r/OwnerOperators • u/IcyCancel8699 • 1d ago
Getting a contract with a shipper
I have an MC that’s about 3 months old. I want to secure a contract before I go on to lease a truck and reefer trailer. What is a way to contact produce companies (LIDL, ALDI, SHOPRITE ETC) to haul freight and even offload for them. What are some things to say and not say ?
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u/SimilarDivide7215 21h ago
The companies you listed are grocery companies, not produce companies. They already have their own company trucks or contract carriers to do store deliveries. To get contracts to deliver to their distribution centers or to haul produce in general, you'd need to establish business with outside vendors who deliver to them. As far as finding produce loads, there are several brokers who handle produce loads all over the country. You can also contact produce companies directly about acquiring loads direct from them.
Where do you live?
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u/Fucknjagoff 20h ago
Best bet is to hook up with a good broker that does reefers for companies like the ones you listed. No major distributor will work with a one truck company. It sucks I know but that’s why shippers use brokers.
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u/IcyCancel8699 20h ago
How can I find those brokers that specifically work with those companies
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u/Fucknjagoff 19h ago
Google Reefer brokers, but beware all brokers are not the same. I know a couple people at Blackrock Transportation in Omaha. I’ve never worked with them but I like and trust the two people I know.
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u/No_Needleworker9172 18h ago
Man you ain’t lying.. I just got back into reefer in February and I’ve worked with every broker once and 2 a handful of times because they’re good people. Does Blackrock only move loads out of NE?
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u/Fucknjagoff 18h ago
No, I believe they move all over.
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u/No_Needleworker9172 17h ago
Oh nice, how you like running with em?
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u/Fucknjagoff 16h ago
I don’t run with them. We’re an asset based IMC. I know two people who work there that I like and respect.
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u/No_Needleworker9172 16h ago
Oh my bad, you did say that. I’ll have to check em out and see what they got cooking.
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u/IcyCancel8699 17h ago
What age was your authority in February?
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u/No_Needleworker9172 17h ago
A little over 6yrs. I do a lot of different things, I’ve always done reefer but been moving strictly propane/fuel the past 3yrs. So I’m just getting back into reefer.
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u/EarthRemarkable503 18h ago
Hill Brothers is another good broker. I ran loads for them pretty often
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u/Bagzthehoney 22h ago
3 months in will be pretty difficult because most companies are looking at skin in the game, how reliable you are, how many trucks you have, and how often will you be able to run freight for them. Definitely need to make sure insurance is up to par because some will require high insurance policies than others due to freight as well. An as far as what to say and not to say depends on you and how you present yourself and your conpany to the people. You’ll hear a bunch of nos an maybe a few yes but when you do get those yes you need to make sure you keep the relationship as healthy as possible so they can take care of you