Presumptuous brokers and even lower rates

We all can make jokes, but someone who needs to get home to Miami will take that load.

 

Exactly! I have come to realize that the game isn't fair though. A lot of guys just want to move loads for the lowest possible rate. I understand that we as owners need to learn to negotiate and build relationships but as I understand it relationship building is a two way street. A lot of brokers and agents couldn't give two hoots about relationships, it's about a cut throat mentality. I've heard some conversations in the background while speaking with some companies that are just appalling. They demonstrated just how they view the people that they depend on to deliver their freight. I've only run into two in the years I've been doing this that genuinely sought a win win in negotiating. Sadly they both left the companies.
I don't believe "fair" is in the lexicon of most brokers, or it has a different definition than Webster's.

 

Yep and they will take it for less than $2.00 a mile.. I have teams that run that lane and the best we see is $2.50 a mile and those loads go as fast as they get posted.

 

Lots of people must be taking these low rates though because they certainly fly off the board. It's baffling to me.
I asked one broker, if your boss asked you to come into work and your pay would be equal to the amount of fuel required to get you to work, what would you tell him?
He would tell his boss to go fly a kite.
I then asked him what if every other company you applied to, (because the last boss fired him right..) told you the same thing, would you go to work for fuel money?
He said no. So why do you expect me to work for fuel money?

 

That okay everyone has there go to brokers but what your trying to explain above don't happen either, just saying and I don't mean to be hitting a sore spot as I can tell your getting upset, I'm just saying I been doing this 20 years and know those lanes and rates and shippers to and they do NOT pay that kind of coin to move a load like that when there are many others who would be happy to take that load. It is not like your the only truck in that area for that load and your team drivers and trucks are no different than all the others.

I'm sure every Brokers is on your do not call list if you demand those rates. You are too expensive for any broker or shipper.

Good luck to you and wish you the best out there

 

Only a fool would take a load to Miami for that rate without an ironclad guarantee of a reload for at least $2/mile. Once unloaded, you can usually look forward to a minimum deadhead of 350 miles to get something out of Jacksonville. You could have more if you need to come up to Georgia or South Carolina.

 

windsmith, UTI does have a point. When you quote Neiman-Marcus rates to K-mart brokers, what did you really expect? Since you're not in the race to the bottom, you need to quit getting hurt feelings with low-ball offers. It's just a market segment that you aren't playing in. Let it go. I promise UTI and others aren't taking any lessons from your "punishment."

 

If I went to any of my shippers in that area with your rate they would fire me and laugh at me too. I know better and learned over the years I can always go to my shippers with reasonable offers and 90% they will take me up on it. Learn how to negotiate better and build relationships with brokers and shippers and never demand anything and you will get further in this business I can promise you that, it works every time. Others will tell you the same thing..

Shippers and brokers only have so much they can spend on their freight bills, you will find that out as time goes on