Going behind broker's back?

Hmm, we are dealing with brokers all day long (and into the evenings and weekends) and it is rare that we come across a dishonest one. Sure we know of the dishonest ones and not afraid to tell people about them (has anyone dealt with TQL? I could tell you some stories ). But as with any business it seems the honest reliable brokers work with the honest reliable carriers. And the others sit around complaining about rates and dishonest brokers.

 

TQL is hit or miss. I've hauled some decently priced loads out of the northeast for them. But, I've also been suckered. Booked one load that paid $4.50/mi. A week later found it from another broker (who they either subcontracted it from or what) who was offering it for over $6/mi. Felt like a fool for that one. Still a good rate. But, to realize that the agent was taking $1.50/mi out of the load (on top of what the original broker was taking).

UTi is one to avoid. Their prices are slightly above fuel cost. I've yet to figure who is taking these loads.

 

Suprisingly I have hauled a few loads for UTi and they have all been really good paying loads. They also pay their bills quick. Guess it depends on the agent or something. Anyway, the agent in AZ, Jim, is a top notch guy in my book.

 

Been trying to help one of our O/O's out of GA and can't get him a decent load for nothing. Sunteck, TQL, and Access America... All FOS.

 

Only honest and reliable brokers I know do not beat the drum proclaiming to be honest.

 

Sometimes, sir, you have to defend yourself against a constant onslaught of people calling your character into question when they haven't pulled for you and don't know the first thing about you.

 

LSAgentOZR - Question for you here.

I am a new carrier, authority August of this year. So far I have only handful of brokers that I get repeat business from. My question is, when I call to a new customer that doesn't know me from a hole in the ground, its almost like they are unsure of who I am, like they don't want to give me the load they have posted, sometimes they don't even want to hear some of the names of other brokers I pull for. It's almost like they see me as a fly by night carrier, as if I was out here to just pick up the load and never to be seen again. If there is say 50 loads posted I am looking at, lots of times I get the take down my number, call me back on it, never hear from them again. Are brokers sometimes leary of new carriers? I know that theft and things go on in this industry, but how do I get my foot in the door with them, without selling myself short on the rate? I am a one truck show. Do I really need to just find that time when they are in a real pinch and need it moved and their regular carriers are unavailable?

I am also learning that Friday the load boards really start heating up. Would this be a better time to find those loads that just must go and more likely be able to establish that first load with them and show them what I'm worth?

 

That goes with many things. Character comes with actions and not words.

While this thread is on the topic of going behind the brokers back, who wants to hear the joke about Brokers Back Mountain?

I can't tell it in this forum!

 

I don't know about others, but my priority loads I'm a little skittish of giving to someone who just got their MC#. It takes a little while to build a rapport with brokers who are established and ship high volumes of freight. The best thing I could recommend with you is to get approved with my company and start trying to get in with some agents. There's several in Canada and we're all over the US. Some are good folks, some are scumbags, it's up to you to weed them out. There's sites you can visit that tell you which agency codes to avoid and which to keep on your speed dial, you just have to do your research.

Me me me!

 

Always look for shippers who can give you a load because broker will give load whoever hauls for cheap do not say anything to the shipper or broker no need to know when shipper asks you how much you want tell him i will work for same money he pays for broker he is going to think broker works for $200 so he will give you $200 less money from the broker because broker told them he is only making 200 on a load in fact while he was making min %25 so it is going to work better for you dont forget brokers use friendship to make u haul cheap you r in this business for making money not friend