When is a 53' Step, a 53' Step?

Every broker agreement that I've signed has a clause that states that the carrier agrees to pay the broker a certain percentage (usually 10-15%) of direct business gained as a result of their contact for a period of 1-2 years following the first load you haul for them. So they know it goes on, they've put a price on it, and they can sue you for that percentage and win, should they choose to.

 

This was one of those deals where a particular load was CPU or Will Call or whatever you wanna call it, and the broker for the buyer of this particular machine called to get his driver (who didn't speak English, or have his proper equipment) he gets his information then starts poking around for "in house rates" which shipper tells him, broker says "hey you're over paying" shipper says no I'm not (like I said the only thing I don't do is sweep the floors) I have a key to the gate, I load myself, I unload myself, I have everything I need for these particular loads, long story short the broker tried quoting rates that were $1/pm less then what I do it for, ever since then, I've never have 2 ##### about a broker agreement, because there is no repercussion for a broker to come undercut a house carrier, and honestly EVERYTIME I've went around a broker my rates have been higher then there's.......it's called service, something lots of companies lack

 

It is a lot of work to keep rates up by dealing with customers that appreciate service, especially in this environment. Over the long term, I think we keep improving our customer base, weeding out the cheap stuff and doing more with customers that are willing to pay for service. On the bright side these customers tend to be much more loyal.

 

And I've said it 1000 times ill say it 1000 more times, Rates in broker land are different then rates in "real customer land"