if you think the rates aren't there....listen to this

[rank]

Yesterday (Friday) I called on ~10 loads trying to load step decks for Monday. Some were in real good locations with low dh miles but the rates weren't quite what I was looking for. Anyway, I was close on a couple but the clock expired and I didn't book any loads becasue I would rather sit at home and wait for a rate. It's happened a few times where I make lots of calls and quote high rates and when a truck falls off the load, my phone rings.

Now, this one load in particular was offered by Broker "A" at $800 on 550 miles. I said, "No I generally get ~$3/mile for a trip like that". He counters with $900 and we say our good byes.

This morning (Saturday) I get a call from Broker "B" pushing that same load. I throw out my $1500 rate again and he says OK. So by saying no to cheap frieght Friday, I was able to get $1500 on 550 miles + $100 to tarp.

Now, what happened here?

1) Broker A was trying to double broker the $1500 load for $900 and pocket the $600 difference, or
2) Broker B took the load from Broker A for $900 and is offering me the moon to pull it but has no intention of paying me?

I don't know, but we're about to find out. :?:

[RostyC]

3) The load pays 1800, Broker B was the original broker of the load, Broker A was trying to be too greedy and pocket the 600 + 300, Broker B makes contact with you because he needs to get it moved (not knowing Broker A contacted you previously), both parties agree to the rate, rank gets paid early and dances into the sunset throwing money into the air like he's Daddy Warbucks.

I like that one the best. 8)

Let us know how it goes rank.

[dteam270]

Thats a pretty good rate. Is it an oversize?

[GMAN]

You don't have to take cheap freight. We recently pulled out a load from an area which is known for cheap freight. I was offered rates as low as $1/mile. I came out with a rate of over $2/mile. They are there if you are patient. You may have to work harder to find them, but it is better to wait than take something that offers no profit. I see no need to perform a needed service for free. When you haul freight without making a profit, you are hauling for free.

[tootie04]

the same thing happed to us as GMAN. We found a load with a really good rate in a bad freight area. We took the load and it turned out the first truck that booked the load never showed up, and this load HAD to be delivered at a specific time in order to unload and time was running out.

tootie

[rank]

3) The load pays 1800, Broker B was the original broker of the load, Broker A was trying to be too greedy and pocket the 600 + 300, Broker B makes contact with you because he needs to get it moved

I suppose that could be possible, but I'm always ready for the worst.

rank gets paid early and dances into the sunset throwing money into the air like he's Daddy Warbucks.

OMG that is so not true it's hilarious.

[rank]

Thats a pretty good rate. Is it an oversize?

Nope supposed to be flatbed legal. 45,000lbs though, so I suppose some guys couldn't scale it but we can.

[rank]

RTS has a "D" credit rating on this Broker. 109 days to pay. Not good huh? I called the bond company and got to know the claims manager this morning. Nice guy. I mentioned that he may be hearing from me in 31 days. He said "no problem, I don't recognize the brokers name so I don't think there have been many claims. Just fax me your invoice and POD and we will look into it".

So with that, we are loaded, tarped and gone. 30,000 lbs per the customs invoice. (2) steel boxes at 15,000lbs each. 6'L W x 12' L.

[RostyC]

rank, what's the monthly fee for RTS?

[rank]

They don't have a monthly fee AFAIK. They charge by the search and it isn't cheap. There are different price plans but $5/search is a good average.

[jdtj63]

You don't have to take cheap freight. We recently pulled out a load from an area which is known for cheap freight. I was offered rates as low as $1/mile. I came out with a rate of over $2/mile. They are there if you are patient. You may have to work harder to find them, but it is better to wait than take something that offers no profit. I see no need to perform a needed service for free. When you haul freight without making a profit, you are hauling for free.

I am going broke because I refuse to haul the cheap freight anymore. Maybe someone can enlighten me on how to play the game.

Fuel is at 3 dollars a gallon and unless you get a rate of 1.60 or more per mile you will go broke. :sad:

[rank]

You don't have to take cheap freight. We recently pulled out a load from an area which is known for cheap freight. I was offered rates as low as $1/mile. I came out with a rate of over $2/mile. They are there if you are patient. You may have to work harder to find them, but it is better to wait than take something that offers no profit. I see no need to perform a needed service for free. When you haul freight without making a profit, you are hauling for free.

I am going broke because I refuse to haul the cheap freight anymore. Maybe someone can enlighten me on how to play the game.

Fuel is at 3 dollars a gallon and unless you get a rate of 1.60 or more per mile you will go broke. :sad:

park the truck until rates come up. hopefully it's paid for. at least you're not going broke AND wearing the truck out. that's a double insult.

[RostyC]

What kind of trailer do you have jdtj63? what areas are you running in?

[GMAN]

There seems to be a lot more freight right now. Some are still trying to broker loads at cheap rates. The sad thing is that some people are still hauling them. Why haul freight if you are going broke? You may as well stay home if you aren't making a profit. This is a business. A business must make a profit or it will fail to exist.

[no_worries]

There seems to be a lot more freight right now.

Depends on where you are and what you're hauling. I did notice the flatbed freight in the SE was strong, but since that's not what I run I don't know how those volumes compare historically for this time of year. Other areas and modes, it's all over the map. All indexes still say freight is significantly slower than normal as a whole.

[GMAN]

Freight is down, but seems to be better than last year at this time, at least for me. You are correct about the region of the country. Some areas have more and better paying freight than other places. You still don't have to haul cheap freight. Of course, that is a personal decision we all must make.

[jdtj63]

Freight is down, but seems to be better than last year at this time, at least for me. You are correct about the region of the country. Some areas have more and better paying freight than other places. You still don't have to haul cheap freight. Of course, that is a personal decision we all must make.

GMan I agree with you that is why I sit at home and have come to the conclusion that I will go broke either way so why become the working poor when I can not work and get the same result. My truck is not paid for but my trailer is.

People in this country have become used to getting something for nothing. I will not participate in this race to the bottom economy any more. I for one am fed up with it.

Do Lawyers work for free? NO

Do Doctors work for free? No

Bankers? No

Why then are truck drivers expected to give their services for almost nothing in return?

[GMAN]

I have been wandering that for years. It has never made sense to work for free, unless you are doing volunteer work.

[no_worries]

I just talked to a few of my contacts up in the NW regarding apple rates this year. Apparently the rails have made huge inroads into the apple market cutting about $700 off the rates. Guess we won't be doing many apples this year