I disagree with some of the comments here. You don't get that big by NOT SERVICING customers and customers do not put up with much crap these days, it's service or your out... Having said that we operate a smaller brokerage that values our carrier relations as much as our shippers so we cut a fair deal when problems arise whether the shipper pays or not. Our agreement for a shipment is between the carrier and us so we will make it right.
Broker agreed on Rate than change it once load delivered
- Thread starter Paul S
- Start date
30
I don't think any of the comments suggest that a large brokerage intentionally provides bad service to their customers. If your customer base numbers 100, you could theoretically piss off 10 of them and therefore lose 10% of your business. However, if your customer base numbers 1000, those same 10 pissed off customers who leave, are only 1% of your business and could perhaps be replaced in fairly short order. The same analogy holds true for how a large brokerage might treat their suppliers. There will always be another carrier coming through their "revolving door". Just to be clear large brokerages, regardless of what we might think of their operating style and methods, are obviously doing something right or they would not be as large and as successful as they seem to be. If I was the owner of one of them, cashing juicy dividend cheques every quarter, I might think differently!
More often than not, the business model of the company is not practiced by all of it's employees. A new employee or a seasoned one with low ethics fears showing a "loss" on a transaction more than they do losing a carrier. In their minds, they would rather have their employer happy with their numbers than a carrier or customer pissed off at them. Companies that truly have a strong ethical and fair "mission statement" need to remind their staff that taking a loss or a lower margin on a shipment is okay sometimes because it simply the right thing to do. I remember a sign in a dispatch office that read "shit happens, suck it up, move on, and make it up down the road." It lowered the amount of stress in his office considerably.
10
As a smaller broker in my 13th yr, we truly believe the carrier is just as important as a client. We pay ALL our carriers on 30 days, get wait time, miss-picks, dead load charges, layovers.... You name it. We have never left a carrier high on charges if they are valid. It has given us a massive selection of carriers to use therefore allowing us to move loads quicker and at good rates.
While hearing of the "numerous brokers who fallback on promises" ... i can tell you from experience, they get hit as much with BS from the carriers. I have carriers miss picks ups because the didnt read confirmation, show up with non foodgrade trailers and get rejected.... And trust me... i have never had an offer to pay me for having to pay more to rush another carrier in to fix their mess.
That being said.... I have been able to negotiate future discounts, which keep the relationship active and both parties happy enough.
Point in the story ! This industry is about negotiating.... But too many people carry a my way or no way attitude. So they cant pay you 500 now, only 250. Work out an agreement that you get 50 more on next 5 loads from them to be moved in next 90 days ! You get your money back, the feel your trying to improve the relationship and you just got 5 more loads alot faster.
Dont think it works ? I do it all the time and both me and my carriers have a great working relationship because of it !
Things have changed in this industry in the past 20 yrs.... People have forgotten how to work a relationship and be innovative in ways to keep money in their pockets !
Good luck to you all !
While hearing of the "numerous brokers who fallback on promises" ... i can tell you from experience, they get hit as much with BS from the carriers. I have carriers miss picks ups because the didnt read confirmation, show up with non foodgrade trailers and get rejected.... And trust me... i have never had an offer to pay me for having to pay more to rush another carrier in to fix their mess.
That being said.... I have been able to negotiate future discounts, which keep the relationship active and both parties happy enough.
Point in the story ! This industry is about negotiating.... But too many people carry a my way or no way attitude. So they cant pay you 500 now, only 250. Work out an agreement that you get 50 more on next 5 loads from them to be moved in next 90 days ! You get your money back, the feel your trying to improve the relationship and you just got 5 more loads alot faster.
Dont think it works ? I do it all the time and both me and my carriers have a great working relationship because of it !
Things have changed in this industry in the past 20 yrs.... People have forgotten how to work a relationship and be innovative in ways to keep money in their pockets !
Good luck to you all !
20
@Thefriendlybroker1 ... good idea, but do you have any idea how that screws up a carrier's books ??? Especially those of us that use a TMS accounting package.
10
Hi Michael
I do understand and often have to deal with those things on my end as well, but if your not doing it all the time, keeping a small running tab on the carrier can sometimes work and unfortunately, its one of the only real ways to solve an issue so all parties are happy. For me, its sort of part and parcel of running a brokerage and keeping people on both sides happy..
