?

Now about Business idea. If product/service is helpful, it means that there is adequate business idea behind that product/service. When I asked whether such resource (with directions, guidelines, reviews etc) makes sense for you all here, I was trying to understand whether you would be using it when it exists. You haven't said anything that makes that idea nonsense yet - so I assume in case it is here on the market, you are going to use it. How to make money out of it - that is another question, and I don't want to discuss that here. There are so many ways to make money on smth that has value to people.

About turning down a load. What if we talk here not about drivers who have no control over there load choices, but about owner operators and dispatchers, who actually think before they choose any load? Would you say it makes sense for them to turn down a load that will most likely let their truck wait for 20 hours instead of being on the road and making money? Think about that for a second.

Thank you all for participating in this conversation. I actually have that project started, but I'm not sure whether I can share the link here with you. Am I going to be banned for doing so? That wouldn't be advertising, I just want to make sure I do something that you guys will use for your benefit.

Anton,

May I suggest you speak directly to Brett Aquila. He's the owner of this site. Scroll down to his photo on this page and click on the blue box that says "read more." You can communicate directly with him about your project. Your ideas sound very helpful and maybe there would be a way for you to gather information from truckers who go to a delivery or drop site and write reviews or fill out a survey that describse a terminal or drop-off, where they've just been, giving advice about that area to other future drivers going there so they could then pull that up and read about it before they go.

For the most part, this website is for truckers advising/supporting other truckers but your vision may provide a very useful tool and maybe there would be a way to integrate what you have to offer into what we're doing here.

Talk to Brett.

Thanks, -mountain girl

Thank you, mountain girl, I will definitely talk to Brett.

Would any of you participate in such project by writing reviews about shippers/receivers you are going to? Creating smth like Yelp, but for trucking industry?

How would this individual even begin to compile such an enormous amount of data? How many shippers and receivers exist nationwide? The whole idea seems preposterous. But Rick S. makes some very practical points. This forum is probably not the ideal audience, it being a site mostly for rookies.

Why would you say that this idea is preposterous? Because it is bad idea or because you can't imagine this kind of data storage to exist?

In this case of this site - it is pretty much dedicated to "new entrants" in the industry.

1 - Would be interesting to see a product like this - but…

2 - 99.9% of site users here are "company drivers" running "forced dispatch". Highly unlikely that a driver could (or would) tell their DM/FM that they refuse the load, because the shipper/receiver sucks.

3 - See #1

It is a common problem in the industry, that drivers are the "low man on the totem pole". While wait times, etc., have been looked at and commented on, at the regulatory level - I doubt that anything is going to change to our (the drivers) benefit.

Rick

Thank you, Rick. What do you by "but..."?