I knew better, tql

I used to think like this, but I was going broke so something had to change. Once I said my rate or nothing, I drove less miles, wore myself and equip out less, made more money, had more family time.

 

Excellent post,,,, I am pulling reefer right now but, lately it seems like the rates are going through the floor. I am going to get more strict with my rate and stick to it.. I believe, I may just have to make more phone call's to get the rate I want. Normally, I am trying to go in a certain area but, not stuck on it. I look forward to getting my step, I know that the area I want to run in is good for step. That said, I still need to learn how to get those better rates, that we all should get. I laugh when they try offering me $1 a mile to move freight... We need to make a list of great statements by brokers..lol The best one, "that is everything I have in it"...yeah, right!

 

Me: I need this much amount of $$ to book this load for my driver.
Broker: WHAAATT?!?!? Where are yall getting these rates???
Me: I AM HERE TO MAKE $$ NOT DO YOU A FAVOR. GOODBYE.

 

Lol, I have also heard... "Ill throw in 100$ out of my own pocket"

 

Biggest low ball offer I received was a load from Atl, GA - Somewhere in Texas.. 1100 miles, 40K lbs for $1000.

I told him to tell the shipper for him to haul that garbage.

 

I called about a load today, it was from NJ to MT and I told them $5950.00 She says; "ok, I will check with customer to see if we can do that, is this a good number to call you back on?", I said; "yep",,she said; "ok, let me check and I will call you back to let you know.". Haven't heard from her yet and the load is no longer on the board. My rate was $2.50 a mile....

 

Oh yea I have had that happen way to many times.
What I hate is they are fishing and want a rate.
So I get one figured out.. Ok I'll call you back.
Little bit later you see it reposted about 500 / 1000 cheaper than I quoted

 

I like the ones that talk in a normal voice then at the end of the sentence their words trail off into a mumble and you just miss the last part. Can't make it out. That's intentional it turns out to be important information. For example the broker starts talking "It picks at 14:00. It's a lightweight load only weighs 5,000 lbs, pays good $2.50 a mile, mmm mumble, mumble, mmmm, mumble mumble" he wants you to either accept that or maybe you counter with $3 which they quickly agree to (also raising suspicion lol) instead of asking, "what did you say? That last part" which was something along the lines of "pays $2.50 a mile, floor load 10,000 pieces, detention $25 an hour after 4 hours, receiving FCFS normally takes 10 hours to unload".

A buddy of mine fell for this trick a few years ago. Thought he really pulled one over on the broker. We laugh about that one now and then. So anytime a broker's voice trails off or the mumble at the ends of sentences your spidey senses ought to be picking up something is wrong with the load lol. Then you have fast talkers. They only slow enough so you can hear the "hook" that's supposed to land you then talk really fast like they're reading fine print legalese on a tv commercial so you miss all important details about their crappy load. Cover the freight. Whatever it takes lol.

 

or a lot less and basically used you to figure out a rate.