Are you guys seeing this ??

I can't speak on the rates of CH Robinson. I can tell you the rates I see out of Florida are between .70 and .90 right now. Freight out of Florida is cheap, no question. The thing you didn't get to hear in your listening in was the rate to get that driver "in" to Florida. Going in pays much, much better than coming out of Florida. So, the effect is to get a weighted average of the two so you can see the real revenue of the trip.

Personally, I don't run a two trip average, I run a weekly weighted average for all trips in a given week. It gives a much better overall picture. As a general rule, I avoid Florida (South of Ocala) like the plague if I can help it.

 

I run a per trip average... I don't justify a bad load by making a good one bad. If it doesn't pay good I don't haul it.

 

This is a good post. Anyone wanting to learn a little bit about how trucking works for an owner opreator read this post.

 

This is the exact same thing I mentioned here earlier. Unless you know of a customer/shipper to haul out of the state,, it is then best to leave it alone and not take the good paying load into the state. That's why the brokers raise the rates. They know you can't get out of there.


You can Always, Always, hackle over the rates that the broker quotes you. He's like a car salesman. His first quote is always more profit in his pocket. A broker can make an easy 200 profit off his first quote to you.

Here's what we did few times. We cut throat the Broker. Having our own Authority, we told the shipper that we'll move your product. Most of the times they'd go for it. Escpecially when you know the load is going to where you want to go... closer to home. This is good for your backhauls.

Then again, if you find freight that you already hauled before, coming out of a state, you can ask the shipper if your company that your'e leased on with can have the rights. Your trucking company that you're leased with can fax over their Authority and Insurance over to the shipper. But Don't Forget! Your Company should pay you for the customer you hooked them up with.. One Lump fee, or around 8% everytime they use them.
Pronto! Now you got your dedicated Backhaul.!
Learn how to Play the Game. You can also use the info on your Bill of Lading to contact the shipper.

 

You haul for some brokers have to sign broker agreement. They usually have a clause that you can't haul for anyone they sent you to. At least for a year or two or would have to pay them a penalty.

 

thats right,i'm on my way to miami now with 6 stops

 

Yes, I thought you would say that. That's if you're working pretty steady under a particular broker., But that's not the case in all situations.

We never through the years signed any agreement with any " brokers." Because that's just what they are,.. a "broker"... to help you find loads , that we have used occassionally here and there.

Freight broker activities are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), successor to the Interstate Commerce Commission. The FMCSA defines a broker as “a person who, for compensation, arranges, or offers to arrange, the transportation of property by an authorized motor carrier”.

There are Shippers who uses a "Variety of Brokers" at one time to move their product. . the broker must carry the insurance to cover any damage for that product.. That is the only agreement between the broker and the Shipper.
Yet, This does not give any one broker exclusive rights to
"own " the shippers product.
When you have your own Authority and Cargo Insurance, then it is covered under your Cargo Insurance Policy.


It's an all together different story when working under an "Agent". Those are the ones that you sign an agreement with., through your Trucking Company if you're leased on with one.

 

I think you'll find some form of no-compete language in any load assignment or in the details section of the site you pull from.

If you used some broker months ago and only once or twice, enforcement would be an issue, but it still violates the intent of the agreement.

 

I've always wondered just how legal that clause is. Thats monopolizing a shipper isn't it?

When I had my business that would be like saying the parts company couldn't sell parts to a competitor for work on "MY" customers vehicle for 1 year? Until the Dems and Obama complete their socialistic plans this is still a Democratic capitalistic society. I am probably wrong since this would make sense.

 

The quick and dirty explanation is that anything you agree to is legal, and you do so by hauling it, so the law itself isn't an issue, it's a civil matter.

Unless the agreement is deemed "unconscionable", it is enforceable.