how do you respond to a crazy low rate from a broker?

There are a dozen more dealers down the road that need to sell a car..and they make more everyday.

 

I think the real people who need an education are the customers not the brokers,so many times after i drop off the load i ask the customer how much he paid to get the load covered and i find that the broker kept 25% or more for himself,im not complaining about how much i got paid but my next question to the customer is why he didnt contact a trucking comany directly and the reply is always the same:how do i find one?

 

Us small carriers are 97%? It doesn't seem like it with all of those mega trucks everywhere but that is an eye opening statistic!

 

"This is the price I can move that for. You have my number: when you are able to pay my rate, give me a call and I'll see about working you into the schedule. Have a great day."

I offer premium service, and charge accordingly. I realize everyone isn't interested in what I offer, and I'm fine with that. I only want to deal with folks worth dealing with. No need for me to get upset, and certainly not worth my time to school them (not saying it's a bad approach-my time is worth more than teaching something to someone who likely knows and doesn't care anyway).

Also- I don't know that it's worthwhile to quote a study & give what that study claims as a reputable price per mile as cost: if you were buying a product would it profit the salesman if he told you what it cost him?

 

"Looks like we're too far apart on this one. Maybe we'll strike a match on the next one. Have a great day."

More than a few hundred apart, act like a pro and keep it short. Once in a while these guys call back with money. Arguing for a rate makes you sound like you're desperate or a know it all. Don't do that. They don't care. Really.

 

This rate quote the OP specified does it have an additional amount for FSC above and beyond and what would that FSC be?

 

No. Broker loads are spot freight and quoted all-in.

 

thanks for all the replies, its interesting to hear everyone's thoughts and approaches. There are many different ways to skin a cat, some use a skinning knife, some use a chainsaw, both work. A lot was said about time and here are my thoughts on that. Of the 24 hours in a day I have (in theory) 21 that I am either riding or setting and given todays hands free technology I can talk freely in either instance. I have time to talk to customers/potential customers and educate, enlighten, inform, sell my services.

 

no that was it, all in with no additional from fsc.