Do people know/care who they work with or just that it's Covered?

MikeJr

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Jan 21, 2010
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Thunder Bay, Ontario
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Funny,

I spend a little time in dispatch, I like to know what's going on kinda thing... I've got to say, I'm amazed how many carriers send out 'bcc' email broadcasts to us (we are exclusively a 3PL) with the freight they are selling!! Know who you are sending what to.

Keep well,
Mike
 
They do that because they don't want to expend the time and effort to sort who gets what i.e. just get it out there and maybe somebody somewhere will find some value in it. Its why we often get sales pitches for stuff we wouldn't ever buy... the sender doesn't want to pay someone to over manage their email.. just dump it and be done with it.
 
It could be, of course there's no way in hell I'd allow dispatch to quote/move freight that came from a carrier in a bcc broadcast.

For the record, unlike most, I don't see double brokering as a naughty phrase. It's the double brokering without open communication, not paying the hauling carrier and forcing them to reach out to all kinds of people in order to get paid for their hard work.

theman, any chance you want the email from Rogue? It's always nice to know who may be quoting on business you are currently handling!

Keep well,
Mike
 
Got it ... thanks.

It is unbelievable that the emails go out blindly ... clearly the person at Rogue doesn't know who she's sending it out to. The vetting processes at some 3PLs are quite good while at others they are very weak.
 
Our team of dispatchers does send out bcc emails, so do I when covering for Janeen (along with her daily cartoon) however the difference is that they have spoken to each recipient, those carriers have done business with us before and if they request to be removed from any distribution emails it's completed. Sending to 'everyone in my contact list' would be a horrible business practice.

Keep well,
Mike
 
My Pet Peeve is carriers calling for loads off the link and the phone etiquette is non existent . HOW MUCH YOU PAY it the first line out of there mouth . I qualify carrier first and can they do the job within the guidelines set etc then we talk money
 
My Pet Peeve is carriers calling for loads off the link and the phone etiquette is non existent . HOW MUCH YOU PAY it the first line out of there mouth . I qualify carrier first and can they do the job within the guidelines set etc then we talk money


My kinda guy.. I usually start from weather and by the time finish with all the international news I hear from another end: " Oh, sorry, it's already covered by my colleague... ":p
 
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My Pet Peeve is carriers calling for loads off the link and the phone etiquette is non existent . HOW MUCH YOU PAY it the first line out of there mouth . I qualify carrier first and can they do the job within the guidelines set etc then we talk money
Or a Broker asking what my rate is before we have even discussed the details of the freight... Grrrrrrrrrrrr
 
Phone Etiquette, there's a topic that can encompass volumes. In the end speak to others as you would address an elder in your family (is what applies the large majority of the time). Some people like the phone talk to be a little rough around the edges. That can be fun too, I hear that some in dispatch, especially Linda but she's from a carrier background so...

If I could give one piece of advice - it's to always say thank you and goodbye at the end of a conversation. I'm talking to you mister hang up on people: Tom @ WTA, randomly hangs up on dispatchers mid conversation. Maybe he has 1990 voip phone. maybe it's him.

Keep well,
Mike
 
As per the original topic of "spray and pray" booking procedures, I say let these guys do their thing and let them deal with a world of hurt dealing with whomever they please. All of us good people here know that there is much more to covering a load than just covering a load....they won't last.
On a related topic to Mike and Bull's comments below, it also drive's us nuts when we get an email from a shipper that ships 4 times per year who sends an email and forgets to BCC with 25 other brokers and carriers on the email. We send emails back to those ones stating to take us off their list as our business acumen does not align. We purposely email all the others CC'd. It's refreshing to see some others follow suit and sends a good message to these types of rate shoppers. We are OK with seeing a couple of other competitors on the list but 25???
 
I would love to get those lists. Anyone want to share? Some days it's tough being a little fish in a big pond.
 
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It's never bad to know who your competition is. I don't like doing the spot thing with people who do that either, but when there is some strategic freight there it still makes sense. From a brokerage standpoint I hate it because I know that my margin is going to be very thin and if there is a screw-up anywhere I'm probably in the hole. At least it's good market intelligence.
 
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It doesn't happen much anymore, but once in a blue moon we would receive load confirmations, by fax, meant for another carrier.
That was great because at least we would know how much the other carriers were being paid!

As far as phone etiquette goes, I HATE when someone calls us and immediately places us on hold before saying "hello"! I hang up immediately. YOU called ME and you expect me to sit here and wait for your return like you are God or something??!!
It's usually CH or TQL or an outfit similar to those.
If it's important, they will call back.
 
Another pet peeve of mine is being called "hun" or "sweetheart" to excess. Once in a conversation is tolerable but not every 5 seconds! It is especially irritating when it's another woman! lol

@MikeJr was right - this phone etiquette topic can go on forever!