The smart operator will avoid bragging on great fuel miles.
 

It would be better to complain how poor it is.

Otherwise, you give away a lot of leverage, for negotiating a higher rate.

There are lots of reasons to justify the complaint.
Platforms may seem easier to justify the complaint, but box haulers can site the wind, the hills and traffic. Maybe some other stuff, too.

Don't you think?

Re: The smart operator will avoid bragging on great fuel mil
 

I actually agree with this. Back when I was doing HHG, there were a lot of I/C's who would brag to customers that they were making a profit off the FSC. It was paying for all the fuel and then some. Some of the bigger customers started complaining to the Van Lines. As a result, all the Van Lines got together and decided to cap the FSC to appease the customers.

What a bunch of morons!

It's Graebel, what did you expect? lol

:lol: :lol: :lol:

I rarely talked about the charges with a customer unless asked. I always painted the picture poorly when asked (truck pmt, labor costs, claims, etc). I'd also tell customers I had 2 kids and haven't been home in 2 months because Jr needs braces. Most of my customers would tell me I act 28-30, so it flew. This is called "priming your customer for a tip" 8)

But in response to 2's question...

I doubt o/o's are braggng t customers their freightliner gets 7+mpg to brokers so they can keep some fsc :wink:

Or, the rate could be justified by the service provided rather than the costs incurred.

If knowing the full story makes the customer question the rate, doesn't that imply that the customer is paying what he thinks he has to, not what he thinks the service is actually worth?

As you're well aware, the FSC cap was industry wide.


You'd be surprised.

Yes it does. Unfortunately, in this day and age, many shippers pay based upon what they feel they need to pay to get the load moved, rather than paying based upon getting the best service.

So true. But I suppose it goes back to the difference between working on the spot market and working long-term with somebody. On the spot market, where you do one-and-done, the question need never arise. But if you've developed a relationship with somebody built on false perceptions, the likelihood of that relationship staying intact if "the truth comes out" is pretty slim. We get to choose our customers. I personally don't want to work with someone who is focused on economy shipping.

Personally, I get 7, but my fleet average is 6 with 50% empty miles.
Since the customer doesn't pay me to run empty very often, I use my loaded mpg's of 5 summer and 4.5 winter if I ever need to justify my fuel costs.

And flats get worse mileage than vans because of all the irregular shaped freight that catches the wind.

Didn't you know that? Sheesh :roll: :wink:

I'm not sure how you define "cap". Allied kept the fsc, and they are still in the teens. UVL made 2 different forumulas for hhg tonnage. Capped is the term for putting a limit, while I don't know of one limited carrier when it comes to adjusting fsc.