Why is everyone complaining about the rates?

Nah, not me, man. I like to keep up on how badly the lumber barons are beating down these idiots who take this crap all day long.

 

The biggest problem is that unless you're already under contract or know somebody, $2 reefer loads are all that's available for most people. This time of year there are thousands of reefer loads out of the west coast down into Texas, but none of them are being put out on the boards. Every #### one of them is spoken for. Getting a foot in the door right now is nearly impossible.

 

Yeah it’s got to be $2000, I thought it was funny !!

 

What good is $3.00 a mile into a dead zone? It's futile. Yet, guys get desperate for cashflow and fall for the sucker loads day in and day out.

 

You could be the world best negotiator,without some critical informations you wont be able to force any broker to pay more than he’s willing to pay.
In a down market a trucker is not just competing against other truckers but also against mutiple brokers under cutting each other to gain shippers business.
With fewer loads brokers tend to raise their profit margins to keep the same amount of money coming in.
First thing a trucker needs to do is study the load board over couple days:if the same load is posted with different shipping dates Then the broker is not under pressure to move it.
A load that been posted day after day could be an indicator that the broker is having hard time to move it due to many reasons:mutilple stops,mutiple pick ups etc
Second certain loads need special handling or driver unload etc if you willing to do extra work you can negotiate a better rate.
Third make sure you are cleared to access ports,goverment facilties etc
Increase your dead head to cover a bigger area while making sure you can meet your daily and mileage target rates.
Ask brokers to add you to their email list that will help you see loads before they hit the board.
Keep a list of loads you’ve done in the past and call ahead to find repeat business.
Last deliver on your promises be punctual and communicate everything with your broker.

 

With refrigerated comes higher outlet costs on so many different levels that if a guy isn't turning at least $2.50 to $3.00 ALL miles revenue, it's not even worth it, in my humble opinion of course LOL.

 

True, but what we are doing here is educating not only the person asking questions but the thousands upon thousands of people reading this. If everyone asked for more, everyone would get more!

 

Smooth talk and knowing your area can help you to not leave money on the table like many do. But mostly it will get you hung up on or cursed. Lol

 

I welcome those brokers.

Any broker who asks me why so high of a rate I ask them if they want to make a $.001 for every mile I drive.

I always get a no as an answer, then I remind them that is the reason why I won’t do it for a low ball rate.

 

Diesel is like $3.25-$3.75 a gallon and people are getting by on these $2.00 per mile loads or less?

This job eats $100 dollar bills like crazy every day and I don't have to name all the cost either.