brokers, riddle me this ?

OK I was a broker. These miles are inaccurate 90%of the loads I had the miles where direct from shipper they say that's the only miles they are paying. Or. Rand McNally has the option to quote post office to post office which most brokers use to make that extra $

 

That's why when I call or receive a call about any prospective load I'm on the laptop with google maps at the ready. Pick the route I want, look at it, then sometimes pad the rate with an extra 20-25 miles if it's large metro areas. Short miles are how company drivers get paid. Brokers and shippers use it to sucker owners, which I'm sure they benefit from that dishonest practice more often than not. But when you use my truck you're paying the rate I want on the miles I say it is. Most other members here at TTR do the same. That is just "how you do it" when you figure a rate. It's a shame they won't just give correct truck route miles up front with the ease and technology we have.

 

Best way to avoid all of this drama is to go straight to the shipper. Forget the brokers. Most direct shippers would much rather work directly with the carriers. Why would I pay a broker a cut for nothing when I can pay the carrier for a job well done? Cut out the brokers, your rate goes up and my costs go down. This is a win/win. A direct shipper will not give you false information. I have had many carriers call me after picking up a load through a broker and they are much happier working with me. Look for companies that do not have an MC number or check the MC first to see if they are a broker. Also, do not hesitate to contact a shipper on a load you got from a broker. We are ALWAYS looking for more drivers. I never use brokers and this is a policy in our company!

 

That's a really good way to ensure that the broker who you got the load from never brokers another one to you....

 

If I've received a really good rate from a broker I will not try and cut him out of the deal, and really, why should I?? He paid me what I wanted, why would I jeopardize the relationship by trying to go around him??

 

[QUOTE. Also, do not hesitate to contact a shipper on a load you got from a broker. We are ALWAYS looking for more drivers. I never use brokers and this is a policy in our company![/QUOTE]

That has got to be some of the more horrible advice i have read on here.

 

We just get tired of brokers trying to carve off more than 20% for themselves, that's all....I was reading earlier today an old post by one of the regulars here about a direct customer email on a load paying $5,500 and then him having received multiple calls from CHR on the same load asking him if he would do it.... for $1800 or something like that....

This went on for a while that day with the regular poster asking for a rate that was closer to the actual amount that he knew the shipper was offering and listening to CHR college kid newbies trying to dupe him with their patented lines, "but that's more than we have in it" hoopla....

The best part was when the CHR supervisor/manager got on the line and offered the regular guy $5,200 on a load paying $5,500, to which the regular replied, "thanks, but no thanks. If I want that load I'll get it from the shipper directly for $5,500"...lol...

 

Some people are honorable and some are not.You get truckers with integrity and brokers with integrity but also many with out.

I understand the point you are making and the frustration but this is the free market working.The ports need these local yards and trucks for the 80 out of 100 loads that don't have trucks on the port off loading right when they need this cargo moved off.They also cant hold cargo while rates are being negotiated.These local trucks and yard owners also need sufficient work to warrant them investing in assets and infrastructure so they can service the ports.Therefore the market dictates that the ports have to favor them to keep them offering the needed service.

 

I agree with dannythetrucker about some brokers fibbing on miles or listing loads from one city to another with the bait and switch tactic of getting their real load. For example, TQL will list loads from Orlando to Columbus, OH but when you call, they are really loading in Savannah, GA to Columbus, OH. That is a 200 mile difference in the starting point.

But Danny is doing the right thing and double checking using mapping software, just as we do when booking loads. We will have Google maps up while talking with the broker to verify the miles. Sorry Casual Trucker, but Google maps give you options on routes and gives the time and miles with each option. I use Google maps exclusively for my GPS on my mobile phone. If in doubt I call the shipper or receiver for directions.

While a lot of the negotiating and looking for loads is time consuming, it is our job to keep the freight brokers honest and do our best to get the highest rate we can. Unfortunately fuel is going back up, retail prices are way up, yet freight rates keep dropping. And there are less than intelligent carriers willing to take freight for $.80 cpm to $1.30 weighing 48,000 pounds. Go figure.