Dat - How flexible are rates?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by yzman720, Nov 20, 2018.

  1. TallJoe

    TallJoe Road Train Member

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    I would hope for them to be at least what DAT says they are - real contributors provide their numbers on most strategic and approximate lanes and the averages are calculated. For about two months I did have both ITS Pro and DAT and could compare them both and DAT came out as much more adhering to reality. As a matter of fact, I grew some confidence to trust them to some extent as many times I was able to assess the trends and based on them I knew what I could get or could not (for example attempting to go too high over the average I overbid and did not get the load) I used it a few times as an argument with a rate bargaining when they tried to buy me for too little, way too little.
    But going at least a few hundreds above the average on...let's say 700 mile runs should always be the starting point. Having said that, I will not go from Chicago to York Pa for less than $2400 no matter what the DAT average says though (just checked and it is $2084 for last 15 days - some loads going there were posted for as little as $1700 ...)
     
    Last edited: Nov 22, 2018
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  3. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

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    I always figured DAT data mines the companies that use their TMS system. They won’t say how they get the data because it’s shady and would piss off clients.
     
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  4. DSK333

    DSK333 Road Train Member

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    One can do a search on DAT anytime from any destination to 100 miles of Harrisburg and you won't see many $4.35+ per mile runs coming in, nor out. These numbers are supposed to be an average. Average of what? Do the math and it's clear something is very wrong. When I first started I thought those numbers would help me so I used them heavily to bid on lanes only to be turned down time and time again. It wasn't until I started using a very different approach which ignored their numbers that I started to see an improvement in rates. Now I have a way better system and do much much better. Did almost 2.75 all miles the last two weeks I was out and only drove about 1800/week total miles including deadhead.
     
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