Reefer Rates Today should be...???

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Purger, Mar 19, 2011.

  1. Mar 19, 2011 #1
    Purger

    Purger Bobtail Member

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    Mar 18, 2011
    Sioux City, IA
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    According to your opinion and reasonable needs, what should the brokers be paying us these days at fuel at $3.90 in AVERAGE??
    What should be considered as some fair OTR rate on ALL loaded and empty miles that truck makes? And...are you actually getting them???
    If regional - speak from your regional point of view please.

    Brokers' comments highly appreciated also, of course. :)

    By the way...I am a one truck LLC, fully independent and drive myself.
     
    Purger, Mar 19, 2011
    Purger, Mar 19, 2011
    #1
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  3. Mar 19, 2011 #2
    Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I believe the rates are fair, but what the broker takes isn't. Haul reefer and deal only with the shipper and you'll be a happy camper.
     
    Allow Me., Mar 19, 2011
    Allow Me., Mar 19, 2011
    #2
    'olhand Thanks this.
  4. Mar 19, 2011 #3
    stepnfetchit

    stepnfetchit Medium Load Member

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    Monett MO
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    There's a link on here somewhere with the USDA truck rates to major metropolitan areas. Is it the best-probably not, but it does serve as a guide to give you some idea of what the rates are industry wide. They've got a pretty good handle on it and I use to check it weekly but I looked back and can't find the link. I believe it's USDA. gov. transportation.com or truck rates .com. It's produce shipments and I believe it's what the produce shippers pay. As far as dealing direct with a shipper that's a helluva lot easier said than done believe me. I tried for years and frankly they don't want to deal with a one truck operation. They wanna know that loads are gonna go on the day it's scheduled and not the next day or the day after. I'm not saying it can't be done and if it was easy everybody would be doing it but it's #### tough as a single operator to meet their requirements. Go talk to the guy in charge of shipping and see what he has to say. You ain't gonna like it. I talked to a guy a few years ago regarding reefer freight and he very frankly told me that unless I could spot two trailers for them to load he couldn't help me. Didn't give up and actually made it to the corporate headquarters and was introduced to and talked with the VP of transportation. Very nice gentleman and listened respectfully and than as graciously as possible told me what their needs were. There was no way I could afford their equipment needs. Yes they load individual o/o's and would be glad to put me on their approved list and call me if a load wasn't covered. The call never came and I checked with them quite often. I don't begrudge anyone trying and wish them the best but be ready to get a rare insight into the corporate mentality and their needs.
     
    stepnfetchit, Mar 19, 2011
    stepnfetchit, Mar 19, 2011
    #3
    Purger Thanks this.
  5. Mar 19, 2011 #4
    Purger

    Purger Bobtail Member

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    Mar 18, 2011
    Sioux City, IA
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    I appreciate you contribution although I was never questioning the fairness of the shippers' rates.
    My understanding is that brokers in average keep for themselves 50% and more of what they get from the shipper...sometimes on some loads probably even 70-80% when a stupid carrier allows them.

    I am trying to get an insight here on how much in average per mile are drivers/small carriers as myself happy with?

    Directly with a shipper you say? Well, we all kinda know that already, of course. If that could be achieved for a one truck carrier half as easy as you stated it easily, most of the brokers would have been out of business long time ago. :)

    I did try a few times though, so far unsuccessfully, but will keep on trying...
    I dare to guess why is it so hard or basically impossible...
    It is a pure speculation on my side, of course, but based on certain indications, I developed a theory... my theory is that the traffic managers (or equivalent) of bigger shippers may be "stimulated" privately/personally by the brokers in various ways in order to reject working directly with a small carrier. I have no evidence nor am accusing anybody, of course...just speculating that that may be the reason in some cases.
     
    Purger, Mar 19, 2011
    Purger, Mar 19, 2011
    #4
  7. Mar 19, 2011 #5
    Purger

    Purger Bobtail Member

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    Mar 18, 2011
    Sioux City, IA
    0
    Thank you...easy to find...just type key words 'usda truck rates' in the search field...
     
    Purger, Mar 19, 2011
    Purger, Mar 19, 2011
    #5
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