Epes Logistics wants $1/mile in the snwo and hot market of New Jersey

If someone takes it for that amount, then doesn't that, by definition, make it a "market rate"?

 

Coming out of NJ that rate is pretty typical, I think. I don't run vans too much, but whether I'm pulling a SD or a Van, I plan on leaving New England or NJ without a load. I'll deadhead somewhere else and support a decent rate, just to spite the broker with the low rates. That doesn't mean I won't search for a load - ya never know - but you have to get enough in the rate into NJ or New England in order to be prepared to deadhead out of there.

Last time I was in New England (I unloaded my last stop in R.I. and stayed at my brother's house over the weekend in CT), I checked the load boards in the morning and by early afternoon, I actually found a no tarp load from southern CT for $2.00 mi. going within 30 miles of my house in NC. You just never know. I was planning on going to PA and getting a load of plastic pipe or something.

Also, as a broker myself, there are always going to be cheap brokers and cheap shippers and they don't care about you or me. I don't need either of them. The customers I look for want service. I'll sell them that service if they are willing to pay the trucker an appropriate rate - and if you're a trucker that sells service (always on time, no damages, professional attitude, good equipment and you don't smell like a goat) then you can command higher pay. If you're using brokers, just work with the ones that treat you with respect and are willing to pay the rates you deserve. Leave the others behind with the low ball truckers that haul that cheap freight for them. They'll run their trucks into the ground and you'll be in a better position as you build your list of higher paying brokers.

 

The sad thing about seeing that rate , is that someone will haul it .

 

More than likely. But, low rates also are the 'we can sit and wait for a sucker' loads. It's in no hurry, so they can afford to hang it out there.

Getting out of the northeast takes a lot more work for a good rate than going up. I got $2850 out of New Jersey to Louisiana last year, which was best outbound. I thought for sure the broker would never call me back, but two hours later while still looking I got a call saying the customer agreed to that rate. Just a hair over $2/mi for a dry load weighing 30k over the weekend.

 

Did you negotiate at all, or did you just hear the rate and then hangup?

 

That's the way to do it, Sly Fox. I was up in CT with my stepdeck a few months back and searched the loadboards until into lunch time. Found a $2 no tarp load right out of CT going back to NC that really made my day. Especially since I had a round trip rate going up with round trip tolls paid to deliver L.I. and then Cape Cod. Stayed at my brother's house in Vernon over the wknd. I was prepared to move on to maybe PA to support better rates going south. Can't haul that $1 - $1.50 mile freight.

 

Right, ncnate14, if you know your worth, you can hold out and negotiate for a better rate. Knowing how to deal with the good and bad brokers can be fun and profitable.