Rates???

You just answered your own question....

You can't get rates up if you take a cheap load because you might not get any load if you don't

If someone else is "sure to take" that cheap rate: that isn't a good reason for you to take it.

How do you plan on BEING the change you wish to see in this industry?
Ways back I learned don't talk about it: BE about it.

If you don't want to haul cheap freight; stop taking loads that are cheap. Figure out what you need to do to be more successful. What you choose to do is up to you: it determines your success fer sure.



Am I going to be saying this same stuff on the post that pops up tomorrow by someone else that hauls cheap freight and is frustrated they aren't making money?

...yea...probly.

 

Just wait for ELD mandate to take effect and watch the rates go up!

 

Free market. Supply and demand.

If you are suggesting that rates get regulated and shippers are forced to pay what we feel is a fare rate then you may as well go move to a communist country. Thats how they do things. Like I said,.. I understand your complaint. I just look at it differently I guess.

Hurst

 

You can't sit here & cry about crap rates out one side of your mouth then cry that if you don't take the cheap load someone else will so you must take it, & expect change to happen on its own.

 

The problem is there's not enough freight and too many truck drivers soooo loads are getting moved cheaper and cheaper.

 

I understand completely what the OP is saying/feeling.

His hopes and drive get Stopped abruptly when seeking reasonable rates from brokers

He's Thinking "I can't wait all day or week to find ONE perfect load that fits my operating standards".

You guys are failing to inform him that Brokers are CONFIDENT.. They have been confident for years.. "Someone will take the daily Number of loads we have ,Whether it be 10 loads or 100. Whether it be Spot customers or a pool of regular carrier these brokers use to move volume.

The OP feels He Has to "Wait" for that Broker load that's 'last minute' to get a fair rate....

Being a 1 truck indpendent is tough Pal....I'm a 1 truck and early on I relied on them Pieces-O-#### for my success. I DIDN'T WORK. All it did was make me angry, I Never Gave up. I sought out my own Customers and haven't been happier.

You need to do the same or you will just get by. Trust Me.

 

It's a trade off I decided to make. No more trolling the load board, no more unknown loads, no staying out for weeks. Not having to deal with shady agents. I COULD stay out and chase down better money, but -

I need to get home weekly, and this fit. Sure, I'd rather it paid what it did last year, but like you say, if I wasn't hauling it . . .

I'm not sure if 'deserve' is a very helpful term in negotiations.

There's some really good posts/threads on here that address finding your own freight, search around a bit.

 

After owning trucks all my my life, for over 40 years, if I had to lease my truck on to a major carrier,or strictly use brokers, I would simply quit and do something else. I learned many years ago to find my own freight, and that works well for me, even in my home state of Florida, where freight can be scarce.
My system has been to find a small shipper / builder / manufacturer , make a deal, do them a GREAT job, and we are both happy.Smaller companies are looking for a good service provider, larger mega-shippers want a lower price.
My average is slightly over $2.50 for every hub mile I put on the truck, pulling a flat that the shipper owns.. I might work 10 straight days, might work only 2 a week, depends on what the shipper needs me to do.Average 5 days a week, home every night., about 1050 miles a week.
The good freight / jobs are out there for good truckers, you have to find them, and then take care of business.

 

This+ what I added.