Presumptuous brokers and even lower rates

Two words. In effect all year long.


Semper gumby. Always flexible.


If you remain flexible in this business to seasonal trends, you'll do just fine.

 

There was already a trucked booked or that load. They were just trying to get a cheaper rate so they could cancel. That's why the rate was so low....it was already covered.

 

We are just having a dialogue so no offense meant and none taken but in response to your first two sentences. I may not have a connection to the shipper that you do but I surely do have a connection to my business and the requirements to be profitable also my connection to the shipper is the product I'm hauling for them. Picking it up and delivering it on time with no damage. It costs me to make that happen. I have to keep my truck maintained so it doesn't break while I'm delivering the load, I have to pay to be in compliance with all the regulations the government imposes. After spending all day "negotiating" rates I may have to spend all night driving to get the load to the consignee on time.
So you may indeed have a connection to the shipper but where is your connection to the owner operator?
You also used the word fair. I'm all for fair, I love fair. I don't believe in gouging by either party. So by fair do you mean you pay $2.25/mile out of FL after paying $1.75 going in? Or do you pay$.90- $1.00 out of FL because in all the time I've been doing it those are the rates I keep hearing.

 

Lol good one. Remember though you can bend but you can break also. There is a limit to our flexibility I don't care how much yoga you do. Flexibility in what area/areas?

 

Don't be afraid to change "lanes".

Don't be afraid to change markets. Last fall, I hooked onto a hopper.

Don't be afraid to take loads to markets people say are junk.

Don't be afraid to do things that people scratch their head over.

 

There are plenty of carriers up in that area that run that lane a lot and know what the going rate is so if someone is trying to play that game than good luck and sorry to say but they may find someone to do it cheap but that would only be the case if they found a sucker and didn't know any better and shame on the broker and carrier for allowing things like that to happen. Bad business is bad business. We have a lot of new carriers that are trying to learn this business and it is very hard to do during times like this but please take your time and do your homework on any load you are thinking about taking and make sure it will work for you on both ends and that will help things along your journey, don't let someone talk you into anything you are not comfortable with or are not sure, tell them you will call them back and do your homework as nobody can afford to get caught up in bad business but it can still happen even to the experienced guys out there

 

NMdriver is right and I agree totally. Not so much about hooking onto a hopper as around my area and most others it is just as bad if not worse as I know a lot of hopper carriers now pulling a flatbed cuz the hopper business is very slow. Hopper loads again here in the next few weeks will pick up for them also with fertilizer season beginning in areas and what not and all those guys are ready to start trucking again but have enjoyed the time off to get things done to their trucks that they been needing to do from last harvest season

 

I used to run that lane a lot after I found one broker who didn't play the sucker game as you stated but unfortunately for me he went to another company that doesn't use outside trucks. We still keep in touch because he was a stand up guy and I was the same to him. He paid me and I did the job no worries for either of us. So I do know that lane. The rates that are offered by big and small brokers alike out of FL with very limited exceptions are abysmal and have been except at produce time.
It's a fight but I just keep trying to learn how to operate at a profit in the current system and hopefully inspire others to change it for the better. I don't just want it to be good for me alone.

 

So, no fear. I can work with those suggestions.