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

^ more likely for them to cap any dealings with you @ $1.65. no reason to show your hand. Why quote $1.65 unless that's what you're looking for? Brokers don't care what it costs to run. Hell plenty of truckers don't seem to care what it costs either.

 

I say, this kind a rate if I need a practice run ,I will call you.Thanks

 

Hell plenty of truckers don't seem to care what it costs either. more like they have no CLUE IN WHAT THEIR COST IS

 

Just tell them 'OK, thanks'. Half of the time the load has already been booked by another broker. I just hate it when they want my 'call back number'.

 

I hear you RGR. I was a company driver for 17 years, but I understand business. I can no longer drive for medical reasons, and I'm venturing into brokering. Seems to me so far, that you all are demonizing one party too much for low rates...you can blame the shippers for understandably wanting to ship their product at the cheapest way possible. It's the broker's job to run a profitable company. If you had a shipper paying you $2000 to get a load shipped, and you find somebody willing to do it for $1500, what would you do?? I understand there are some dishonest brokers, but I know there are definitely dishonest drivers out there as well. Brokerage firms, just like any other business, has maintain a certain profit margin in order to cover overhead and stay profitable. The rates that shippers want these days leaves little to divide up between the driver and broker.

 

So what do you guys think would be an acceptable margin for the broker to charge you? 10%? 15%?

 

Good thread, I was pondering the same question after I accidentally started laughing at a broker during a phone call last week. oops !

Well, I decided to protect myself from emotional responses such as laughing or getting p.o.'d I should develop a loose script to follow. I mean this situation comes up all the time, I think we really should have a ready plan how will we handle it. For me, I want to say things like,

"So you need to move this for $1700 to make money and you can't go any higher right now ?" - this is just reflecting it back at them in the form of a question to get them saying yes and show you are listening to establish rapport.

"Well, I need to get X on it to make money, I'm sure you can understand that as well"

"Let's do this, let me give you my number and if "they" decide to put some more money on the load, give me a call"

One guy on here, can't remember who, explained it like fishing. I want to get some baited hooks out there in the water. Hanging up the phone or laughing at the broker accomplishes nothing for me. I want them to take my name, and leave a good impression.