New broker - need help understanding carrier rates

You are saying people have to "waste their time" by calling me and have a 2-minute conversation so I know where do I need to be so they and I can make a few bucks from it? You sound like it's 1932 and you have to go thru hell to get a phone call!!!

Yes, that is exactly what I do. I also save their info and if I get the business I call them back and offer it to them for what they quoted me. I know most carreirs don't mind that phone call, especially when they get low balled all day long.

You are also wrong on looking at past pricing. You don't follow it like the Bible, but it shows you fluctuation in the targeted area. When I bid rates, I have to take 12-months into consideration. For example I know stuff moving out of CA to AZ now goes for $1.80 for example, but during season I'm going to have to pay $3.00 for the exact same lane. I see that fluctuation looking at the past.

 

The fictional "load" you posted may not be a regular lane for him. He may only be looking to load one truck one time only. He has gone to the trouble of figuring his dead head and put a rate to it and given you the call to find out about a load that doesn't exist so yes you have wasted his time.

Like I said, if you put "rates" in the comments we will all know it's for future loads and we will act accordingly. You are welcome. I'll be here all week.

 

Yes I will call you if it's a regular lane for me. Did a load this week that I bid 6 weeks ago. It's my second load out of that plant in two weeks.

I don't mind the "How much do you need" question. It is what it is. Just so long as you don't misrepresent the load when I'm bidding and then comes time to load and it needs a tarp, a crane appointment, 4 hours to load, there is two picks and two drops instead of 1+1 etc etc etc.

Honesty is everything because if you are in this business any length of time, I think you will see reliable carriers are at least as valuable as shippers and maybe more because the shipper will always eventually sell you down the river for a lower rate. With a reliable carrier base, you can always find new shippers.

$.02

 

Not posting details but bottom line haul is calculated buy numerous factors, but operating scale varies.

 

If that were a dry van load, I would consider hauling it if you could get me a reload out of SAT back east that would average $2+/mile on the round trip. Otherwise I'd need a minimum of $3250 to haul it. But that's just me.

 

That is a good rate. I usually move Navarre OH to Dallas TX dry loads in the $1800.00 to $2100.00, but comparing apples to apples my loads are pretty light in weight (under 10K), they are a bit over 100 miles shorter and "very important" it leaves you in Dallas, not San Antonio. San Antonio right now is a ghost town for freight... there is absolutely nothing coming out.

I have our own trucks in San Antonio twice a week and I've resorted to just move them empty back to Waco and pay the drivers out of our own pockets to find something that pays more than a buck per mile (San Antonio rate at this time).

 

Last time I was in SAT, I had to run empty to Laredo to get a good rate out of Texas.

 

I haven't been able to find a good source of freight in Laredo yet, but I have many carriers that pull for us that tell me there is good paying freight there.