There are some brokers who take a flat fee rather than a commission. Those are not in the majority. I have known a couple who charge a flat rate of $50 or $100 per load regardless of what the load pays.
I think it would be a great idea to have all the brokers or shippers post the rate that they want to pay in order to move a particular load. It would save a lot of time. If the shippers had access to the same boards, then they would know right away if the broker was keeping too much of the money.
I agree that some brokers are profiteering at the expense of the carrier and shipper. I don't think the shippers are paying less to move loads, in most cases. I believe the brokers are taking advantage of the current situation and those who don't know how to run a business. Much of the current problem with rates would correct themselves if the owner operators and carriers would just let the cheap loads sit. It is better to deadhead out of a bad area rather than take a cheap load so that you can buy the fuel to move. If you cannot afford to deadhead out of a bad area, then you are hauling freight too cheap.
In a way I would like to see brokers limited to a flat rate of the actual rate. My problem with doing this through legislation is that it gets the government more involved in this business. It could open up Pandora's box. By imposing fee regulations on brokers, it would almost be like going back to when freight rates were regulated. I am not sure that is something we really want to see happen. If freight rates were regulated, some of us might be hauling for less than we have been able to negotiate on our own.
I am not sure that full disclosure on the rate confirmation would not accomplish the same thing as long as it was also made available to the shipper. Sometimes, the broker doesn't want the carrier to discuss the rate with the shipper or receiver. I wonder why? :roll: