Rates are crashing and fuel to the moon!

Sometimes the customer is the problem, not the broker. Lots of lousy customers need brokers because they can't keep a carrier around to haul for them. Not all brokers are cheap scumbags.

I liked to hear their numbers too though. The more information I have the better I can negotiate. Their low-ball offers are usually a sales tactic from my experience.

 

You are correct on all accounts

 

Oftentimes my high number is a sales tactic too. It’s generally several hundred higher than I will actually move the truck for. I know they are several hundred lower. Even on posted rates. But not always. I don’t want to make generalizations

 

Broker freight is broker freight, but do you suppose your tactic works better for you due to being heavy-haul as opposed to van or flat? Looking for niche markets where service is as or more important than price appears to be the only way for an O/O to survive when competing agains the big boys who need much smaller margins to prosper. I think that transcends trucking as well. Selling service and building a reputation with brokers would seem to be the focus. I rarely do any loadboard stuff or trucking for others for that matter, so what do I know.

 

Yes I think my approach may would be different if I was in a different segment. Some things are the basic mechanics that transcend all modes, but somethings are tailored to my specific niche. I also agree that it’s much easier to compete in a more niche market. Regardless of industry.

 

I posted my truck for over 10 years. I can't even count to great loads I got from that. Made some decent broker connections from time to time too.

If you think a broker's regulars are always there for their broker lol..... It's spot freight bro. Good freight actually does hit the boards sometimes. Granted, in the last couple of years probably not but when it turns around, for sure it will. Always does. Nobody ever has it all locked down all the time. Most of the time yeah, all the time no..

When everybody's paying big bucks that broker can't find his go-to's and he's calling your posting trying to sell you on what his regulars who ghosted him usually run it for lol.

 

Doesn't always end up like that. You can book em early too. Or just tell yourself it's no good and keep putting parameters on what you won't do that'll limit you even more. Gotta go to bed at bedtime always and can't ever truck at night? Won't go here, here or there? Ok...

 

I post my truck
Couldn’t name a time I ever fielded a call on it that was worth doing the work/ though @PSM379 put me on to that Central Park job years ago & they called me on that. Thanks again for that
Wasn’t my posted truck though/ don’t think I even had a load board scrip at the time.
Idk personally how the offers I have gotten compared to posted rates: I tend to look at stuff I don’t actually compete at on load boards (long distance/ or for equipment I don’t have bc I’m nosey lol) not at stuff I do: I don’t want it to negatively impact how I price work/

 

Well. I’ve been running my own for 17 years and am still running a profitable operation. Have posted a truck probably less than a dozen times.

 

You run 100% brokered? Hats off to you. Hard to compete with the constant race to the bottom. Seems like the only folks with a nice car and pad plus a retirement are the brokers. TQL blew $35 million on gym upgrades. Crazy...