I am a Freight Broker at TQL - looking for conversation and dialogue

I don't even know what you are talking about on Internet Truckstop and getting notifications. I think you just think we get notifications.... Only way I get notifications is when you call in, and a night logistics representative will send an email to me stating that you are interested in the load. Plus, if you are saying you are sending notifications on ITS, then it has all of your information doesn't it? Think about that for a second....

 

So are you saying the CEO at TQL is the one with the attitude? Can you give me a logistics company (3PL) that is exceptionally well, AND never had a problem with? Can't just say one company either. I have heard that even Landstar was worse than TQL, or CH was just as bad. It seems that if one 3PL is bad, and then another 3PL is bad, logically, 3PLs are bad..... Right? Just want to check your logic here.

 

What's your story? What happened with TQL that burned you so badly?

 

I am sure the feeling was mutual. Always remember, there are three sides to the story. What you said, what they said, and what really happened. Tell me about your story as I am sure I would love to hear what had happened... I got all day.

 

6Wheeler, have you lost your mind? If there isn't anything about late fees, then there isn't late fees. A broker can't just do that. You know what is really funny, is when a broker tries to hit you with a late fee on a 551 mile run in a 24 hour period. Yeah, sure you can do it, but technically you need over 24 hours and some change by DOT (which I am sure you are aware of) to make the run happen. TQL brokers know the DOT standard and should abide by it. If you have issues with TQL, call in an ask for carrier relations... They will be able to help and if you get someone who doesn't know what they are talking about, get with a broker. They ALL should know by now that we have a Quality Assurance Team that handles bad brokering, and they will be dealt with administratively.... in other words fired. Good luck.

 

Just for educational purposes, let's get this out of the way. What is a fair rate per mile? Just so I can spread the word with TQL.

Why do carriers drive into FL? Whats the rate per mile into FL? How many loads are coming out of FL? Whats the rate per mile coming out? Actually, what kind of equipment are you driving? I know Vans are cheaper than flats, and flats are cheaper than stepdecks... At least that's how brokers see it. It's crazy because a customer might pay 4-5 dollars a mile only a certain part of the year because its produce season like in NC, SC, or GA. Then over night, they just DROPPED!!!! I don't even take the customers freight anymore because she wants a driver to run under $2 a mile. Are you serious???? I don't quote her any lower than $3.25 a mile. At least I know I can still pay a carrier $3 a mile on a 10,000 lb light load. I won't stoop to those bidding wars to make only $4 a load, that's just ridiculous. Do you agree?

 

6Wheeler, half the shippers don't even know who TQL is, plus they are just loaders. How would they even know what trucking company is what or who they are even hauling for? Shippers are not always the customer you know.

But let's break down what you mean by "piss poor job." I have seen you rant a lot on this discussion, but yet haven't seen a single incident on something that really happened. Do you have an incident that sticks out the most to you that happened with TQL? What kind of equipment do you run?

I only ask because obviously there are several factors that are included that "BROKERS" cannot control. For example, produce.... they say it's ready, driver gets there to pick up the load, and guess what.. it isn't ready.

Or let's say, Laredo. Man do I hate Laredo shippers.... they can't get their act together down there. I send in a truck telling them that, look, it is going to be awhile... do you want this load without detention or would you like me to find you something else? Keep in mind, my Laredo outbound freight pays pretty darn good, and I don't have any complaints. I have about 99% booking average when a owner operator calls me looking for a load out of Laredo, I just can't control how well they ship down there. It's just horrible.

Back to the beginning, Please share with me an incident, and I would love to talk to you about it...

 

yes, that can be extremely frustrating. I certainly do not do that, and I don't understand why brokers do post that kind of thing. I can say this though, when I am desperately looking for a driver, and it's posted that way, it must mean the broker needs a truck badly. Think about it, if I had the money to pay a carrier to DH 300 miles to pick up my load, that I have to move for my customer, do you think I would be foolish to not use my resources to do what I can to find a carrier? I mean, I have pulled carriers 2 states over because of the amount of money I had it was WORTH the drive for the carrier to pick up the load. Friday fallout, or 1600 in the afternoon, and I need a truck to pick up a load to start rolling, I might get that stupid looking for a truck to call me. But you can't get upset about how it is posted. ( you have every right, but if a broker shoots you some dumb rate, I would say thank you, and just hang up.) Watch him call you back desperately lol.

Think about the kind of customers that TQL has, and who they are working for... they have customers with deep pockets on loads that you didn't even know existed. 3M, Amazon, Stop and Shop, Kroger, many more. Those kinds of brokers have got to do everything they can to pick up that load, and if it means posting it dumb like that, then they will. Heck, I see it happen all the time too with carriers to it goes both ways. I would just ask, where is this load picking up, and just ask about it. It's only a phone call. Can't really hurt..

Just opinionated response, trying to help you out seeing it from a broker's stand point.

 

Wrong. He wanted it moved cheap despite deadhead. Bragging how he gets trucks to move it for that rate. It's simple leveraging of time. If the broker has two days to move a load they know that the trucks calling likely cannot wait two days to book a load, so why put any money in it for the carrier til time is up ? Even then it's pretty easy to call the customer and make an excuse, isn't it ?

Only a phone call true, but what you don't realize is when brokers pull jive like this it quickly gets to the point where it is easier for me to get direct customers. There are plenty of them out there as fed up with broker games as I am. When brokers make it so difficult to get basic info on a load, make giving good service to a customer nearly impossible we just fugure out who the shipper is and get the load from them. Get it ? You have to provide the carrier with some value. If you can't do that you are not needed.

 

I guess you think I'm lying about this. Wait til I get a break. I'll post the confirmation and check that I wrote up here for everyone to see