Shipper-direct freight and managing customer relationships are the bread and butter for all-owner-operator (including himself) 9-truck B.L. Reever Transport owner Monte Wiederhold's business. Wiederhold’s based in Southwest Ohio, hauling out of a variety of manufacturers in the area, utilizing brokers on occasion. Here he stresses the value of communication throughout all participants in the fleet to customers as a core service to avoid getting "beat up" on freight by those who would undercut you. Hear a past podcast with Wiederhold on the subject of ELDs and a potential rates effect via this link: http://www.overdriveonline.com/podcast-cold-water-on-the-eld-mandates-potential-rates-impacts/