What is wrong with some people?!?!

Last spring, was talking to someone at Trinity, said they needed 20% minimum otherwise it had to get a special ok to get below that.

 

My family owned the largest independent trucking company in the state when I was younger, they still operate but at a very small level but have a specialized manufacture they haul. I would never swear that every broker receives that percentage but can assure you the old ones with large hands still get a great big slice of the pie.

One principle brokerage outfit in Florida most people never heard of receives 26-29% off the top and they double broker everything.

 

I'm not saying some don't but I find it hard to believe a majority of brokers are pulling 30% on loads. Freight is just too competitive. As much as we fight for every penny we get it's no different with the brokers fighting for every penny they can get securing loads. Just as there are trucks always willing to haul it for less and push prices down there are brokers willing to do the same. When I heard about some brokers bidding a $1.40 a mile to cover loads out of Texas one time I just shake my head, do they really cover loads so cheaply that they make money off that? I sure would not want to try covering a load like that...

 

Again, some of this may just be supposition. We don't know for sure many of the times.

But when a buddy refused a load cause he was already delayed 6hrs (no detention pay) and he asked for X dollars, the broker said no way.
So he told them to take the load off the truck.

The shipper was peeved and told the driver how much they were paying and that they HAD to have the load shipped that day.
At that point, we knew what the broker was making since we knew what the load paid and what was being billed.
It was disgusting....

Ultimately, the requested amt was kinda paid but only about 80% of it. (asked for an additonal $1k but was given $800).

 

I know, I'm not saying they don't and I know some of these brokers make close to 40 or 50% depending on circumstances.. I had one offer me a load at $700 several months ago, which I politely turned down, only to secure it and start doing it regularly for $1200 at a later date... But for every load like that or the one your buddy hauled there are loads where the brokers bids freight down too.. You look at what LS_OZR was asking about rates on certain lanes in another post, I posted up what it would take for me and others did with similare numbers, then guys from that area said those were crazy high numbers for some of those markets.. So I don;t envy him trying to secure those contracts... ...but maybe he knows more about those lanes than us and will get the bids making off like a bandit, just wants a feel for where drivers at at..... I dunno...

 

I haul a reefer, and I just got $1700 on a 270mi load today (late pick-up, broker was desperate to get it covered).

Some keys: never look for freight on days whenever everyone else is looking for freight (Mondays, after major holidays, etc). Too many trucks for the freight moving. Also, as you do, egg them up a bit. I got $200 more out of it than was first offered. The big thing for me, just don't haul it. I go through 20-30 calls sometimes before I snare the big fish. Some days I'm empty handed. The best freight rates are at the end of the day when the 'once cheap freight' suddenly is still sitting on a dock and the broker gets anxious to move it.

Just like big companies take a loss to move equipment around with below-cost freight, brokers will pay more for a load today to ensure they keep their customer happy for future loads. No broker wants to tell them "Hey, we couldn't get a truck today on our rate, it'll just have to ship tomorrow".

 

Good score! That's pretty much how I work it. Covering a load right now another carrier fell off of. Was sitting at the house not really looking to work for til Sunday night. Now I've got this and 2 more loads after it in the bag and should be home Saturday morning. This one is not too shabby for what it is, time of year dry van, $1000 on 328 loaded. I have a feeling those loads LS_OZR is talking about would NEVER pay $1700 on 270 probably just general freight that always moves for typical rates. They MIGHT move for $1000 on 325 in a pinch, but I seriously doubt it even though he probably could pay that much now and then... With typical freight some brokers have no problem at all calling the customer and saying "hey, lets bump this one out another day or so" customer is like "ok, no big deal they've got the inventory".... ....whatever it takes to keep the costs down....