No Rates?

Mar 14, 2021 at 05:02 PM CST + 16 - 3
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. What is it with most of the brokers not putting a rate? Is there a reason or do they just like the endless emails and wasting time?

Replied on Mon, Mar 15, 2021 at 11:19 AM CST - 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I always call. Rarely email. Talk to them directly, you'll be surprised

Replied on Mon, Mar 15, 2021 at 01:23 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I can only speak for myself but there can be many reasons - the most common for me to not post a rate is that I don't have one - Very often I have customers reach out that say "I have a load ready to go, find me a truck and a rate" It would be pretty dumb of me to lock in a rate with no truck and then have to go back to the customer with a higher rate. If you don't want to pick up the phone or write an email you may not be in the right business. Communication is the most important thing that all of my customers want, I'm sure all of your customers want that too. I know some brokers can be bad about taking criticism but I can only get better with my pricing by getting feedback, good or bad. Getting no feedback is less helpful than being told something is priced too cheap (or too expensive if it's from a customer). Just my $0.02

Replied on Mon, Mar 15, 2021 at 01:23 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

I can only speak for myself but there can be many reasons - the most common for me to not post a rate is that I don't have one - Very often I have customers reach out that say "I have a load ready to go, find me a truck and a rate"

It would be pretty dumb of me to lock in a rate with no truck and then have to go back to the customer with a higher rate.

If you don't want to pick up the phone or write an email you may not be in the right business. Communication is the most important thing that all of my customers want, I'm sure all of your customers want that too. I know some brokers can be bad about taking criticism but I can only get better with my pricing by getting feedback, good or bad. Getting no feedback is less helpful than being told something is priced too cheap (or too expensive if it's from a customer).

Just my $0.02

Replied on Mon, Mar 15, 2021 at 03:57 PM CST + 2
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Another reason is why should they post a rate when most people will come in and do it for cheaper? If they have a load and they are getting 50/ton on it and someone calls in and says I need that load I will do it for 40/ton they just shoved 10/ton in their pocket. The grain industry is bad for brokers stealing money from the trucks.

Replied on Wed, Mar 17, 2021 at 02:44 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "I can only speak for myself but there can be many reasons - the most common for me to not post a rate is that I don't have one - Very often I have customers reach out that say "I have a load ready to go, find me a truck and a rate" It would be pretty dumb of me to lock in a rate with no truck and then have to go back to the customer with a higher rate. If you don't want to pick up the phone or write an email you may not be in the right business. Communication is the most important thing that all of my customers want, I'm sure all of your customers want that too. I know some brokers can be bad about taking criticism but I can only get better with my pricing by getting feedback, good or bad. Getting no feedback is less helpful than being told something is priced too cheap (or too expensive if it's from a customer). Just my $0.02" Sir it’s not that I can’t pick a phone up or write a email. If you don’t have a rate I understand then but I know most of these loads have a rate and also know the product that needs hauled. Is it really much to ask to just post the rate if you have it and what needs hauled?

Replied on Wed, Mar 17, 2021 at 02:44 PM CST

+ 1

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "I can only speak for myself but there can be many reasons - the most common for me to not post a rate is that I don't have one - Very often I have customers reach out that say "I have a load ready to go, find me a truck and a rate" It would be pretty dumb of me to lock in a rate with no truck and then have to go back to the customer with a higher rate. If you don't want to pick up the phone or write an email you may not be in the right business. Communication is the most important thing that all of my customers want, I'm sure all of your customers want that too. I know some brokers can be bad about taking criticism but I can only get better with my pricing by getting feedback, good or bad. Getting no feedback is less helpful than being told something is priced too cheap (or too expensive if it's from a customer). Just my $0.02"

Sir it’s not that I can’t pick a phone up or write a email. If you don’t have a rate I understand then but I know most of these loads have a rate and also know the product that needs hauled. Is it really much to ask to just post the rate if you have it and what needs hauled?

Replied on Thu, Mar 18, 2021 at 09:51 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Sir it’s not that I can’t pick a phone up or write a email. If you don’t have a rate I understand then but I know most of these loads have a rate and also know the product that needs hauled. Is it really much to ask to just post the rate if you have it and what needs hauled?" I totally get what you mean. Problem is is that can potentially eliminate guys for a lot of reasons that would normally easily be overcome. As I said previously, I personally appreciate the feedback. If someone calls on a load that I'm offering $50/T on and he gives me the "I need $60" now I have more information. If I post $50 and don't get any calls, its easy to say "there's no trucks" and have no idea that I have a lower rate, especially as the market is moving up. You may be the guy that sees $50 posted and thinks "I'd do that for $60 let me call and see if he'll take it" but there's a lot more that see $50, want $60 and won't even bother calling to see - that hurts everyone and is potentially an opportunity lost. It also amazes me how many guys do not try to negotiate either. I can't tell you how many times I've basically begged guys to name their price, only to be a couple bucks off that I was able to work out with the customer. Telling someon "too cheap" and hanging up does not help you at all, especially as volitile that rates can be lately - this is especially true on van/reefer and generally longer/higher priced hauls.

Replied on Thu, Mar 18, 2021 at 09:51 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "Sir it’s not that I can’t pick a phone up or write a email. If you don’t have a rate I understand then but I know most of these loads have a rate and also know the product that needs hauled. Is it really much to ask to just post the rate if you have it and what needs hauled?"

