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Is it negotiation, or being greedy?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by gravdigr, Aug 9, 2012.

Page 1 of 4
  1. Aug 9, 2012 #1
    gravdigr

    gravdigr Road Train Member

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    May 2, 2011
    Hollidaysburg, PA
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    So I got my first broker load yesterday as I couldn't find a CRST load I liked. I used the ooida load board and found a load delivering within 15mi of the terminal I will be leaving my truck at this weekend to get some work done on it.

    Anyway the load was from newport, mo to camp hill, pa, 983 miles I think. I use the ooida load board and the rate index gave a range of $1.84-$2.04/mi with a $1.94 average. Well $1.94 would be just fine for me even taking out the 25% less fsc for crst. So I call the broker and ask about the load, ready to haggle my first load, and he comes back with a rate of $1.94....It kinda caught me off guard and I just said sure that works for me. Should I have tried to get more or would that have been me just being greedy? Or should you ALWAYS ask for more than the broker offers just in case you get lucky? I know if he would've said something like $1.75/mi I would've tried to talk him up, but what do you do when they offer what you were going to ask for?
     
    gravdigr, Aug 9, 2012
    gravdigr, Aug 9, 2012
    #1
    bullhaulerswife Thanks this.
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  3. Aug 9, 2012 #2
    sdaniel

    sdaniel Road Train Member

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    Sep 7, 2011
    Pelham N.C.
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    Never hurts to ask! Never know till you ask, and I'll ask almost anything!
     
    sdaniel, Aug 9, 2012
    sdaniel, Aug 9, 2012
    #2
    bullhaulerswife and rollin coal Thank this.
  4. Aug 9, 2012 #3
    Semi Crazy

    Semi Crazy Road Train Member

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    May 13, 2011
    Middle Tennessee
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    They'll throw in 20 or 50 bucks sometimes. But when they tell you $1000 and I say I need $2000, 50 bucks ain't gonna git it!


    I would DH-ed to Granite City area for some Chicago freight instead of hauling to PA for that rate just to get a tat colored.
     
    Semi Crazy, Aug 9, 2012
    Semi Crazy, Aug 9, 2012
    #3
  5. Aug 9, 2012 #4
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    10,373
    11,214
    May 28, 2009
    Rancho Mirage, Ca.
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    It's a two way street dealing with brokers........The thing is you don't know how long he's been holding that load and needs to move it and he doesn't know how hungry you are or how cheap you will run. Not all broker loads are hassles as it sometimes seams.
     
    Allow Me., Aug 9, 2012
    Allow Me., Aug 9, 2012
    #4
  7. Aug 9, 2012 #5
    rollin coal

    rollin coal Road Train Member

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    TN
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    Like was already said most will throw in an extra $50-$100 on any given load. Knowing what my minimum will be I always figure if they're only $200 away from that there is still a chance, sometimes they don't and then it's click.. You just have to play it cool and listen not only to what they are telling you, sometimes they will let slip that they "really need to get this load covered", but also how they sound. Most brokers have a good poker face but some don't and even then ones that normally do, you can just tell when they really want to get that load covered right away. Don't beat yourself up over taking the $1.94, I used to get excited that they offered my minimum after a long day of wasted calls on cheap loads, and hurredly accepted their rate only to beat myself up over it later. As long as you learn from it no harm done and at least you got your minimum right? Just remember the next time, ALWAYS ask for more. In that situation I would have asked for $200 extra and taken whatever extra he was willing to add.

    It's never greed don't ever think like that. This is business - nothing more. You're not out here running a charity. You're out here to make a profit in a very competitive industry.
     
    Last edited: Aug 9, 2012
    rollin coal, Aug 9, 2012
    rollin coal, Aug 9, 2012
    #5
    gravdigr, fireba11, MNdriver and 3 others Thank this.
  8. Aug 9, 2012 #6
    Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

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    Well said, I agree 100%
     
    Oscar the KW, Aug 9, 2012
    Oscar the KW, Aug 9, 2012
    #6
    112racing Thanks this.
  9. Aug 9, 2012 #7
    joker760

    joker760 Light Load Member

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    Jul 8, 2012
    NJ
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    Like the others said most of the time brokers will give an extra $50-100.
    It NEVER hurts to ask for more.
     
    joker760, Aug 9, 2012
    joker760, Aug 9, 2012
    #7
  10. Aug 9, 2012 #8
    gravdigr

    gravdigr Road Train Member

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    May 2, 2011
    Hollidaysburg, PA
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    Thanks everyone. Just for the record, $1.94 wasn't my minimum, it's what I wanted...I may have taken $1.80-$1.85. Next time I'll ask for a bit more cheddar, all they can do is say no right? Live and learn.

    One thing I did learn, it's friggin hard getting your own loads and driving at the same time while staying efficient. Sure I can make phone calls while driving, but I can't have the load board up looking at it too, plus writing down information and doing calculations. And I found I have mostly turned into what I despised the most, a solar powered driver as it seems my shippers and receivers only load/unload between 7am and 3pm generally. And my agents and brokers go home at 5pm. Though I get to do some night driving tonight and deliver at 7am then head home for the weekend. So considering all of this I am taking my fiancee under my wing and teaching her, as I learn, about using the loadboard, dealing with agents and brokers, and planning my loads for me. I figure in 6 months she'll be ready haha.
     
    gravdigr, Aug 9, 2012
    gravdigr, Aug 9, 2012
    #8
  11. Aug 9, 2012 #9
    Kenworth_Trucker

    Kenworth_Trucker Bobtail Member

    43
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    Nov 23, 2010
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    I would have asked for $2.00 a mile but Id except 1.94..
     
    Kenworth_Trucker, Aug 9, 2012
    Kenworth_Trucker, Aug 9, 2012
    #9
  12. Aug 9, 2012 #10
    HDFatboy

    HDFatboy Light Load Member

    288
    199
    Sep 22, 2011
    PA
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    Sometimes when they give me a reasonable rate I take it without hesitation but IMO you should always ask for more. Likely they will bump it up and even $25 extra is more in your pocket or maintenance fund. It's just business, don't beat yourself up about it
     
    HDFatboy, Aug 9, 2012
    HDFatboy, Aug 9, 2012
    #10
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