"test" postings on Link

[noproblembuddy]

Just curious what other people think of the carriers who post "test" in hot markets like Georgia or Alabama. I know there are some who don't want to get hit with calls and there are others who are just sandbagging for higher rates. I'm also curious if any of those guys areo double-brokering though sandbagging the Link for the highest rate, getting the load and then selling it.

 

[mrspeed19692006]

A lot of carriers do it before loading trucks or even accepting loads for those areas. Who wants to send a truck out to a place if there's no back hauls close by?

 

[bull958]

Unfortunatly Link is set up more for brokers than carriers. Case in point, I can do a search to see what trucks are posted for a certain area, but if I want to look for freight I have to post up a truck. What I don't understand is people posting up freight as "Just Looking". Would that be lazy or stupid?

 

[Nawk]

The "Just Looking" thing... I've done (and likely will continue to do so).

Here's my reasoning... Every one has a few "scum bag" customers and we're no exception. Some shippers deal with 3 or 4 different brokers. They have a load and want a dirt cheap price... the will phone and ask "Can you post and see the best price you can get me for a load going to Memphis?" Sometimes do a "Just Looking" post to see who my competition is... It often determines how hard I'm going to work to try to cover that load.

We've never tried to be a broker that specialized in "rock bottom prices". We try to provide quality transportation at a fair price based on choosing the strongest carrier for the lane the shipper has that day.

Hope this helps.

 

[theman]

I think on both sides it's code for 'I'm looking for my favorites so if you're not one of them, screw off'.

Sometimes helps you make a decision on whether to take a load, as a broker or a carrier.

While I can see merit in some people using it a means to 'double-broker', I don't think they do it off the same board. They're more likely to post trucks on GetLoaded or Internet Truckstop, take the load and then stick it in Link.

 

[brwnee]

Test posts

For us - we do this in areas where there are hundreds of loads because we don't want 200 calls for the truck we have in Charlotte NC - we put No Calls in the comments - and yes we are probably looking for those companies that are posting loads that we are comfortable with and confident that we will get paid.

 

[DIETCOKE]

I much prefer the "test" postings than companies posting trucks but do not have any ability to service. At least I know not to call.
Just my 2 cents

 

[cdaustransporter]

A good broker is not going to post first and wait for calls. A search in the area is done first and calls to preferred carriers are done. If I see a carrier I have a good relationship with posted as "test" or "just looking" I will call and talk about it to see if they are going to be there.

I personally would much rather see as a test then the carriers that leave postings on all the time but don't have trucks there. Some just refresh postings everyday without having availability. They are probably the same carriers that complain about brokers calling them all the time.