Dealing with brokers......
 

Im about to leave the company i with(schneider) and lease on to one where if i wanted/needed to i can find broker loads from a list of brokers, when calling, when u find a load, do you ask the normal questions that i would think you ask? How much does it pay, weight, when to p/u? etc??? do you ever ask will the consgnee accept load early if you can get there or do they ask you when can u be there?

HMMMMM
 

I'm want to follow what you are saying but, I don't think being lease onto another carrier will allow you to speak with brokers and book your own loads. Any company that can come close to what you are trying to do is Landstar.

You do ask those type of questions about the load. "Don't forget about strong negotiation skills" If you are just starting it may be helpful to hire a independent dispatcher or have a strong organized support person to handle your dispatch. It's not impossible to do as a one man operation but, it is however time consuming....I can help you if you have your own authority or lease on to a carrier that allows you to book your own loads, ex. Landstar.

Good Luck!

im leasing onto a company that pulls LTL and TL freight i have the option pull their ltl/tl freight OR find me a load thru a list of brokers....

Oh okay, Are they using big name companies for brokers like CHRobinson, AllenLund, etc.....? Do you get to negotiate the rate? Most brokers give you all the information about the load when you call and inquire. It is best to be looking at a loadboard to eliminate cold calling that don't lead you to nothing. You will be calling, calling, calling and spending less time driving, driving, driving....lolz

**Addtionally, I'm assuming they pay you a percentage of the loads you book.

I may be able to help you when you need to find your own loads, if you decide to go that route. That is provided you don't have somthing in place to handle the responsibilities of booking own loads. It requires alot of time and patience.

Re: Dealing with brokers......
 

Yes and Yes! Many times you are given a delivery time but ask for the receivers phone # (just in case i get lost and need directions) and call and ask them if they will receive early. Many smaller places will let you deliver early. While you have them on the phone, ask if they have truck parking and what is the earliest that you can get in the gate. It is much easier to try and find the place in the evening and wake up in their lot and be at the front of the line.

HAHA Crash, I love your quote. Sounds like me in the office when I started. A map was greek to me, I couldn't figure out what took a truck so long to travel a short distance..lol

Most loads you find will have a time span from a certain time until a certain time. Some have strict appointments and threaten to charge if you are late...lolz

Assuming you're finding the loads posted on an internet load board of some type, here's about how it works.

-search for a load withing the P/U & del area you want.
-determine deadhead miles to P/U
-determine loaded miles
-estimate probable deadhead to next P/U miles.
-add all those miles together and multiply by our cost/mile to figure your cost to pull that load.
-Punch the broker MC# into www.safersys.org to see thet they have broker authority and a valid bond.
-If you use a credit check service, check to see that the broker pays his bills.

Then dial the number:

You: Hi, I'm calling about Timbuktu to Ankorage.
Broker: Yes, can you pick up today?
You: tomorrow morning.
Broker: OK, It's one pick one drop, legal on a step deck. 25,000lbs pays $900 to the truck on 450 miles.
You: Does it need a tarp?
Broker: Yes.
You: what are the dimensions?
Broker: 35' long by 8' wide by 11' high.
You: 11' high? I thought you said it was legal?
Broker: Some guys let the air out of the suspension.
You: Chuckle. What are the pickup and delivery times?
Broker: between 8:00 - 3:00 on the pickup and there is a 8:00 crane appointment at the delivery.
You: Crane appointment....hmmmm. I show 500 miles. I can do it for $1,000 + $150 for 3 permits.
Broker: I can give you $1100 all in.
You: OK.
Broker: What's the company name?
You: Hammerdown trucking.
Broker: I don't think we've dealt with you have we?
You: No.
Broker: I'll fax you a carrier packet. Fill it out and fax it back along with your W9, your authourity and insurance. What's your fax number?

Once you receive the carrier packet you can check their days to pay. Some are 45 days and you may decide to renegotiate the rate becuase of that or negotiate a shorter payment time or forget it alltogether.

good luck
rank

So that's the way the conversion is suppose to go????


Me: Hi, this is Steve calling about that load you have posted and....
Broker: Click
Me: Hello?

yeah right, more like:

Steve: Hi this is Steve.
Broker: Oh my God it's Steve (screaming to all broker friends in office). Will you please sign my rate confirmation?

i posted a reply ths morning it disappeared!!!! :lol: