Questions about large brokerages

I've always had real good experiences with chr always offered great rates fast pay of course I guess ive only hauled a few loads for them and been awhile since I hauled a load for them but in the past I've liked dealing with chr. The big brokerage I refuse to do business with however is TQL they are a complete disaster how they stay in business is beyond me. The only thing I dont like about chr is I can never remember my t number or whatever it is called lol. But ive been happy with the business I've done with them habe they called and offered ridiculous low rates of course but every broker has. But things coulda changed been a couple years since I pulled chr load. I dont even see many posted on internet truckstop very seldom actually whats the deal with that?

 

Ya I totally agree did a crane move for chr once fairly short move but all oversize stepdeck loads 530 some miles each way gave rate on first load picked up and delivered on time called chr said delivered alls good agent said name a price to deadhead back I need trucks I said if I can get same loaded price you throw me a dh number he tossed me a more then fair number ended up doing 6 back to back on same crane move always been treated real well by chr

 

I've somehow not hauled a load for CHR in the three years I've had my authority. I think you have a little smaller presence in the open deck market than van, right ? I've seen some of course, just never quite made a deal on one.

My question to you is what do you like about truckload brokering ? From my end of things it seems like you often become somewhat of a punching bag for both the carrier and the shipper. Is it just the potential for making a lot of money quickly that drives brokers ?

 

Danny thats a very good point it does seem as tho they become nothing more then a punching bag taking hits from each side. I've hauled maybe 8 or 9 loads for chr in say 6 years always been good but I prefer my few smaller brokers.

 

If there was one thing that you wished truckers understood about what you do, what would it be ?

 

You say only CHR employees in the Chicago branch are on commission? How exactly do these things work. I have an agent out of Huntsville, AL office that I used to "cross book" loads from other branch offices. This person would either actively looks for loads that had decent money in them and let me know, I could accept, counter or whatever, they would log my rate quote. Or I would email a dozen or more prospective loads from various branch offices by this agent to see what they were paying and sometimes book one. I was told by this person they got half of what the other agent made off the load.

And even if the load was a loser (cross booked) it didn't matter that they still got something. This made no sense to me at all. I will say i've had a few agents that were really good at working with me knew my lanes, knew the loads I prefered, etc, etc that I cross booked a LOT of freight from. I have actually booked a week or two of runs from these kind of agents. There is one guy from the Chicago branch who works with our company a lot who tries to connect with my truck, it just hasn't happened. I will say when you find those agents they are a special thing very difficult to make any worthwhile connections with CHR it's like everyone is always in such a hurry.

 

do you guys use previous rates accepted by a carrier as a way to judge or calculate what they will run for again or to help you negotiate knowing what the trucker has ran for before?