Presumptuous brokers and even lower rates

No I never said I pay $1.75 going into Florida I said I have carrier calling me telling me they will haul it at that rate into Florida and they are the locals from Florida. When I have loads into Florida they pay from $2.15 a mile northern Florida up to $2.75 a mile and if I have freight out of Florida usually $1.75 out. That is fair and the going rate of course I would like to see them better but they just are not there, sorry. Those are examples not everyday freight and all freight is different but that just gives you a idea as what to expect or something to go off of. I wouldn't do it any other way unless it's more money. I honestly don't even like throwing numbers out there cuz every load is different in that area and lane and yes it has taken me 20 year to feel it is fair rates in and out of that area with times like they are. That is the average some are better and many are worse but I know what it takes to get carriers to run that area in and out so I need to make sure I have that kind of coin in the loads or I don't bother cuz I will never get them moved and have carriers upset at me and it's the carriers who make me who I am PERIOD I can have a million load but if I don't pay the carrier a fair rate and move those load I am nobody and I lose customers over it as well. I prefer to stay out of Florida, Texas and the Denver are and upper NE but in this business sometimes I don't have that choice and I have to make my customers happy and do what they ask or they find someone else to do the job, just like everything else if you don't do your job you get fired, nobody needs or wants that now days we all need and job and need to earn a living.

 

I don't have a problem with that.

 

even a team. i'm curious as to how you would drive 1300 miles in 24 hours. or probably less time.

considering that you weren't even loaded. that was a pretty hefty promise to the broker. cuz who knows how long it would have taken to get loaded. in spite of the low rate.

 

the deck is stacked, and there are no easy solutions. the fact is, the real people to blame are the truckers and trucking companies. if you want to buy a tv, and you have easy access to shopping around, and you get prices of 300,350,and 600 dollars for the same product, how many will buy the $600 set? now if we can all agree that $300 is the FAIR price for that tv set...what happens when walmart starts selling that same set for $100? thats right, other stores either go out of business or find a way to be more competitive.

as long as there are drivers and companies out there that will move freight for $1.50-$2.00 per mile, what kind of idiot would you have to be to pay 3 or 4 per mile? ok, maybe once in awhile when you are desperate. but not often.

the solution is companies and o/o all getting their heads together and setting an absolute floor for delivering freight. if i can find NO ONE to take my load for $1.50 per mile, im gonna offer more. this solution will NEVER HAPPEN, because truckers are notoriously independent, and large companies set the bar low. the independent o/o either competes using this low bar mentality, or he gets out. if o/o got together and spoke more as one voice, maybe they could effect some change, but thats dreaming as well. im as anti union as the next trucker. cant talk to my teacher friends or my union in laws about this cause ill tick em off. i think unions are right up there for the prize of most responsible for the ills of our country. but in the case of truck drivers, this mentality of staying separate, of unions being bad and evil, has hurt them.

 

I won't say what I think of your bid

 

I hear you man. That's why I said there is strength in numbers. Unions aren't bad either. I think that they serve a purpose. Do I think there is misuse of unions yes. The baby shouldn't be thrown out with the bath water thouigh. If employers treated employees fairly ( there goes that word again) There would be no need for unions. Employees realized that they needed leverage and the collective union provided them the voice they needed to be treated fairly.

 

Most Independants know the lanes... The problem is that brokerage firms such as yours, butcher the rates and attempt to manipulate the market. My truck does not run on Fairy Dust, you say that us carriers are asking for to much money.... Yea right, your rates are stuck in the 80s. Example.... One of your offices called and offered me a load out of WA to CA for 88 cents a mile...lol I would deadhead my truck to CA before paying you to haul that cheap s@#$. I average 2.40 a mile outta WA year round, thats about the same the brokers quote then try to sell the load for less then a buck a mile.... Dont forget MR UTI we dont need you... We have MC numbers with the authority to haul freight with out you....

 

Don't forget that immigrants can come here and set up a business and be tax free for 7 years. At least as far as I know. I'm sure that brings rates down.

 

Brokers offer me rates that are WAY below the going rate every day. Sometimes 50 cents or more. Heck, I got offered $1.37/mile from Chicago to Laredo and she wouldn't budge on it. So if brokers are offering ridiculously low rates I have no problem with Windsmith throwing a high rate at them. We should all probably do it more often just to soften them up a little.

@ UTI Transport, one thing you need to understand about one truck operations is we can't control costs like the big carriers. My expenses run over $1.20/mile. Some carriers probably have that down to $0.95/mile or less. So for me the difference between averaging $1.80 or $2.00/mile is net 25% more. I can't just run at the accepted rate, I need to shoot for those best paying loads every day. Fortunately, the advantage I do have is I can patiently work the load boards and find them. A carrier who has someone dispatching 10 trucks can't do that. We all have to know what our advantages and disadvantages are and make decisions accordingly. Don't tell me I have to learn "how it works" and play the game like everybody else.