Question for you MR Broker

The thing many of you don't realize is that what a Broker makes of of you as opposed to what they really cost you is a big spread.[/QUOTE



100% correct....Post of the day!^^^^

 

I completely understand why independents get focused on the bad brokers and the number of them that seem to keep plugging along. The only reason that these brokers survive is that there are just as many bad carriers that only have an option of working with them.

This is likely never going to change.

But what is changing is that more and more companies are outsourcing logistics (including all warehousing and distribution facilities).

Now if the shipper picks a bad company (and these relationships don't last) this is a bad thing. But if they get with one of the better companies this is a great thing for the small carrier/independent. These 3PLs have the resources and ability to work with small carriers. Because they are leveraging multiple accounts to manage a carrier base. But the shipper on their own doesn't have these resources and will look to contract 70-80% of the freight with a single carrier.

If you are a quality carrier you can gain access to all the freight that the 3PL is handling. But you aren't going to find this freight on load boards. You need to get our and sell yourselves and getting added as an approved carrier.

 

Hello all. 1st post, i'm a "borker" for a smaller minority owner company out of Nebraska. We have one 53R that we own and have a few owner operators that run under our authority so we have to work with other brokerages often and trust me, i understand where you guys are coming from. I will however stand up for the good brokers out there who do serve benefit to the trucking companies.

First to respond to the OP, the reason we dont put up all the information about a load is not to deceive the truck, it is to deceive other brokers. As you can imagine, the TQLs and other sharks will figure out what customer's load it is, call us to find out offers, and then undercut our rate to the shipper and steal our business. That's why many times we wont put the exact locations its picking or dropping or have details in our post.

To respond to mickey melon, again i cant speak for everyone, but we post our rates only when it is paying good money. And those rates can usually be negotiated as well. Ghost loads happen, whenever we post one it is because a customer of ours reaches out asking if we could 'possibly' get something done and they need a rate. If someone calls in i will be honest with the carrier and let them know the situation. Good carriers will work with me because they know this is how they will make the most money. When shippers get desperate or have a chance to make a quick sale and move it right away, they will pay more. Obviously we will try and keep 50-200$ depending on the load, customer or carrier because that how we stay in business. Our job is to connect shippers with carriers but also to find the best carriers and keep them around. We do that by being honest and by quick paying for 2% or keeping carriers moving.

I can go on but figure this is enough for a first post. Feel free to ask me any questions and ill do the best i can to answer. I enjoy reading comments on this board about your experience with brokers because it helps me learn and be better. We are only as good as our carriers.

 

Always nice to get some input from the other side. Welcome to TTR.

 

I have to say there are a few honest brokers out there. That is that only take 10% more or less. But most of the time they take 33% of everything including fuel surcharge or 50% of line haul. I always , always ask the shipper what the load is paying all in when I pick up. They only tell or show me the real paper work maybe 30% of the time. You will be surprised how much the broker makes off YOU as a trucker. When they claim I just cant go that much the customer isn't paying we are moving this out of our pocket. If you MOVE the load YOU have the RIGHT to know what it is paying all in. This is in the FMCSA rule book. but try getting a broker to up this info it will be like pulling teeth and nothing short of a court order will they produce this paper work though by law they are required to.........

 

Show me the Law please!

 

Here is the law 371.3 sub section 6 line c copied straight from the FMCSA website along with the other laws pertaining to records by brokers.

Code of Federal Regulations § 371.3Records to be kept by brokers. (a) A broker shall keep a record of each transaction. For purposes of this section, brokers may keep master lists of consignors and the address and registration number of the carrier, rather than repeating this information for each transaction. The record shall show: (1) The name and address of the consignor;(2) The name, address, and registration number of the originating motor carrier;(3) The bill of lading or freight bill number;(4) The amount of compensation received by the broker for the brokerage service performed and the name of the payer; (5) A description of any non-brokerage service performed in connection with each shipment or other activity, the amount of compensation received for the service, and the name of the payer; and (6) The amount of any freight charges collected by the broker and the date of payment to the carrier.(b) Brokers shall keep the records required by this section for a period of three years.(c) Each party to a brokered transaction has the right to review the record of the transaction required to be kept by these rules.[45 FR 68942, Oct. 17, 1980. Redesignated at 61 FR 54707, Oct. 21, 1996, as amended at 62 FR 15421, Apr. 1, 1997]