I do understand and often have to deal with those things on my end as well, but if your not doing it all the time, keeping a small running tab on the carrier can sometimes work and unfortunately, its one of the only real ways to solve an issue so all parties are happy. For me, its sort of part and parcel of running a brokerage and keeping people on both sides happy..
I am not really happy to see that I am not the only carrier Traffic Tech screws over. Even when you get a confirmation revision from them they don't seem to honour it anyway. After nearly 49 years of driving and 40 yrs as a O/O running under my own authority. The lying and back stabbing side has finally made me sick enough to sell my truck and get out. Brokers like Traffic Tech and Great Lakes and unfortunately too many more to mention here are driving the business into the ground. Gone are the days when things were done by word of mouth. People like Sheldon would tell you a rate and you never needed to question his word.
Unfortunately it is a new world out there. A world where lying and cheating is the norm. AND... unfortunately most of us old guys just aren't equipped to handle it.
Today you need a fleet of lawyers just to pull a load.
Unfortunately it is a new world out there. A world where lying and cheating is the norm. AND... unfortunately most of us old guys just aren't equipped to handle it.
Today you need a fleet of lawyers just to pull a load.
Last edited by a moderator:
30
It's never good to hear of a seasoned veteran departing the industry. The experience, the devotion to 'getting the job done', most certainly the knowledge of geography, how to handle a truck and how to deal with shippers, receivers, customers brokers, etc... can not simply be passed on like a torch to the next generation.. Sad to hear.
That being said, we chose who we work with. As a broker, we elect to contract carriers we trust, and test out new entrants to the industry to see if they can be long term people we can work with and grow together. When 'things happen', we work it out. If it can't be worked out then maybe we can't work together anymore. No hard feelings, just move on to work with like-minded people.
Unfortunately there is a darker side. There are companies all around that want to exploit others for their benefit. Shippers that refuse to put arrival/departure times on the BOL when there is clear waiting time that needs to be addressed, consignees that fail to mark damages on the BOL but still produce photos and a claim, brokers that short pay a carrier after the job is done so there is very little recourse and carriers that will pick up and deliver when they feel like regardless as to what was contracted. If you chose to work with good people in all aspects you'll do well in avoiding the issues that seem to have overcome you.
These topics come up thread after thread on here. It's too bad.
Keep well,
Mike
That being said, we chose who we work with. As a broker, we elect to contract carriers we trust, and test out new entrants to the industry to see if they can be long term people we can work with and grow together. When 'things happen', we work it out. If it can't be worked out then maybe we can't work together anymore. No hard feelings, just move on to work with like-minded people.
Unfortunately there is a darker side. There are companies all around that want to exploit others for their benefit. Shippers that refuse to put arrival/departure times on the BOL when there is clear waiting time that needs to be addressed, consignees that fail to mark damages on the BOL but still produce photos and a claim, brokers that short pay a carrier after the job is done so there is very little recourse and carriers that will pick up and deliver when they feel like regardless as to what was contracted. If you chose to work with good people in all aspects you'll do well in avoiding the issues that seem to have overcome you.
These topics come up thread after thread on here. It's too bad.
Keep well,
Mike
If everyone stopped hauling for Traffic Tech for 1 week ?
30
Remember, sometimes it's about an individual rather than a company. A bad 'seed'.
Ask to speak to a manager and explain what happened, could that yield a different result?
Keep well,
Mike
Ask to speak to a manager and explain what happened, could that yield a different result?
Keep well,
Mike
30
They told me 12 years ago I could not survive with out hauling for them. They still call once in awhile asking for a truck and still don't like the we don't work with you they get when they call.
30
Shakey
Site Supporter
30
when I was on truck side of the business only when they really needed our truck would I deal with them..............
30
They said the same to us, same as TQL etc and we are still here we just add a pain in the ass charge and if they want us to haul for them then we will.
Shakey
Site Supporter
30
It is sad you're departure from a great career is bitter but on the other hand, you served the industry a very long time and served well Sir, stay healthy and enjoy your retirement.