[scooter823]

Called on a load going from Ft Bragg NC to Ft Wayne IN. Broker tells me $900.00 which comes to 1.36/mile. I asked her what was up with that. She hung up on me :shock: Unbelievable!

[Kranky]

Originally Posted by scooter823

I asked her what was up with that.

Certainly not the rate, that's for sure. :shock:

[BanditsCousin]

She hung up because she probably got the same response from a dozen other smart operators right before you.

[NotSteve]

HA HA HA HA HA...Welcome to the club...

If you have an Internet Truckstop account and you do a search in any area it shows up on a brokers instant notification.

So, when I get bored, I look for a load in Chicago then wait for the phone to ring and it does. I then say, I don't have a truck posted. The broker says yes you do, I just got a notification. They check and find out I don't but say you were looking in that area? I say yes, I just like to screw with you guys. Then they hang up on me.

I have a friend who has been a broker for many years. She and others are doing exactly what I thought. They are getting more money from the shippers because of higher fuel and offering even less for the load knowing that most carriers are on the verge of going out of business and HAVE to take the load or starve. She said it's never been so good for them.

[scooter823]

I don't know what is happening, but it seems like the higher fuel goes the lower the rates are getting. Called on one Landstar had, he asked me what I needed to move the load, told him what I could do it for. He said he would have to check with the shipper and would get back with me, still waiting on that one :shock:

[solo379]

Originally Posted by NotSteve

They are getting more money from the shippers because of higher fuel and offering even less for the load knowing that most carriers are on the verge of going out of business and HAVE to take the load or starve. She said it's never been so good for them.

Well, I'm glad they do! Cause when the herd get thinner, and they couldn't get a trucks, to cover the loads, it's gonna be their time to be "on the verge of going out of business", and those of us who survive, will name the price! :P

[DD60]

When I had my truck posted in Dallas my phone rang nonstop from brokers that sounded desperate. One offered me a load to UT for a somewhat ok rate. I asked them for 1100.00 more than what they were offering and they accepted it. Just look at the load densities section on ITS. If you post the truck in an area that shows more loads picking up than dropping off than you have a better advantage of negotiating a higher rate when they call you. The best rates are usually negotiated at the last minute when the broker really needs a truck to move the load. Calling on loads listed on the loadboard for the most part can be a waste of time. IF I call on a load and the rate is cheap I will politely tell them what my rate for that lane is and once in a while they might agree close to it and most times they say no thank you and we both hang up. When they call me on a truck I posted I usually get a much better rate.Good rates are rarely offered on a loadboard or upfront. They have to be negotiated and asked for.

[DD60]

Originally Posted by scooter823

Called on a load going from Ft Bragg NC to Ft Wayne IN. Broker tells me $900.00 which comes to 1.36/mile. I asked her what was up with that. She hung up on me :shock: Unbelievable!

You should have laughed and just hung up. :lol: Rates from NC to In. are over 2.00pm minimum for a reefer.

[GMAN]

I would not waste a lot of time on those brokers who have cheap rates. It is not worth the time. I would suggest making note of those who offer cheap rates and mark them my list. There are some that I won't even bother calling due to their historically low rates. If a broker usually offers cheap freight they are likely either double brokering or skimming way too much off the top. Last year I got a call from a broker who offered me a load for $1.50 coming out of an area where I consistently get the same loads from $2.50-3/mile. I don't think he has called me again. There are some brokers who always seem to offer cheap rates. I don't waste my time with them. I have told some to take me off of their call list.

Things will turn around. I am already seeing higher rates in some areas. There are brokers and shippers who continue to try and take advantage of those already in trouble. Their short term profit will cost them dearly in the months ahead. The fewer trucks available the greater your negotiating position. If you stick to your guns, you should be able to get a better rate.

[merrick4]

Originally Posted by NotSteve

If you have an Internet Truckstop account and you do a search in any area it shows up on a brokers instant notification.

You can call up and get that disabled. That was a real pain in the a**.