California produce season

I don't put a lot of stock into what a truck broker says about rates. Especially produce rates. All are clueless due to the shippers and receivers setting the rates. It's just a race to the bottom with truck brokers.

 

You're the freight broker. Isn't it your job to know what pays and what doesn't?

 

Trucks set the rates. The customers have to pay what it costs. The brokers are competing with each other over who will take the smallest cut (really we compete with each other on price which is a powerful incentive to not overpay trucks obviously). Your post proves you don't really understand how the spot market actually works.

 

Hotel chains monitor internet pricing and availability requests from the general public. They can spot future trends and upcoming major events inside of a few hours to a few days at the max and begin adjusting room rate offerings [upward] very quickly.

I'd be surprised if the truck broker industry doesn't have similar traffic request monitoring capabilities. Although I guess it wouldn't be as rock solid to assess as in the way hotel online inquiries work.

 

If only. The whole industry is incredibly fragmented and nobody wants to share data. I'm only ok sharing past data because it's not a very good predictor of future pricing in my business.

 

When you load that produce too high. Last month in GA storm.

 

Is that one of yours?

 

I would not be surprised at all if big players like CHRW had this kind of info and ability to adjust based off of it. I can tell when I book something a day ahead of time with a great rate. And i'm not talking about a chump $2 bukker on something either. Those guys don't ever pay solid rates ahead of time unless they know they'll have to.

 

All you need to know about the CA produce season in two words. Salinas Sucks.

 

Given the rains they're having this spring, many vegetable crops may suffer greatly.