Cheap Freight of the Day

Hm.

I'm glad we didn't participate in 'fudging' the volume of our posts, it would be like a make-work project for nothing. If the contest ended 10 days ago not sure how this is applicable to Autolinx today?

Keep well,
Mike
 
The funny thing is that Transcore puts out all of these reports about load to truck ratios etc. This is going to make their numbers go to junk.
 
how often, as a broker, do you call on trucks that were never in the city where you saw the posting?
this is just more numbers that fall into that average
 
How many times does a carrier see a posting for one shipment by multiple brokers? This shows how erroneous this data actually is. The sad part is there are many publications such as Canadian Shipper Magazine that puts these states in their publications.
 
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TransAction said:
How many times does a carrier see a posting for one shipment by multiple brokers? This shows how erroneous this data actually is. The sad part is there are many publications such as Canadian Shipper Magazine that puts these states in their publications.
Click to expand...

I'll say this: we certainly appreciate the carriers that tell us "there are 5 other brokers posting, we are one of few trucks in the area so we are being fair by offering everyone the same rate" Of course we appreciate more when we are advised that we get a slightly lower rate in effort to help us get the business. The point is they are telling us the load is being broadcast to multiple parties, no matter how the customer words the email to us, the carrier is telling us where we stand - this is a price-only load.

Keep well,
Mike
 
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I think what MikeJr was implying, was sometimes a carrier will offer a lower price to a certain broker based on the carrier's experience with them. Long term relationship, volume of business, prompt payment of invoices, etc. I think it is safe to say that carriers have their preferred brokers, just as brokers have their preferred carriers.
 
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It is a bit of a slippery slope, though. I do indeed see Mike's point. But I will quote the same price to everyone I work with. Usually when you see 5 brokers posting, there are a couple you know and trust, a couple you don't know or don't trust. And I have found time and time again when you get these multiple postings, the customer is looking for some ridiculous price. Or a broker will tell you they definitely have the load and will send the confirmation over in 20 minutes. Then 30 go by, then 40 go by and no confirmation. Then when you call you get told they didn't end up getting the freight. I generally stay away from those loads like the plague. They are usually nothing but bad news.
 
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Hey Rob,

I wasn't implying the carrier 'should' give us a break vs. everyone else, I was thanking them for when they do. The carrier (sometimes) claims they are offering us a slightly lower price - perhaps they prefer to work with us in those instances? They like how we book pickup and delivery apts when required, they like dealing with our staff vs. some of the others, they like that we always go to bat for accessorial charges when they apply (we don't tell them to collect from the shipper/consignee themselves), 99.9% of the time the customs broker listed on our confirmation is correct, that kind of thing. I'm sure other times they are telling someone else the same thing. :(

Absolutely the point of my post was that we appreciate when carriers notify us that it's being broadcast to everyone in the industry (because we may not know otherwise) and the only way I'll get the order is to be the broker that quotes the smallest margin. Too many of those in a row (without getting the business) and it's time to politely ask the client to be removed from the 'list'.

We do NOT: 'pay the lowest on every order no matter the quality of carrier, no matter their SAFER score, no matter if they have active insurance or not, no matter the holes in the trailer, no matter the service requested by the customer and then to charge the customer the most they are willing to pay'. Rather, good brokers that want to be in it for the long run that want to build relationships with customers, carriers and all 3 parties grow their businesses together and all 3 parties make fair margins together. If our client needs 'very strong service at a fair price' and you have a truck there we're both in luck - after all you get what you pay for!! :) Never had a late shipment with you, never had a claim with you either!! :)

Keep well sir,
Mike
 
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I think the better way of saying this is in my experience, a carrier has told me: "Here's my rate I need, by the way, I quoted some other brokers higher as I would rather deal with you". In these cases, they are not discounting their rate, just trying to hedge their bet in hopefully working with who they want to work with.
 
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Mike,
That's better more clear and concise as you have to remember some of us are just crusty old truckers at heart. I kind of figured that was what you where trying to imply and if not you did a hell of a job of back peddling. Something I do very well in my auctioning.

I usually do not even bother calling the 9 brokers posting the same crappy load (because 99% of them are) as a client that is booking based just on price will use you until the next joe blow comes along and cuts the rate. Their freight should sit and rot on the dock.
 
It seems to be happening more frequently these days, where a shipper (even a shipper with whom you've had a good relationship) will offer his freight to a number of brokers and carriers, then wait to see who "drops their pants" the lowest. In spite of past good service, in spite of helping them out of their self imposed jams on a Friday afternoon, they feel compelled, perhaps to show their superiors, that they are good money managers by obtaining the lowest rates possible with no apparent regard for service. I have no problem with a shipper preparing and distributing an annual Request for Quotation on his lanes, but to use an "auction" for each load is ridiculous. It is certainly not the way to develop trust and dedication with your suppliers.
 
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I hear ya,

If the ratio of 'spot quotes' to real orders is not satisfactory then we are fortunate to be in a place where we are able to say no to the clients future business, there are other companies that will do half the job (rate and availability) for zero return (someone else got the biz for $4 less than my rate) . It just doesn't make sense to pursue very much of that kind of business. The problem is there are smaller business just trying to get in the door that will quote $25 margins and use the carrier with shoddy equipment and authorities at the cheapest rate, then the shipper expects to get that same rate or less on the next load no matter the time of year, fuel, exchange, or supply and demand. Hurts us all.

Keep well,
Mike
 
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