Under $2/mile loads with $6/gal diesel.

I just think that's the price you pay for dealing with brokers. They're in business too, they gotta get something out of it as well. It's a pain in the rear of dealing with 3rd party or middle man businesses. I just don't get wanting to know other entity's business practices. It seems easier to plain not do business with a broker that won't pay appropriately.

 

While brokered loads only represent a small portion of my revenue, I generally hate making the call. The usual "ok well here goes nuthin' " races through my mind. What kind of excuses am I going to hear? And I feel that I am very fair in my negotiating. I look at the broker like a blackjack dealer. Would I like to see his cards? Darn right I would. He's already seeing mine, and already knows what I'm going to have in my hand. I want to win too. Some of the rates I've been seeing are just downright ridiculous and I have no idea how or why anybody would even consider the idea of moving it. It can get cobwebs, grow mold, expire, whatever, let that crap sit there. For those people hanging on for dear life because they were foolish enough to go out and buy a half used up truck at almost new truck prices, well that was a poor business decision right from the start. Now that that reality has surely set in perhaps it's time they start filling out applications, turn the keys back in to the bank, and get on with their lives. And for the ones that do survive, when the rates do start to turn around, how about keeping it on the down low. Worry about you and only you. Smile on your way to the bank, but for gods sake keep your mouth shut. Too many trucks out here as it is.

 

The irony in this statement is that it's not about what they make, it's about them hiding that info and claiming they have a legal right to do so. They don't. That's why Joe keeps talking about transparency.

 

I think this is the term Joe has been referring to:

Legal Definition of SUBSTANTIVE UNCONSCIONABILITY

 

I demand more than " to the point" in order for me to dispell all ambiguities as to what intentions are meant. I find him a hostile individual and I never know how much he intends to hurt. Sometimes it is an awkward feeling, you think someone is kissing while they are biting.

I am advocating using all means possible to stack cards in favor of an owner operator.
You are falling for the "it ain't none of my business" trap. That itself must be due to the proper and honorable upbringing and adhering to general ethical standards but when I look it at impartially and having been at it long enough, I wonder if I should have any qualms breaching what is considered as standard or otherwise proper. How about seeing it as an opportunity and take it?

 

If you for some reason feel they are breaking the law, take them to court, let a judge decide.
You are not a judge, and don't get to decide that.

So how strongly do you feel about them doing what you don't maybe like?

Somewhat, so complain on a website.
Or strongly, and start a lawsuit ?

15 years ago I had a fired employee feel he was wronged. He went to the labor relations board, and reported me.
They did a full investigation, and in their final report, I was deemed to have done nothing wrong, and was justified in my firing him.
I actually admire that he had the guts to report me.
Although I knew that he was wrong, and would lose.
At least he went to the authorities and plead his case.

It seems that nowadays people who feel wronged, whether they are or not, go complain about their boss, broker, whatever, on a website, instead of going to the authorities about it.

That makes no sense to me, unless they deep down know that they will lose in a court of law.

 

I couldn't agree more. I'm not sharing my profit margin on a load with a broker. He might think I'm 100 miles away, I could be at the same address. I could have non exclusive freight on the deck, could be empty. Its just a hustle. They are doing thier best to hustle me, I'm doing my best to hustle them. If it doesn't pay what I need it to, I dont haul it. Learn who pays on time and avoid the rest of the bone heads.

Id rather be over priced and work 3 days a week, Than busy for 6 days a week. I'd rather go broke parked.

 

Mr. Robinson had one that always stuck with me - though apparently summations are unhelpful here -

“I don’t want to be the busy idiot”

 

I understand what the law is, how judges form their opinion, and what contracts are. I'm telling you that carriers only "believe" they can't ask for pricing data. You can. However, the broker doesn't have to respond. Therefore, in order to see the pricing info, you'll have to take them to court. I can't find any case law of carriers suing brokers to see rate data. If anyone knows of cases, please share.

Personally, I don't care what brokers make. I have researched all the data I can find and I operate off of market data, not operational costs...even though I know what my costs are, I will gouge the hell out of a broker when I can because that's the game I'm playing. I didn't make the rules. Right now, brokers are rolling in high cotton. Just like carriers in the good times, I hope they are saving it because the pendulum swings both ways. When I call about a load, I'm negotiating my rate, not taking what the broker is offering. If I make what I want and the broker makes a lot, good for him. If he loses money on the load, maybe he needs to analyze his data a little more carefully.

Here's a proposition for this website: can I make a thread and we can all share what we charge for different lanes? Would that be against the rules somehow?

 

@blairandgretchen even did a 2 hour long interview with him thats available to watch on youtube if ur interested @TallJoe