Freight Pricing What the....????

Michael Ludwig said:
MikeJr's right ... neither of us will survive without the other.
No one on this board can tell me they have a solid customer base everywhere they go, and have absolutely zero need for a load broker or interliner. If you are going to try and tell me that, I'm going to call you a liar.

As for the broker making $1,000.00 a load ... well, it used to happen back in the day. I seriously doubt that it happens any more. There is simply too much information available to everyone to allow that to happen.
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Agree a 101 %, Michael, especially for us, who quits LINK, eh...
 
It is an invaluable tool and certainly reduces the volume of phone calls that used to be made in the days pre-Link. Of course those days were also almost pre-internet and most carriers would send out, via fax, their line ups for inbound and outbound on a daily basis. As a broker trying to move freight, we would scour those faxes hoping for an easy match before stretching out the dialing finger for a day long workout. Almost sounds archaic doesn't it? The upside though was we actually spoke to each other as opposed to today's constant stream of mostly impersonal emails. Progress has its benefits, but also takes away some of the personal side of business.
 
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Ahhh ... the good old days ... Well, they're gone, and they're not coming back ... LOL

The only problem I have with Load Link is that I don't agree with their valuation of the product. That being said, there really isn't a viable alternative.
 
Jeez Michael!!! I was just getting all comfy going down memory lane when you shook me back into reality. I was just about to slip my Crosby, Stills and Nash tape into the 8 track!
 
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8 Tracks !!!
Oh man, I had a wicked Pioneer deck (state of the art in '79) in my '58 Chevy Apache 31 Pick up truck. Would cruise 'Dover and "The Point" every weekend, all weekend long in the summer .... ahhh the memories ...
 
loaders said:
Jeez Michael!!! I was just getting all comfy going down memory lane when you shook me back into reality. I was just about to slip my Crosby, Stills and Nash tape into the 8 track!
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thought I was coolest ever when I got this one, think ten years later my first walkman! As JJ use to say DYNOMITE

1566499925846.png1566500024658.png
 
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Hahahaha ... the 1 to 10 volume dial you wished went to at least 15, and the Ray-O-Vac D-cell batteries that you could almost get 40 minutes out of ... LOL
 
Boys, boys, boys. Sorry I started this. Now....back to work, except for me. At the cottage.....again!
 
loaders said:
It is an invaluable tool and certainly reduces the volume of phone calls that used to be made in the days pre-Link. Of course those days were also almost pre-internet and most carriers would send out, via fax, their line ups for inbound and outbound on a daily basis. As a broker trying to move freight, we would scour those faxes hoping for an easy match before stretching out the dialing finger for a day long workout. Almost sounds archaic doesn't it? The upside though was we actually spoke to each other as opposed to today's constant stream of mostly impersonal emails. Progress has its benefits, but also takes away some of the personal side of business.
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I miss those days.
 
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Honestly for every 1 load where i make 850.00 margin. I book 15 loads where i only make 150.00 margin. Shippers are becoming increasingly educated and make brokers fight very hard to get their business! Nobody except actual assets based carrier are clearing over 1k profit per ftl load with direct clients. I stress with direct clients . A carrier that is basing his business off brokers is :(

A carrier has many expenses and after they pay the driver (.45-.69 cents per mile+layover), fuel, insurance and maintenance, rent , dispatching costs, eagle fleet services or tcheques. I know many local huge corporations that pay very well to move their freight. Many are so big that they have to split their yearly shipping volume amongst brokers and asset carriers! There is plenty of work for everyone!
 
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I like the memory lane flash backs, taping songs off the radio onto a cassette, smell of lakes and pine trees! Now land locked in AB! Sigh....
 
coffeegurl said:
I like the memory lane flash backs, taping songs off the radio onto a cassette, smell of lakes and pine trees! Now land locked in AB! Sigh....
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Taping songs off the radio !!!
That was such a chick thing back in the day ... LOL
For us guys, seeing who had the biggest case of purchased cassettes was like a dick measuring contest ... ROFLMFAO
 
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I know certain accounts have huge margins ($1,000.00+) just because they literally need a 24/7 team managing everything. Some people were also lucky enough to lock in crazy rates last year with lazy or uninformed logistics/procurement managers. But that's gross anyways, I agree that it's rare that a broker can NET $1,000.00. Still not going to stop the O/O or dispatcher from complaining about it.

