How do you get drivers to move loads?

I would say if he's bidding freight at $2.50 a mile gross his freight is going to be cheap and difficult to cover. Of course $2 mile is the magic number everyone - brokers, customers, & drivers "think" is good. So no surprise when someone offers $1,000 on 490 loaded they act as though that is great. If only it were so simple. And if only people like this wannabe would leave the business to those who know what they are doing. I suspect he will do like most of these joker brokers trying to play the avgs and try to move that 2.5 a mile for nothing. Then when he can't find trucks someone like me will catch him in the hotseat and give him a $3.50+ education on where his rate should be. Of course lots of idiot brokers who will bid freight to nothing, no different than carriers.

Sent from my droid using Tapatalk 2

 

My dad has done freight brokering in the past... his best advice is based on the following question:

How many phone calls do you want to answer to cover a load?

If the answer is 300-500, then quote rates like the "big" guys and waste 8 hours a day to cover 2 loads... if the answer is "ONE," then quote a fair rate... what's fair is based on many factors such as weight, distance, number of stops, tolls, routes required (such as mountains or lots of non-interstate), and also what the run does to the truck as far as what kind of position it will be in for a reload; such as a late Friday drop totally ruins the chances of a decent weekend run... also, plan to dispatch trucks, on a GENERAL basis, for no more than 600 miles per day... so an 850 mile run kind of screws the driver for 2 full days, depending on deadhead considerations, etc... Bottom line, my dad would book 15 loads for a shipper at 8am and have all of them covered by 8:30... he paid FAIR rates, on time, and dealt with carriers honestly... THAT's the key to success in this biz.... Good Luck.

 

Don't insult me with a rate of $1.80 for a produce or frozen load that is going to consume $120 worth of diesel fuel while it's on my truck.

Don't insult me by telling me you get loads covered for $1.10 per mile all week long.

Don't expect to have me operate my equipment at a loss to move your freight because you can't bid it at a reasonable price.

Don't be surprised if I tell you to stop wasting my time and hang up on you.

And DON'T be surprised if you get no answer from me other than a dial tone when YOU call me and give me that kind of a rate offer.

 

also, DON'T be surprised if the person you hire to cover it at that rate best deals you for a better load and calls with some kind of excuse, or fails to meet appointments, etc...

but then again, the shipper hired a broker who is "new at this". so what did they expect ?

 

OMG that is so funny I think it may be a troll. Here's a tip....if you can't find trucks, the load isn't good.

 

Don't forget about the new 30min break and if u gotta fuel that day adding another 15 minutes... So the moral of the story is shippers/receivers if you dont want to be responsable for the economic collapse of the US of A, then get US drivers in and out of there in max 1 & 30 min

 

How would they be responsible? It is the truck driver's fault!

 

Dead on, man.

 

CORRECTAMONGO!!! It's ALWAYS the truck driver's fault!!!!

And as to the OP's original question (How do you get drivers to move loads?) it's simple really. First; you put your right foot in and then you put your right foot out, you do the hokey pokey and you shake it all about!

 

It really isn't that hard to get trucks to move your loads. It really all depends on your loads. Like everyone else said, if the rates are right you'll find trucks. From one broker to another, here is what I'd tell you to add to everyone elses thoughts.

1. Don't take ###### freight from customers. If they try to get you to take $1.25 a mile freight, just turn it down. Don't even try to move it. You'll just make yourself look bad to the truckers you're trying to work with, and that customer will dump all their garbage freight on you after you take one ###### load. So, that shipper will be giving experienced brokers their good freight, and sticking you with the crap. Don't let them hook you like that. Set a standard and stick to it. Personally I don't take any freight under $1.75 / mile to the truck. And that better be a really nice lane. Typically my stuff is $2/ mile or better. I'm scared to death of getting known by shippers as the "garbage man" and having them dumping all their ###### freight on me. Making me work for 6 hours for $100 profit. Be weary, they'll do it to you quick!

2. Be honest and fair to everyone, both shippers and truckers. Just be a man about things. If you book a truck on a load, don't take it back if someone offers to do it for less, give the truckers a fair rate on your stuff, etc. If a shipper is willing to pay $3 a mile on a load for a rush deal or important load, even if you think you can cover it for $1.50 mile, be honorable and pay the trucker a fair rate for the service the shipper needs. Collecting $1500 for a load from a shipper and paying a truck $900 is garbage. Remember, you are a middleman. The only thing between your trucker and your shipper is a phone call. You wouldn't want a trucker going behind your back and contact the shipper, so don't give them a reason too.

Personally I think the reputation that allot of brokers have is justified. Unfortunately the stereotype will proceed you when you start contacting truckers. The best thing you can do to separate yourself is be honest, be reasonable and willing to work for everyone. You owe good service to both sides and that goes up until the trucker is paid. You're not done when you book the load. You should follow the whole process through. This is what I've done and I've done well with it. Good luck man.