Another Classic TQL comment

The fact that the shipper has no problem paying to get their product moved, they are usually unaware that the broker is raping the trucker!

 

That's exactly what does happen, and is the reason I won't do business with my own Dad. I'd probably bail him out if he got in a bind on something, but he grinds rates worse than any broker I've ever seen. Too much other family drama to let that get added on LOL.

 

Ive been in your spot... Not even that long ago and that is why Im telling you , you can and do have an option.
I used to think the same thing when I would read RollingCoal and Bayous post and thought A) theyre lying B ) they have an in with someone. But I was wrong, they are not lying and neither am I, you can get good rates.
I restrategized my negotiating out of desperation it was do or die and guess what , Im getting the rates that I want and make me happy.

Sounds like you have more than one truck, try it with one . Hold out, don't jump on the first offer. If all the offers you have been receiving are bad, its not like youll be losing anything anyways, youll be able to get another bad rate quickly. Once you start gradually getting more, youll feel more comfortable doing it with the rest of your trucks.
Good Luck

 

I do not worry about what they make. I worry about what I make. The problem lies in the fact I can not get what I need to operate at a profit from brokers at least very seldom I do. Then my problem lies in the fact I find out what they are paid on a load I do. I find I work for little or no profit only to see they make as much as I do or more after just my fuel expenses not all expenses. while they claim they are not making anything on these loads which I know is BS. This IS mostly PROFIT for them as their expenses include a computer, internet , Load Board subscriptions, and brokers bond. Now you run a different trailer than I do I run dry van. I have been trying to make a move to flat bed because of the higher rates but I just can not get the capital up because of the brokers getting rich from my work. This is my problem with brokers they set the rates. Once upon a time a trucker or trucking company set the rates and brokers bought the freight bills at a discount much like factoring today.....And as far as sensing FEAR or desperation good luck in that other than what I say here no one would know. I must deal with 30 brokers a day and they all suck most of the time. I Never jump on a load I deal with every load there is on the board. I look ahead as well to see the freight in the area I am going to. I check the spot rates. But I still get screwed believe me I have the take it or leave it attitude. I have to fight and beat them up every time and then I may still lose because it is the best rate I could get. After a day of negotiating with every broker on the board eventually you have to take something, so you take the best of the loads there. And sometimes I do sit or just deadhead away. I got to get out of vans is my bigger problem I think. But that doesn't change the fact brokers do not pay fair and they lie about what they make. Maybe you are independently wealthy I don't know. I have friends with small fleets that are, but then they have contracts. As I said I have a impeccable record never had a problem in 13 years. Maybe you have a silver tongued devil and have a magical aura and talk the brokers out of their money and get fair pay. I do not seem to

 

I'm not sympathetic to anyone willingly letting a broker take advantage of them. At the same time shippers are not foolish. You can't expect they'd not try to take advantage of the fact they could save money dealing direct.

Please no-one out there try to claim I'm a broker apologist or must be a broker. Just trying to look at it if I were a shipper. If i was mad that I found out a broker I'd paid $3 a mile to move a 500 mile load was having late trucks, no shows and I found out that broker was paying those trucks $1.50 a mile. I'd maybe solicit some of the better carriers direct. But in my talks to get a contract my starting point on the rate is not going to be $3 a mile on that 500 mile run.

How many carriers will get that contract for less than $3? How many get $3? Maybe one gets more? So you see the direct guy is not going to have a bleeding heart for you because you've got bills and $150,000 or $200,000 in equipment. You're going to negotiate for whatever he pays same as with a broker.

 

You probably don't even realize clues you give off when speaking with someone. Your whole entire mindset and beliefs directly affect how well or poorly you wrangle with these hustlers. Until you are able to admit that to yourself and actually ask yourself what am I saying to these brokers that maybe I shouldn't you will always get bowled over.

Very few people aside from my little woman have ever heard me hustle a load over the phone. A lot of them have seen my email hustles. Those are classics that get used to teach new dispatchers the basics. Sometimes email is easier than the phone. You have to try different things. I'll post up one of my CHR conquistador emails later so maybe you learn something?

 

GearJam
RC runs a van also. Other guys other than RC run van and still do ok. The fact that you know how much a load pays from the shipper should be used as another tool for negotiation.
Theres guys running for peanuts pulling open deck also, even rgn guys. Before you swap trailers , study your lanes and try to negotiate your loads differently.

I went from Intermodal, to dry to flat to step wondering why I wasn't making any money......
I WAS THE PROBLEM
No matter what trailer I was infront of , I was the problem.

Don't swap trailers unnecessarily

If you were referring to me, Im far from wealthy. Just another fella trying to take care of his family. Heck Im just a poor trucker.

 

Well that would be nice. I used to buy and sell anything and everything before I got into this trucking thing. I was told I could sell ice to a Eskimo back then, lol But I just do not have much luck with these guys no matter what I do. Believe me before I had drivers I eeked out a living and I did get my rates up trying different things but still not enough to pay a driver and the taxes involved with having that driver. I do not 1099 them I dio it right. I know what I should get for a rate but seldom do. I get about 20 or 30 calls a day from brokers and I am never in or close to where they need a truck. I post my trucks I get no calls. Or if I do they want it cheap. So I have to call what I see posted. And try and negotiate from there. The bills do not stop so I have to move the truck at some point. I never take the first load I call. I negotiate all the loads . I even use tactics of getting my best price then walking away and using others to try more negotiating after I beat them up the best I can. I do everything I can think of. But I will always listen to any advice. I may stubborn in my beliefs but I am always willing to try something different if what I am doing is not working. I loose money every time the wheels turn but not as much as I do just sitting. My trucks have set since November when I got sick. So I had no choice but to put a driver in one and start back up recently and it is still the same old bs They will all be paid off in 4 months and I ran out of money so I had no choice but to put them to work. I know I have argued with you on some posts but I still firmly believe in my convictions of brokers are not needed and shippers should be wiser. But this is how the system works. I cut the middle man out of every business I ever did until I did this trucking thing. I was able to make more and the people paid less saving everyone money a win , win back then. In trucking I can not get a direct contract they tell me I do not have enough trucks believe me I have tried this too. Everyone loves my work. As I said I have a impeccable record. But thanks for any help it is appreciated

 

I was not talking about you being wealthy I knew from what you wrote you had just started doing better. I am the same just a guy getting feed up with this racket and dealing with these guys. Trying to make a living for me and other drivers that I hire. I try and be fair so my drivers like to run. But I have been running in the negative 4 more months and every thing is paid for. I can either stop and look at something different or keep going if I got good rates and employee more drivers the help the job force. That was my goal when I started this business was not to get rich but to earn and honest living and employee others so they could as well

 

Dang that came out all messed up did not read that way when I posted it