But I digress.

Transportation has become a commodity. Your truck and trailer is no different than hundreds of your other competitors that are running back and forth on the 401. Maybe carriers need to start focusing on the intangibles. Are you answering your phone calls? Are you responding to emails quickly? Are you making your customer's (shipper or broker) life easy? I've observed that even the most basic customer service skills are completely absent at times. Smile when you pickup the fucking phone and never, ever ever ever ever ever ever hang up the phone before the customer. Train your drivers to say good morning to the shipper or receiver. Just basic stuff. Sometimes you'll have a bad day, maybe you'll forget to respond to an email because you got caught up. Then do this: acknowledge it, apologize, and try to improve next time.

This stuff applies to brokers as well, respect your carrier. I don't care how well you pay on the load, if you sound like a dick on the phone, you're still going to be a last option when I'm really desperate. There are brokers I don't even want to work with just because I don't want to interact with them.

Treat your customers like, wait for it, customers (shippers OR brokers). If they value the commodity and level of service you provide, you will have an easy time. You will grow, people will treat you good, and most importantly people will respect you. I'm a small carrier, but I've worked with the same drivers for the last 3 years and I've worked with the same shippers and brokers for the last 3 years. SO if you're still picking up the phone and the first thing that comes out of your mouth is "DISPATCH!!!!!", I'm coming for your customer.

My years in the corporate world, many disciplines, have taught me one thing:

If you can make the life of the person above you easy, they will reciprocate. If not, f&%k them and move on.
 
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Gord M said:
The difference is many little carriers depend on the scraps falling off the table from the freight broker, these lazy carriers think there business is built around Freight Brokers. Go take the customers away from the crappy brokers or open a shoe store, maybe you will have more luck with shoes because if you are waiting to get rich quick from freight brokers.....................you should really look into the shoe business..........or a hot dog stand. Brokers are laughing at carriers, many make $1,000 a load because the carriers are to stupid or too lazy to go take the freight away, BTW since when did brokers pay a fair rate?.........and that's all i have to say about that Forest!
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awww,Gord, say it ain't so. :cool:
 
Bobby12364 said:
I know certain accounts have huge margins ($1,000.00+) just because they literally need a 24/7 team managing everything. Some people were also lucky enough to lock in crazy rates last year with lazy or uninformed logistics/procurement managers. But that's gross anyways, I agree that it's rare that a broker can NET $1,000.00. Still not going to stop the O/O or dispatcher from complaining about it.

But I digress.

Transportation has become a commodity. Your truck and trailer is no different than hundreds of your other competitors that are running back and forth on the 401. Maybe carriers need to start focusing on the intangibles. Are you answering your phone calls? Are you responding to emails quickly? Are you making your customer's (shipper or broker) life easy? I've observed that even the most basic customer service skills are completely absent at times. Smile when you pickup the fucking phone and never, ever ever ever ever ever ever hang up the phone before the customer. Train your drivers to say good morning to the shipper or receiver. Just basic stuff. Sometimes you'll have a bad day, maybe you'll forget to respond to an email because you got caught up. Then do this: acknowledge it, apologize, and try to improve next time.

This stuff applies to brokers as well, respect your carrier. I don't care how well you pay on the load, if you sound like a dick on the phone, you're still going to be a last option when I'm really desperate. There are brokers I don't even want to work with just because I don't want to interact with them.

Treat your customers like, wait for it, customers (shippers OR brokers). If they value the commodity and level of service you provide, you will have an easy time. You will grow, people will treat you good, and most importantly people will respect you. I'm a small carrier, but I've worked with the same drivers for the last 3 years and I've worked with the same shippers and brokers for the last 3 years. SO if you're still picking up the phone and the first thing that comes out of your mouth is "DISPATCH!!!!!", I'm coming for your customer.

My years in the corporate world, many disciplines, have taught me one thing:

If you can make the life of the person above you easy, they will reciprocate. If not, fuck them and move on.
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well said
 
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