\t\t\t\tUber has certainly disrupted the taxi industry. \u00a0eBay and Alibaba, and Amzon have certainly disrupted the on line retail business and sites like Airbnb have certainly disrupted the room for rent industries.\u00a0 The question I often hear is that will an industry \u201cdisruptor\u201d emerge offering some sort of online shipper-driver matching service that completely changes the whole industry?\u00a0 I think not!<\/p>\n
There are a lot of load matching services out there.\u00a0 Many are free, some are pay for service and if anybody has watched \u201cShipping Wars\u201d \u00a0on TV it\u2019s pretty obvious that the technology already exists to get truck drivers bidding against each other for freight.\u00a0 While there is a market for this type of shipment, it\u2019s not really changing the whole industry.\u00a0 It\u2019s mainly small or one time shippers getting bids from freelance truckers.\u00a0 It\u2019s too much hassle for a regular shipper to bid out each and every shipment and qualify each and every freelance trucker.\u00a0 It\u2019s just not going to happen.\u00a0 Plus, regular shippers are generally looking for a trucking or logistics \u201cservice\u201d as opposed to just a single shipment.<\/p>\n
Unlike the comparison to a taxi driver at Uber, a truck driver is rarely a lone wolf.\u00a0 He\u2019s supported by a dispatch department that helps him coordinate pick-ups and deliveries so that he can do what he\u2019s paid for….to drive.\u00a0 A driver is also supported by a maintenance department, a safety and training department, not to mention the financial strength of an entire company to fund his endeavors.\u00a0 Plus, there are customs experts to help him get his paperwork right and off to the border.<\/p>\n
While a fender bender in an automobile is still a terrible thing, any minor accident by a truck can result in serious consequences.\u00a0 Not only does the size and speed of a truck come into play, but the cargo it\u2019s carrying could be dangerous or environmentally hazardous if spilled.\u00a0 The risk is just too great for any responsible company to bid out shipment by shipment to anyone who will take it for the lowest price.\u00a0 There is huge corporate liability here.\u00a0 Any company serious about doing their due diligence in carrier selection will want to do business with a carrier who is providing a transportation service rather than an individual driver.<\/p>\n
Anyone who\u2019s ever tried to get a shipment on a truck knows that sometimes it\u2019s easy and other times, it\u2019s near impossible!\u00a0 Different areas of the country and different laneways experience different levels of supply and demand all year long.\u00a0 The only<\/u> leverage you have during peak seasons is the regular freight and business relationship that you have with trucking companies to find a way to get a truck to your pick up with capacity to move it.\u00a0\u00a0 If you were to rely solely on the open market and a bidding system, with one off loads, your costs and service would go haywire with the ups and downs of the seasonal markets.\u00a0 It just wouldn\u2019t be a viable year round transportation plan that would work.<\/p>\nCapital Investment<\/h3>\n
Unlike Uber where pretty much anyone has a car and a driver\u2019s license, tucking is a very capital intensive industry.\u00a0 A single truck and trailer could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, not to mention the required training and investment in driver training that is required.\u00a0 An Uber-like trucking service is going to have difficulty attracting drivers willing to invest in their own equipment \u00a0in an industry that\u2019s already short on drivers.\u00a0 Plus, where the goal is to get drivers to bid against each other to lower the cost, it\u2019s unlikely that the industry would attract new drivers to meet the demand of the industry.<\/p>\n
XTL with their strong team of experience drivers, logistics personnel and first class, fleet have been providing a remarkable transportation service for over 30 years, and we will continue to do so!\u00a0 If you would like a free transportation review of your current transportation plan; contact XTL today for a free consultation and transportation review.\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Uber has certainly disrupted the taxi industry. \u00a0eBay and Alibaba, and Amzon have certainly disrupted the on line retail business and sites like Airbnb have certainly disrupted the room for rent industries.\u00a0 The question I often hear is that will an industry \u201cdisruptor\u201d emerge offering some sort of online shipper-driver matching service that completely changes the whole industry?\u00a0 I think not! Here are many reasons why I think it will be unlikely that an \u201cUber-Like\u201d web application will change the … <\/p>\n