Current Van rates dropping, is there an end to this?

I got an email a few minutes ago. How would you respond?

DAT says:

What would you think is a fair rate?

 

$2263 if they'll pay it!!! It all depends on what you're willing to live with, and if you can get a decent reload.

 

I was thinking $2300! We gotta keep pushing the average range higher, right?

 

Oh yeah brother, if you shoot for the stars and land somewhere on the moon, you did pretty good!

 

You take a bit hit there because it's all mountains. Your mpg tanks and the cost of fuel is high.

 

Besides, what's 37 more dollars? They may as well round up

 

Ha. I'd he careful about choosing words of where the rates are. English vocabulary is not as rich....If the rates are in 'toilet' already, what are you going to say when they really are?
I mean, I've seen a toilet full of ... rates before but it ain't toilet where they're at yet.

 

Well....yes and no. Are the rates historically low?.....no. however, when you factor in inflation and the cost of inputs.....I would say we are getting close. Yes rates are higher than normal and dropping, but when you factor in your input costs.....that rate drops significantly. For example, I've been down a week waiting on a yoke. Something that would have normally been in stock or next day. Food is about double what it should be, same as fuel and everything else.

 

I really think things are leveling out. To much capacity. Time to thin the heard

 

We here are trying to figure out what is going on with the st louis to north east Indiana/north west Ohio lane.

i have a customer who called me out of the blue they want to renegotiate the rates because they are talking to a three truck fleet who will do the work for a buck less. The rates they get are fair, they are based on their budgetary needs and we make a good profit but not fantastic. I can’t see anyone fleet doing this for a buck less than what we are doing it ans having the performance metrics being 100%.

I told them they can end the contract or they can live with what was agreed with, but warned them that their customer was getting pissed off with the last carrier who put their deliveries below the 85% marker and with a fleet that is three trucks, it will return to that point with the customer getting pissed and going with another company for their supplies.

Really?

With the massive amount of propaganda and the lies, we have so little capacity we can’t even haul widgets.