Owner-operators: would you actually use a platform that cuts out the broker for industrial loads?
Hey all, not selling anything here.
Genuinely trying to validate an idea before building it, and figured this sub would have the most honest answers.
I keep hearing the same complaint from independent truckers: brokers taking 15-35% commission, little communication, no direct relationship with the shipper.
I’m exploring a platform that would connect owner-operators directly with companies that need industrial equipment hauled (flatbed, lowboy, oversized loads), cutting the broker out and dropping the cut to around 10-12%.
A few honest questions for anyone who’s been in the industry:
Does the broker commission complaint actually match what you deal with day to day, or am I overestimating the pain point?
Would a lower commission actually change your decision to use a platform ?
What would make you NOT trust a new platform like this (payment speed, no track record, etc.)?
Anything obvious I’m missing about how loads get assigned/insured/no-show handled that a broker normally deals with?
For context, I’m an engineer working as a project manager and on my end I deal with the other side of this problem constantly, lack of transparency from transport companies, no real-time visibility on shipments, having to go through a broker for basic info instead of talking directly to the carrier. That frustration is really what pushed me to think a direct platform could fix things for both sides.
Appreciate any blunt feedback, good or bad. Trying to figure out if this solves a real problem or if I’m missing something obvious from the actual driver’s side.