I totally get what you mean. Problem is is that can potentially eliminate guys for a lot of reasons that would normally easily be overcome. As I said previously, I personally appreciate the feedback. If someone calls on a load that I'm offering $50/T on and he gives me the "I need $60" now I have more information. If I post $50 and don't get any calls, its easy to say "there's no trucks" and have no idea that I have a lower rate, especially as the market is moving up. You may be the guy that sees $50 posted and thinks "I'd do that for $60 let me call and see if he'll take it" but there's a lot more that see $50, want $60 and won't even bother calling to see - that hurts everyone and is potentially an opportunity lost.

It also amazes me how many guys do not try to negotiate either. I can't tell you how many times I've basically begged guys to name their price, only to be a couple bucks off that I was able to work out with the customer. Telling someon "too cheap" and hanging up does not help you at all, especially as volitile that rates can be lately - this is especially true on van/reefer and generally longer/higher priced hauls.

Replied on Thu, Mar 18, 2021 at 01:56 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I usually don't put rates because I'm just paying whatever it takes to get it done. Don't want someone to not call me because they don't think the posted rate is high enough.

Replied on Fri, Mar 19, 2021 at 06:06 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I guess I don’t agree with not putting a rate but it’s not my business either. I’m not saying you guys are wrong tho. Glad you guys gave me some insight on it. The other question is why not put what needs hauled? If a guy like me that has a aluminum bucket and it’s scrap heavy iron I think it’s a waste of your time and mine to call but if it’s glass or something and going in the direction I need even if it’s a low rate actually posted I’m still going to call and going to try and come to a agreement to get it on my wagon.

Replied on Fri, Mar 19, 2021 at 06:06 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

I guess I don’t agree with not putting a rate but it’s not my business either. I’m not saying you guys are wrong tho. Glad you guys gave me some insight on it. The other question is why not put what needs hauled? If a guy like me that has a aluminum bucket and it’s scrap heavy iron I think it’s a waste of your time and mine to call but if it’s glass or something and going in the direction I need even if it’s a low rate actually posted I’m still going to call and going to try and come to a agreement to get it on my wagon.

Replied on Fri, Mar 19, 2021 at 07:47 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "I guess I don’t agree with not putting a rate but it’s not my business either. I’m not saying you guys are wrong tho. Glad you guys gave me some insight on it. The other question is why not put what needs hauled? If a guy like me that has a aluminum bucket and it’s scrap heavy iron I think it’s a waste of your time and mine to call but if it’s glass or something and going in the direction I need even if it’s a low rate actually posted I’m still going to call and going to try and come to a agreement to get it on my wagon." I would agree that not listing the product is a waste of everyone's time - I always post if it know it. On your point of actually calling, that makes you rare. I literally just got off the phone with a guy who I gave him my rate and he hung up. Now this particular lane is a van, we've been doing it for almost a decade so I know I'm not far off from where the market needs to be (we've constantly moved this price up over the years) but he couldn't take the time, on a phone call that he was ALREADY on to give a number. So how many guys like that are out there that would never in a million years pick up the phone when they see $1/T less than they think it needs to be. That is the true problem here is the lack of communication and negotiation ability of a lot of these guys. On a final note, I think I can count on one hand in 10 years how many rates I've posted for van and reefer loads, I've never even been asked why I don't. Just another interesting difference I've noticed between the bulk and the door swingers.

Replied on Fri, Mar 19, 2021 at 07:47 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "I guess I don’t agree with not putting a rate but it’s not my business either. I’m not saying you guys are wrong tho. Glad you guys gave me some insight on it. The other question is why not put what needs hauled? If a guy like me that has a aluminum bucket and it’s scrap heavy iron I think it’s a waste of your time and mine to call but if it’s glass or something and going in the direction I need even if it’s a low rate actually posted I’m still going to call and going to try and come to a agreement to get it on my wagon."

I would agree that not listing the product is a waste of everyone's time - I always post if it know it.

On your point of actually calling, that makes you rare. I literally just got off the phone with a guy who I gave him my rate and he hung up. Now this particular lane is a van, we've been doing it for almost a decade so I know I'm not far off from where the market needs to be (we've constantly moved this price up over the years) but he couldn't take the time, on a phone call that he was ALREADY on to give a number. So how many guys like that are out there that would never in a million years pick up the phone when they see $1/T less than they think it needs to be. That is the true problem here is the lack of communication and negotiation ability of a lot of these guys.

On a final note, I think I can count on one hand in 10 years how many rates I've posted for van and reefer loads, I've never even been asked why I don't. Just another interesting difference I've noticed between the bulk and the door swingers.

Replied on Fri, Mar 19, 2021 at 04:45 PM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. As of today fuel surcharge is 33 cents in Nd. for some reason there are twice as many Sota trucks running this week Most are tandem. Seems like you get the loads lined up they are ready to send info so you ask if they do fuel charge then the comment is my partner covered it. Still listed the next day

Replied on Sat, Mar 20, 2021 at 05:39 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Fuel prices are rising every day, the brokers know this but continue,trying to get last year or lower rates. Then saying my shipper just won't go any higher, then you find out they are taking 12 ton in their pocket.. Brokers are going to find out that us carriers are going to start are own black book on unscrupulous brokers.

Replied on Mon, Mar 22, 2021 at 07:34 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. If you work with a broker on a regular bases shouldn't they work with a load going close to where you came from or at least a reload most only give you a one way load and say you are on your own then take 10 days to 2 weeks to pay. there are brokers that will keep you busy but will keep you broke also. Especially when doing distillers grain