saying NO to cheap freight

You can get decent rates whether you have direct shippers or go though brokers. Sometimes you can even get a better rate through a broker than from the shipper. Each situation is different. Getting a good rate has more to do with your negotiating skills as it does whether you deal with a broker or the shipper.

 

Not saying i dont believe you but i would like to see where a broker is offering a better rate than the direct shipper is. Some brokers offer exellent rates but i have never seen one offer a higher rate than the shipper was.

 

I have to agree with G man on this. We hauled direct for Ocean Spray, CHR would regularly pay higher rates than we could get direct, especially during the last week of the calender quarter. And, if you haul landscape mulch out of the northwest, the shippers will consistently lowball you, offering 10-20 cents less than what you can get off the broker boards.

 

I stand corrected and i do remember now after i just looked at a rate sheet that the scotts company here in CT does that. They give the brokers extra money during there busy season, one of the reasons i do not pull for scotts anymore.

 

There have been several instances where a shipper has attempted to get me to haul for less than I was getting from the broker. If you have been around long enough running your own authority you will see it for yourself providing you have direct contact with shippers.

 

I think the general idea of cheap freight is if you are going to haul a load for someone, either shipper or broker, and you haul it for less than it costs you to operate your equipment and pay yourself a good company driver wage. My cost on my truck (leased to a carrier) is .97/mile + .45/mile for myself. My bottom line then would be $1.42 a mile. Good thing I dont work for a cheap freight hauling carrier. If I had my own authority and trailer to maintain, then I would say add an easy 12 cpm to that rate...thats just my 2 nickels worth...

 

Can you have her video it and post it here

 

And what about profits if you are running a business and have no profits you might as well go drive for a company at lease they will make a profit. And if you was running under you own authority adding 12 cpm to $1.42 wouldn't hardly cover your operating expense. There is a lot of O/O that run cheap just for the thrill of saying they own the truck and can go fast and can talk junk to company drivers and behind it all the company driver clears a lot more money. If you run a business you have to run it for profits not just because

 

no need to call. She just does it on regular basis for all the things I have done that she doesn't know about.