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How Bad is the Freight Market now for Brokers?

Discussion in 'Freight Broker Forum' started by KnightMare84, Apr 28, 2020.

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  1. Apr 28, 2020 #1
    KnightMare84

    KnightMare84 Bobtail Member

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    Hey Guys,

    I'm a new broker agent and started about 4 weeks ago. I've got some traction but am wanting to know how bad the market is in your perspectives for brokers. I don't let myself get into that mindset that some outside force is to blame as its a very slipper slope but wanting to know how you guys see it now.

    I've had much more luck with flatbed loads from smaller companies such as machinery dealers and small manufacturers. NO luck at all with traffic or transportation managers at the big companies. '

    Biggest issues for me have been learning each load and how to quote it depending on overweight dimensions and trailer types. Also the big companies saying they're not taking new carriers/brokers due to market conditions but that's not big deal as there are way more smaller companies out there anyways.

    Thanks for your input guys!
     
    KnightMare84, Apr 28, 2020
    KnightMare84, Apr 28, 2020
    #1
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  3. Apr 28, 2020 #2
    BackwoodsGA

    BackwoodsGA Road Train Member

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    Elgin Nd
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    Depends on what they're booking.
     
    BackwoodsGA, Apr 28, 2020
    BackwoodsGA, Apr 28, 2020
    #2
    KnightMare84 Thanks this.
  4. Apr 29, 2020 #3
    PPLC

    PPLC Road Train Member

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    Let's just say that I'm really happy I've been doing this a while and I have a well established customer base.
     
    PPLC, Apr 29, 2020
    PPLC, Apr 29, 2020
    #3
    SteveScott, KnightMare84 and FoolsErrand Thank this.
  5. Apr 29, 2020 #4
    Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

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    There is this thing called CoronaVirus that has the entire country shut down. Nobody is doing anything.

    Your post seems fake to me.
     
    Midwest Trucker, Apr 29, 2020
    Midwest Trucker, Apr 29, 2020
    #4
    Snailexpress, x1Heavy and tommymonza Thank this.
  7. Apr 29, 2020 #5
    KnightMare84

    KnightMare84 Bobtail Member

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    Fake in what way? I'm confused. And the whole country is not shut down. We're even opening restaurants back up in Texas starting Friday. Huge segments of the economy are still running as they otherwise would. The stock market is roaring back to towards its peak.
     
    KnightMare84, Apr 29, 2020
    KnightMare84, Apr 29, 2020
    #5
  8. Apr 29, 2020 #6
    REO6205

    REO6205 Road Train Member

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    Feb 15, 2014
    California.
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    Same here. Without our long term customers we wouldn't be here.
    Word of caution though and I'm sure you already know this but the ankle biters are out there scheming to get your customers.
    I had lunch with the traffic manager at one of our customers today and he was telling me about some of the calls he's been getting. Some of the companies and brokers are panic stricken.
    LOL...as a rough rule of thumb he automatically hangs up on the ones with accents or from out of state.
    It's not a huge account but it brings in almost 25% of our gross and we've had it for over thirty years.
    And yeah, I bought lunch.
     
    REO6205, Apr 29, 2020
    REO6205, Apr 29, 2020
    #6
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  9. Apr 29, 2020 #7
    PPLC

    PPLC Road Train Member

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    Yep. I'm hearing it on my end too. Harder for me to buy folks lunch, but I keep on doing things like remembering wives', kids', pets', etc names.
     
    PPLC, Apr 29, 2020
    PPLC, Apr 29, 2020
    #7
    SteveScott and FoolsErrand Thank this.
  10. May 4, 2020 #8
    Western flyer

    Western flyer Road Train Member

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    If 25 percent of your gross is not a huge account,
    Then you must only have 2 or 3 more customers.
    That would be a big loss.
    You should have paid for lunch and left the tip.
    By the way, where'd you find a place to sit down
    And have lunch.
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2020
    Western flyer, May 4, 2020
    Western flyer, May 4, 2020
    #8
  11. May 4, 2020 #9
    radioshark

    radioshark Road Train Member

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    I had sit down lunch Friday and Saturday in Jamestown ND
     
    radioshark, May 4, 2020
    radioshark, May 4, 2020
    #9
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  12. May 4, 2020 #10
    REO6205

    REO6205 Road Train Member

    13,168
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    California.
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    By "not a huge account" I meant compared to some of the big-dollar outfits that the megas work for. We do alright but our company has had over thirty years to come up with a plan that works.
    LOL...I don't think that Swift has to worry about us stealing the Campbells Soup contract out from under them. We're small and we've stayed small and trimmed away the excess to where we can survive times like these with a minimum of worry to us and the employees.
    Sit down lunch? Elk's Club.
     
    REO6205, May 4, 2020
    REO6205, May 4, 2020
    #10
    Cohiba, bzinger, PPLC and 2 others Thank this.
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