What am I missing?

The driver either wanted to help his company or he was just a jerk...
I don't call it "haggling", it's negotiating for a better rate. A rate that the company and driver can profit from. Smart business. A lot of time now the person whom you are trying to work with, who says this is the rate and is telling the biggest lie on the planet, is trying to get the load hauled cheaper than what he/she is getting it done for now. Trying to keep the transportation budget down and keep their job.
You did the right thing, it's always easier to start high and if you have to drop your proposal, so be it, you are still going to be profitable.
Very often and this happens with "on-line" rate bids, a carrier will bid so low that no other carrier will bid it, the low ball carrier wins the bid, here's what happens... Mr. low ball carrier never or seldom goes to the location the freight is at or doesn't have enough equipment to service the account. The customer then has to go down the line to other carriers to pick up his freight. Low ball carrier also doesn't know what his costs are and maybe hauls a load or two, makes no money, won't pick up again.
This isn't the right way to do business. While I realize that I am old fashioned about the "right" way to do business. I still feel that the customer should not tell everyone under the sun what the rate is. The customer also has to accept some blame for these things too.
Carriers should price the lane and make it cost effective for their company, not just to get business. If I were to place blame, I'd blame a lot of companies for not knowing or caring about costing their freight. Also, for not training their sales people to cost the business and letting them quote rates that no profit can be made. Also, reps should be knowledgeable about the industry, not just order takers. We are all out here to make a profit and I was always taught that "profit was not a dirty word"
I also blame the decision maker at the shipper for playing rate games with carriers. But, the day of real traffic managers is pretty much gone. As is the industry as a lot of us knew it.
I am rambling, so I'll get off the soapbox. I'm old LOL its time for a nap.
Thank you to anyone who reads my posts and thanks to anyone who responds. It's good to "talk" with those who really are concerned about our industry.

 

I agree with you ( luvtheroad ) !
basically someone started the ball rolling, i.e. Me talking (big mistake, lol ) to driver then driver informs company he drives for, then company talks to shipper. ect. and the ball never stops rolling until it hits bottom.

I don't have any truck payments or house payments, but 90%+ of Americans that drive truck do, so I try to account for this by quoting rates to shippers as if I did have these payments. Though my truck is paid for, it is not new and at some point if I stay o/o'n I will have to buy another truck. So I will have to pay cash or make payments, and if I have to make payments can I still afford to run these loads at current rate. These are things as a business person I must account for, its not just looking at the here and now, but the future also.

 

I admit I could if I just looked at the here and now and wanted to I could run freight for about $1.20/m all day long, because I have no big bills, but what good does that do, and tomorrow if my truck quits and have to buy another truck then that $1.20/m won't cut it. So o/o and companies need to be looking at the future and asking themselves is this rate going to work. Thats why I haggle ( negotiate ) for better rates, and when talking to shippers, brokers I take these things in account, but like I said it doesn't always work
but at least I try.

P.S. that company tried to get me to underbid that load that was taken from me, I just flat out told them "NO, I will quit o/o and drive for a company before I take part in the cut throat game."

 

Dear employee:

As a result of the reduction of money budgeted for all department areas, we are forced to cut down on our number of personnel. Under this plan, older employees will be asked to take early retirement, thus permitting the retention of younger people who represent our future.

Therefore, a program to phase out older personnel by the end of the next fiscal year, via retirement, will be placed into effect immediately.

This program will be known as S.L.A.P. (Severance of Late-Aged Personnel).

Employees who are SLAPPED will be given the opportunity to look for jobs outside the company.

SLAPPED employees can request a review of their employment records before actual retirement takes place. This review phase of the program will be called S.C.R.E.W. (Survey of Capabilities of Retired Elderly Workers).

All employees who have been SLAPPED and SCREWED may file an appeal with upper management.

This appeal is called S.H.A.F.T. (Study by Higher Authority Following Termination).

Under the terms of the new policy, an employee may be SLAPPED once, SCREWED twice, but may be SHAFTED as many times as the company deems appropriate.

If an employee follows the above procedure, he/she will be entitled to get: H.E.R.P.E.S. (Half Earnings for Retired Personnel's Early Severance) or CLAP (Combined Lump sum Assistance Payment).

As H.E.R.P.E.S. and C.L.A.P.. are considered benefit plans, any employee who has received H.E.R.P.E.S . or C.L.A.P. will no longer be SLAPPED or SCREWED by the company.

Management wishes to assure the younger employees who remain on board that the company will continue its policy of training employees through our: Special High Intensity Training ( S.H.I.T.).

We take pride in the amount of S.H.I.T. our employees receive. We have given our employees more S.H.I.T. than any company in this area. If any employee feels they do not receive enough S.H.I.T. on the job, see your immediate supervisor. Your supervisor is specially trained to make sure you receive all the S.H.IT. you can stand.

And, once again, thanks for all your years of loyal service with us!

The Management

 

And do we oldies even get a kiss, from the employer that we have helped grow, stay profitable and have allowed the owners to live like royalty? Not a snowball's chance. But, I still love the industry...

 

Hey kentucky,

I am pretty sure i got that job.Go tomorrow for last interview and drug screen.May start monday.Its not the best but it's out and back.Thats very important nowaday's..

No more sitting in truck stops playin with myself wondering if there are any loads...WHAT A RELIEF....

I will make the same money as o/o and be home 4 times a week dedicated.3 night out...

I thought i would let you no...I hope it works for me...We will see.

 

Whatcha doin with your truck?

 

so this means that we wont see your thoughtful insight on here LOL and you wont be buying me dinner when i am in kc mid february???

 

It used to be, and I am sure you can remember, that if a company was doing a run like you were, that other companies would kinda let it alone. There was a certain live and let live ethic. But none of that applies now, its the dog eat dog concept now.

 

You check and you might find that the broker sold it out. They got someone for less which means that more is for them.