Finally got my own truck

What has four eyes but can't see?

So I emptied in Atlanta this morning.

Lots of loads and lots of calls! I posted my truck and posted NC SC GA AL MS TN and Minimum Rate $950. Got calls almost left and right. So after we discussed details they either asked "what would you need for this?" Or they just told me their rate. On both instances I kindly pointed out that my minimum rate was listed in my comments section. "Oh...I didn't see that...But now I do....Well thanks anyways..." click.

One load I even went so far as to book it to the point where she was going to send carrier packet. And during a lull in the Convo, I asked "So... You can agree on my posted rate, right?"

"Ummm..."
"$900" and at this point I lowered my rate a little.
"I only have $500 in it!"
"Oh...Well I can't help you then today...Sorry!"

Story of the day. Lots of loads, lots of trucks, must have taken 30 or 40 calls over a 3 hour period, and made about 20 myself.

Ended up taking a TQL load that they had posted 17 ways to Sunday. 72 empty, 332 loaded, to MS for $825. Took me 2 hours to get this load. They posted it, I called, only wanted to pay $700, then they called on my truck later on, asked me $750, then the load disappeared for about 45 mins. Then it popped back up. So I called again. They had a whole group working on covering this load. Calling everyone in a 100 mile radius. I guess I ended up being the sucker. I said look, I've called on this twice and you still need a truck. I can do it for $850 no less. They went up to $800, I said look, meet me at $825, man. And they did. I REALLY wanted to twist their arm so badly on this one knowing it was already well after lunch, but I knew they had resources, the manpower, to cover this in time for their rate or close to it. So they win but at the same time it wasn't that bad. I told tons of people $1000 today. Trying to put some upward pressure on these rates. Got a lot of $400-$500 quotes. Had one guy with a load to Nashville wanting to know how it costs me $800 a day to operate. I'm not a local company, I don't have piece of #### equipment and I pay myself better than a local driver, and my service is of considerably higher quality.

Oh well. Best day I've had on the phone really getting my ears wet with these clowns. Most all of them were polite. Landstar never called me, though, and I didn't bother calling them either. I had fun today doing it. Little frustrating, because there's always that chance that I'll leave myself out in the cold. And then I sometimes feel my boss breathing down my neck wanting me to book but I rejected the 3 that he found for me. Our dispatcher was on vacation for couple days so he was alone trying to book 5 trucks.

Anyways, I'm at $3175 for the week on 1500 all miles. Think I might try for St Louis tomorrow from MS then to FL from there.

@rollin coal likes to talk about load volume. There were like over 1200 listings within 100 mile radius at its highest point. But there were probably a lot of trucks, too. High volume highish capacity keeping rates from breaking the ceiling. It will get there, just not today.

 

Well IF the Convo gets to the point where we agree on a rate, and this did happen twice today, I ask for their MC and I msg it to my boss and he will respond with a yes or no within seconds. He's very good for that and he's also very quick at sending rate cons back within a minute. So it makes it easier. Had to reject two verbal agreements today because our factoring company doesn't approve them. But you have to do that. Or you risk not getting paid. And my boss made it clear to me that I can book with a disapproved broker, but I would have to wait until they pay us directly until I got paid for it. IF they paid. I have no problem with this policy.