Should rates be public?

That also is very true..Unfortunately

 

Rates change depending on lanes and seasons. That would be a nightmare to keep updated.

 

Should expenses be public too? What about the number you pay tax on at year end?

I've found one key to steady good rates is to do steady business with the same folks every time. Or you can live and die by the spot. Bend them over and get bent over. Pick your poison.

 

Except "Race to the bottom" is a very real thing. Heck, it even happen here on TTR. Someone posts a rate on a run, and someone always makes a comment "Oh, I'll do that run for $x-a little bit."

Look, for example at Amazon marketplace, ebay, Google Market, or anyplace that comares price. The lowest always get the top spot. That's because that's what the users demand. No use comparing if one isn't going for the cheapest option.

 

Yes you all can... Just ask the russians... just trying to help you guys is all.. good luck to you and your rate hunting!

 

I don't see anything wrong with transparency as a rate getter. I could always use it to my benefit. For example, I could call that TQL agent and say to him "You gave that dude $500 more for this load 5 minutes ago! Are you f...with me?"
On the other hand, If I were a broker or a shipper I'd say "none of you business to know what I pay and who! I like that dude better and will pay them whatever I want. Now you can take this load for that little or take your truck and shove it!"
There is no room for fairness here. As long as I am a carrier I want the chain block though. As soon as I am a broker, not so much.

 

but for what reason?

To help my competition?

hell no.

My rates to my customers are private, they are negotiated with them on the good faith of both my company and myself, and to allow anyone else to see what I get can be detrimental to my bottom line.

My rates I get from negotiating with brokers are also private, they are my business and no one else.

If you guys live off a load board and brokers, there are other things that has to be done to actually help you, one is transparency with each and every load - from where it came from to the contact person and the "owner" or originator of the original load.

Too many times there are double, triple and and a few loads been posted six different times by six different brokers on the same load board. This is where the gouging or better put revenue capture takes place without any means to stop it. A broker posts someone else's load, then they should be forced to disclose who that broker or shipper is with all info disclosed, too bad if they can't make money but it helps with our end of the business. This block chain crap may be used to even cover this abuse up more with no means to disclose who owns the load.

Brokers are a part of this business, they are not always needed nor welcomed but for many this is the only means for loads out there.