Cheap Freight of the day

This is big broker style of thought process and frankly, as much as I hate it, grand scheme of things... It has merit.

Broker is doing 1000 loads a month - he saves $10 bucks a load on every load by doing this.

$120000 over the course the year.

Now you multiple that over an entire team, say 5 people. The profits are real and tangible.
Yes, but there's an indirect cost to haggling over 10 bucks.. the carrier who gave in and reduced his rate by a lousy 10 bucks had the same reaction as the poster did.. ie. 10 lousy bucks!!.. Really!! And when the tables are turned the carrier will likely remember that and charge accordingly... Sure, I'll take 10 lousy bucks off my rate today.. but next time it's my turn. So I don't think that volume discount strategy is a good one.. I would certainly remember a customer who asked for $10.00 off the price, and not in a good way.
 
Chica here. I don't have a low rate to talk about. I just wanted to thank all the super people out there that we have worked with over the years. Yes, I was working out of my basement in 2006 when it was considered "shady". Yes, at times we were a 1 truck operation, which was also considered shady. I can tell you I personally thanked each and every person after each and every load that was entrusted to us. We worked tirelessly, often in blizzards and in the middle of the night to resolve any problem that might have arisen, to make sure you all got your freight on time. The only people I ever lied to was customs brokers by saying my truck was waiting at the border when I knew even by saying that, it would still take them hours to process the clearance. This was to get you the freight without additional charges. We were proactive and honest. We charged fair rates when we could have charged more, and asked for fair rates when you could have paid less. We were accident free, had about a 99.9% service record and treated you all like your freight was our own. None of this matters now because the whole industry has gone down the toilet. I can't see how the industry will be sustainable at this point. After 19 years of honest trucking, we are moving on to things that might have a chance of actually making a living. I really wish you all the best and will certainly keep on this website, because trucking has become a part of my life, even if we are no longer trucking. There are a whole bunch of really super people out there that were truly honest and fair. You all know who you are, so thank you for all the work you gave us over the years.
Best of luck,
Bonnie
Wishing you all the best for the future. Sunny days ahead :)
 
The amount of activity on this particular thread should be indicative of the times we're facing.

I am haggling with dollars to get freight. I quote a number, already rock bottom rates, broker comes back and says someone came 10 bucks cheaper, can you match?

Seriously? You wanna haggle me over ten friggin bucks?!

We had a shipper haggle us down $5 dollars, no joke
 
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We had a shipper haggle us down $5 dollars, no joke
Worst I've had is a customer reduce my rate from $350.00 to $250.00 for a local move in MS. She flat out told me that my price was too high although that was the minimum charge that had been agreed to beforehand. A company with 23 billion in sales in 2005. They obviously needed the 100 bucks more than I do.
 
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hypothetically speaking of course... as a carrier, if I can get or not lose an extra $5 a load/order that is damn massive.... 400+ orders a day, 5 bux each... pays the salary and benefits for a more than a few people in the office daily....

$5 matters a WHOLE hell of a lot when your moving volumes. Hence why we say no to requests for discount off the rate, you've been issued a tariff when you opened your account... That tariff applies, not some random discount tariff of the day.

Shippers or Brokers want the $5 just as bad as the carrier does. Just a matter of who's willing to fight harder for it....

Tip: Don't give the broker or shipper a reason justify asking / requesting / getting a discount. Provide great service, and fight for your reputation of a solid service provider.

"We've moved dozens of loads without issue sir, PU and DEL on time, no fines, I know our rates are slightly above some other carriers you've gotten quotes from. I could get you that $5 discount however, that's about the same as the fee for the real time GPS tracking and real time document scanning software on the drivers mobile data unit device for our POD. If you wanna forgo GPS and a real time POD, then send over the load, but don't call for tracking or the POD, the load will get done on time, just like the last 13 loads"

Always a way.... Just need be a negotiator in one way or another.
 
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But if you manage to finagle 5 bucks out of 400 people daily..that’s 400 people who are shaking their heads in disbelief, and just like that you’ve shit your bed and soiled your own brand.
 
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But if you manage to finagle 5 bucks out of 400 people daily..that’s 400 people who are shaking their heads in disbelief, and just like that you’ve shit your bed and soiled your own brand.
I think there is a misunderstanding, its not about tarnishing a brand or pulling more money into an order than ya should be. My point wasn't that the carrier needs to solicit and extra $5 from 400 people daily, the point is don't let the broker/client get the 5 buck discount..... a tariff is tariff.

That 5er adds up on a daily basis... and on a per order basis... Stick to your tariff as a carrier, and ensure your brokers or clients understand why there is no room for movement in the rate.
 
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I just found a great answer,everyone can try it themselves.

I asked AI: I have a shipment that needs to be transported by dry box, 26 skids, 45,000 lbs, from point A to point B. Please tell me how much need to pay?

The answer is exactly what everyone is looking for!!!!!
I stuck in random cities and the answer made me sad.

To determine the cost of shipping your 45,000 lb shipment from Toronto to Edmonton, you'll need to get quotes from multiple freight companies. Shipping costs depend on various factors like distance, weight, dimensions, type of freight, and urgency. Since you're using a dry van, it's likely a full truckload (FTL) shipment. You can get estimates from different carriers like UPS Freight, FedEx Freight, or XTL Transport.
 
I asked the question from a customer’s perspective. Sure, the answer might vary if a carrier or broker asked it, depending on where the info comes from and how it’s looked at. Just having a bit of fun with it,that’s all!;)
Oh I get it :) It made me sad that the best AI can come up with is UPS/Fed EX. If some baby whippersnapper shipper relied on this for "real world" info then oiy vey LOLOLOL.
 
ENNFIELD, NB E5H 0B5 to NEOSHO, MO 64850

Loads today 8am-3pm

Del Thursday or Friday fcfs 7am-4pm

FTL dry van dock to dock

Skidded dried seaweed is product

43klbs

RATE 3000 cad


That Ladies and Gents is a whopping hole $1.63 per mile being offered by the number one carrier on Linked In. Hurry before they are all gone. PS your trailer will stink is my guess.
 
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That Ladies and Gents is a whopping hole $1.63 per mile being offered by the number one carrier on Linked In. Hurry before they are all gone. PS your trailer will stink is my guess.
As soon as you said number one carrier on linkedin I knew who you're referring to lol
 
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ENNFIELD, NB E5H 0B5 to NEOSHO, MO 64850

Loads today 8am-3pm

Del Thursday or Friday fcfs 7am-4pm

FTL dry van dock to dock

Skidded dried seaweed is product

43klbs

RATE 3000 cad


That Ladies and Gents is a whopping hole $1.63 per mile being offered by the number one carrier on Linked In. Hurry before they are all gone. PS your trailer will stink is my guess.

If your driver goes for a hike in the woods he might also get a 25k fine.
 
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