Spot market volumes bounce back to pre-Thanksgiving volume, and then some

Discussion in 'Freight Broker Forum' started by Scooter Jones, Dec 8, 2020.

  1. Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    I loaded out of Toledo area Wednesday with a nice rate. Tried booking loads out of there on Monday and Tuesday with no luck. Ended up booking right after getting empty Wednesday morning.
     
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  3. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    Kind of what I'm anticipating, guess we'll see... I could pre-book the entire week next week right now on a solid profit both from and back to the house Friday afternoon with a pretty easy schedule. Right now I just have Monday's trip in the bag and waiting to see if I can get better rates on those other followup loads on Monday. Monday seems to always be brokers' "panic day" if there's a slight surge in available freight which makes it easier for me to pre-book the rest of the week at where I want that to be.
     
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  4. 86scotty

    86scotty Road Train Member

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    Appalachia
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    I'm not brave enough to pre book an entire week, unless it's one long out and back. It just never works out for me. Even a short day in the middle and something goes wrong and gets me behind.
     
  5. DUNE-T

    DUNE-T Road Train Member

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    Detroit, MI
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    Same here. Your rating in the broker's system goes down with cancelations
     
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  6. rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    I pre-book just about every week typically 4 to 6 loads. It's really easy to do with a reefer because the same customers are ordering the same loads all the time and you get familiar with the different DC's everywhere. You just have to allow plenty of time between loads. It's never been an issue if something happened to a load and I had to give one or more back or if a load cancels. That rarely happens but brokers don't hold that stuff against you. Normally every load comes from the same broker anyway so he knows I'm not full of **** making up some BS story just to get a better load or some such. That helps I'm sure as does 100% on time pickups and deliveries for a few years now.
     
    Last edited: Dec 12, 2020
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  7. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    I did a load for a new broker a few weeks ago.

    I took the load to the address on the rate con but it had to go to a different location.

    It had to go about 30 miles farther on a 70-mile load. I myself chose to take it there without demanding they give me a new rate con. I did that for a lot of reasons but it was late and I was tired and I really just wanted to go home. I figured if I did the broker a favor I could go home and he would be at least thankful for that.

    And it was a hot load that really needed to get to the receiver.

    Well we get talking and he was not thankful at all. Not even a little bit.

    Finally I said to him, you do realize I did you a favor. I could have sat on that load Forever Until you sent me a new rate con. And most carriers would have done exactly that. The agreement was to the address on the rate con and I certainly am fair to ask for additional compensation, which I did not. I got the load to your customer and you are not going to have a problem now.

    His reply was, I don't care. I'm paying you so who cares if you went further out of your way.

    With that, I told him he is going to go down in the broker Hall of Shame and immediately put him on my do-not-use list.

    I think carriers really just want to see that you are fair with them and that you work with them in a reasonable way.

    That just develops trust and respect.

    That is the best advice I have on the subject ;)
     
  8. 86scotty

    86scotty Road Train Member

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    Aug 27, 2017
    Appalachia
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    Who was this? Dude sounds like a jerk.
     
  9. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    Dec 8, 2017
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    I may have to check with the moderators just to make sure it's okay to say it? Or I could p.m. you I guess?

    But yes the guy was a total douche.

    Of all the brokers I've dealt with thus far he is positively the most arrogant and ignorant.

    And you know the funniest thing is that if he just would have said thank you. If he would just have said thank you I really appreciate it. I'll try to do something for you on the next load, whatever. Just a sincere thank you would have been enough.

    But that attitude. He actually said to me, "I think we're paying you enough you can go out of your way".

    Screw that guy .
     
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  10. PPDCT

    PPDCT Road Train Member

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    St. Paul, MN
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    Man, literally the first thing I would've asked you after I found out you had to bounce was, "Hey, how much more do you need for that?" As you said, you're doing me a solid as a broker by moving out anyway. A redelivery fee is a reasonable ask, as is some coin for the extra miles and time.
     
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  11. SteveScott

    SteveScott Road Train Member

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    That's what separates the great brokers from the crappy brokers, and why you'll always be successful in this business.
     
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