Real life example of Load Boards and rates.

To you and many other drivers, I'm sure it is fantasy because you never make offers like I do.

Most drivers I imagine call 1-5 brokers and then take whichever load pays best. I usually call anywhere from 20-40 different brokers, which might take a hour or two extra, and find much better paying loads and then tell them my offer. No point in rushing to get a load and keep moving, when I can work smarter, drive less, and get paid more.

Many drivers get comfortable with a select few brokers and stay with them.

Most driver's don't have the balls to make these crazy offers to the brokers, for fear of offending them. Mines are about the size of small cantelopes.

Work smarter, not harder, and don't get comfy with your brokers.

It only takes a few minutes to call a broker and ask about a load and what it pays, and make your offer. Offend them with yours, and they'll come back with the highest rate they can usually go. Don't be shy and don't be scared, the worst they can say is no.

 

You say no broker ever pays double their initial offer but I book loads like that or even more a lot. I have an email exchange where I did it this past Thursday as proof and glad to forward it to you. Normally it's a phone conversation. In the right areas it can be done. Do people hang up on me, scream, cry, cuss? Yes. Don't tell people it doesn't happen. Happens every day. Does it happen 365 days a year to me, no.

 

I called on loads out of Chicago the other day. 650 mile load. Should pay at least $1500 no matter where it's going. Called on this same load 3 times and spoke to 3 different people. One offered $1000, another $1150 and then $1400. All in opposite chronological order. I told them $1800 all 3 times. The $1400 offer claimed that's what they had in it. I wouldn't doubt that that was true. But I saw loads moving to that area for $1600-1900.

I ended up getting $2000 on a similar load to a similar market on 610 miles. From a different broker. But each time I was not afraid to name my rate, especially in a market like Chicagoland.

If the customer needs it moved, the price will go up. Not everything needs to move today. Brokers don't always have the money in it. Not until the customer needs it moved.

 

Sounds like some of you need to get your expectations up? I've got a few loads like these guys are talking about. Not all of them, but regularly get %50 more than the poasted rates early in the day. I don't get in a hurry to get a load. I make enough that if I don't get something decent booked I'll sit no problem.

Doesent seem to ever happen though. I'm usually booked a day in advance.

 

The confusion is when the market is low, in January- May and people are often talking about rates they were getting like in this current period. Setting it as a benchmark. So you don't know what they are talking about when they say that they would not got from Chicago - Columbus, OH for less than $850. You still have to take what they give you, otherwise you won't move at all. I mean, I wish I could make enough dough now and sit first quarter idle saying to brokers "Don't insult me!" but as good as it is now, it is not that good.

 

You do have to adjust. Sometimes I don't get what I WANT to get somewhere I want to go. I have to make a choice and I usually take it. Now when I'm in my home market I won't leave till I get what I WANT!!!!

My minimum is so far below curent market conditions I'm not even worried about it right now. I know my rate averages every load, week, month, quarter and year since I started. Every deadhead mile is accounted for too. Now the goal is to beat last week. Sometimes rate per mile, sometimes gross money and sometimes net revenues.

 

On Tuesday CHR called asking me if I was at home. Had a load from fruit land,ID to Yakima, WA 300 miles he was like I'm paying crazy money then he said $2400. I'm pretty sure if I was home I could have gotten a couple hundred more out of him easily.

 

You probably could have gotten a lot more than $200 extra. I agree that $2,400 on 300 miles is solid but I can promise you if someone calls me up offering that I will tell them a $3,400 or nothing simply because I already know those pockets are deep and they are desperate. The way I see it I have nothing to lose and an extra $1,000 or whatever to gain. Sometimes they come up a few hundred and if you press them again they will cave the full amount. Sometimes you make them mad and you don't get it. So what.... ....they're not the first one to offer up such and they won't be the last one either.

 

I've been off duty for the last 3 weeks,and Chicago market is crazy hot.
Posted my truck on friday afernoon and forgot to take it of the post.
7pm chr called asking for a truck. Guy had 3 loads,going to tx,ny and nc.
I asked about tx load,it's picking up saturday morning,delivering monday in dallas,less than 25klbs.
Quoted him $4000 and got it an hour later.