They'll throw in 20 or 50 bucks sometimes. But when they tell you $1000 and I say I need $2000, 50 bucks ain't gonna git it!


I would DH-ed to Granite City area for some Chicago freight instead of hauling to PA for that rate just to get a tat colored.

It's a two way street dealing with brokers........The thing is you don't know how long he's been holding that load and needs to move it and he doesn't know how hungry you are or how cheap you will run. Not all broker loads are hassles as it sometimes seams.

Like was already said most will throw in an extra $50-$100 on any given load. Knowing what my minimum will be I always figure if they're only $200 away from that there is still a chance, sometimes they don't and then it's click.. You just have to play it cool and listen not only to what they are telling you, sometimes they will let slip that they "really need to get this load covered", but also how they sound. Most brokers have a good poker face but some don't and even then ones that normally do, you can just tell when they really want to get that load covered right away. Don't beat yourself up over taking the $1.94, I used to get excited that they offered my minimum after a long day of wasted calls on cheap loads, and hurredly accepted their rate only to beat myself up over it later. As long as you learn from it no harm done and at least you got your minimum right? Just remember the next time, ALWAYS ask for more. In that situation I would have asked for $200 extra and taken whatever extra he was willing to add.

It's never greed don't ever think like that. This is business - nothing more. You're not out here running a charity. You're out here to make a profit in a very competitive industry.

Thanks everyone. Just for the record, $1.94 wasn't my minimum, it's what I wanted...I may have taken $1.80-$1.85. Next time I'll ask for a bit more cheddar, all they can do is say no right? Live and learn.

One thing I did learn, it's friggin hard getting your own loads and driving at the same time while staying efficient. Sure I can make phone calls while driving, but I can't have the load board up looking at it too, plus writing down information and doing calculations. And I found I have mostly turned into what I despised the most, a solar powered driver as it seems my shippers and receivers only load/unload between 7am and 3pm generally. And my agents and brokers go home at 5pm. Though I get to do some night driving tonight and deliver at 7am then head home for the weekend. So considering all of this I am taking my fiancee under my wing and teaching her, as I learn, about using the loadboard, dealing with agents and brokers, and planning my loads for me. I figure in 6 months she'll be ready haha.