Need tips to negotiate rates. New Authority,

I was there one day and TQL was indeed the first load I ran. Just FYI, fuel surcharge is mostly a forgotten term in OTR these days, at least as far as load boards freight. The rate you see on loads and the rate you are given by brokers when you call them is an all in rate. It includes any fuel surcharge.

Of the 100 or so brokers I've used maybe 2 actually send me a rate con with fuel surcharge separated from the rate. TQL is not one of them.

 

Yep, OP where are you based?

 

One thing about TQL, is they will start to call you more and more often, as you work with more of their brokers. If you call them, it's difficult to pump the rate up where you want. But when they call you, it's easy. If I'm not having good luck leaving the house on a Monday morning, I'll just give up and wait for their inevitable phone call, and soak them for whatever I can.

 

What does the fuel surcharge matter? Don't get hung up on terms would be my first advice.

If the load is offered at $1000 with $200 fsc, the load pays $1200. If the load is posted at $500 with $700 fsc, the load pays $1200. If the load is posted at $1200 with $0 fsc, the load pays $1200. Get my point?

It doesn't matter how they want to calculate it for book keeping purposes and it doesn't matter how you want to calculate it for book keeping purposes. All that matters is when the money is all in, is it enough for you to move the load? If yes, then take it. If no, then let them find someone else.

 

Even being a new authority there are plenty brokers that will work with you so you don't have to work with TQL...

 

A bit of advice ...

know what you can take to break even and build from there. Include your dh in it and the fuel over your baseline to figure your bottom number.

have two or three rates on paper when you call, ask for the top one. Go from there.

also don’t be afraid to cold call these brokers when you see a load with a low rate sitting there, sometimes if it is sitting there for a bit or a weekend load that landed on the website on Thursday, it may a case the broker needs to move it and move it at a reasonable price.

don’t fret about the fsc, let it alone when talking to broker dweebs, they aren’t too bright. Just build it into the overall rate.

 

new authority here. I thougth TQL had to be 90 days. No new athuority.

 

Just throw them a flat rate , many other brokers that will work with you . I probably did all of 4 loads for tql last year , Coyote and TQL are last on my list of brokers I do business with .