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Bulk Rates

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Aug 03, 2023 at 08:46 AM CST

+ 13 - 3

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Anyone have suggestions for learning how to price lanes for bulk loads? I come from a van and flatbed background so I always had DAT to give me a baseline and then i would determine where pricing needed to be based on the cities and ship dates and such.

Bulk I am still learning and I hate to always bother carriers by asking for rates when a customer just wants a quote from me without a hard ship date. I try to get a customer to give me a ballpark rate so i have something to work with it but most times they are less receptive to that.

I really just don't want to be a burden to carriers all the time and actually have a tool or something to help me better with pricing so I can then go to a carrier who has expressed interest in a certain lane before and tell them the ship date and target rate.

Replied on Thu, Aug 03, 2023 at 12:37 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Hello Maria I attached a video showing our bulk freight index that will give you a better idea on rates for bulk freight for particular lanes. https://www.loom.com/share/239c0b19d0674a4083f85882843a9969?sid=7eb6680f-cdb7-49bd-8bcc-22dca12b3693

Replied on Thu, Aug 03, 2023 at 08:30 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Most hopper loads are based on 25 tons. Belt, walking floor, and end dumps are heavier trailers, plus the added weight (around 700 pounds) for a wet kit. So loads requiring belts, end dumps, or walking floors often times take a higher rate to move. I run a belt with a double sleeper cab and net 23+/- tons depending on how much fuel I have in the tank.

Replied on Fri, Aug 04, 2023 at 08:43 AM CST + 1
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Van rate x2

Replied on Sat, Aug 05, 2023 at 08:02 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Van rate x2" Please explain.

Replied on Sun, Aug 06, 2023 at 07:07 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that bulk is round trip freight. Some shippers will use brokers to search for low rates from carriers looking for a back haul or without any work and willing to price a one way rate. Without using round trip miles, you will struggle to find quality carriers you can use for reliable repeat business. Bulk is a wide industry and you’ll of course see rates increase as equipment becomes more specialized. I would say the pecking order is roughy as follows: hopper and dump trailer; basic liquid and basic pneumatic (fertilizers/dirty powders); specialized liquid and pneumatic (temperature/vacuum/hazmat/food grade/etc.). On average for 200+ one way mile deliveries, rates will probably fall between $2.5-$5 per round trip mile depending on that pecking order and other variables.

Replied on Sun, Aug 06, 2023 at 04:58 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "The most important thing to keep in mind is that bulk is round trip freight. Some shippers will use brokers to search for low rates from carriers looking for a back haul or without any work and willing to price a one way rate. Without using round trip miles, you will struggle to find quality carriers you can use for reliable repeat business. Bulk is a wide industry and you’ll of course see rates increase as equipment becomes more specialized. I would say the pecking order is roughy as follows: hopper and dump trailer; basic liquid and basic pneumatic (fertilizers/dirty powders); specialized liquid and pneumatic (temperature/vacuum/hazmat/food grade/etc.). On average for 200+ one way mile deliveries, rates will probably fall between $2.5-$5 per round trip mile depending on that pecking order and other variables."

WOW! Please explain.

Replied on Sun, Aug 06, 2023 at 09:03 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "Hello Maria I attached a video showing our bulk freight index that will give you a better idea on rates for bulk freight for particular lanes. https://www.loom.com/share/239c0b19d0674a4083f85882843a9969?sid=7eb6680f-cdb7-49bd-8bcc-22dca12b3693"

I saw this and tried it but I put dates in and nothing would generate so I will try it again without dates. I thought everything had to filled in.

Replied on Sun, Aug 06, 2023 at 09:03 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Thank you everyone for the helpful tips and the video link! I really appreciate the help/advice!

Replied on Tue, Aug 08, 2023 at 10:43 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

the best way to calculate rates is to get on the phone to the locals or those who travel your lane regular, not to ask for a rate but ask "what do you run for loaded mile?" this way you can do your own homework and create an interest in that lane, while not committing any carrier to anything other than "real" information. hope this helps! and btw, up here the rounder rates are $8 - $10/mile at least for under 100 miles. most carriers go point to point and fill in their empty miles, "rounders" are usually 100 miles or less.

Replied on Tue, Aug 08, 2023 at 12:19 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

As a broker myself, I have struggled with this myself. I hated bugging people for hypothetical rates, but I just learned to make sure I'm being transparent that that's what it is. Most guys are williing to teach us if we ask. I think too, that this is what separates us as brokers the do bulk. The knowledge and ability to be a human and talk to humans LOL. Meaning, those phone calls on the hypothetical rates will bring relationships that pay off later. I will learn that Bob has 3 grandsons and he takes them to Great Wolf Lodge every winter and so when I see a special (becuase I too take my kid there in the winter), I shoot Bob the link. Because relationships matter. People matter. I can cover freight cheap with fly by night carriers or I can teach my customers what the rates need to be and here's why.

I tend to go with the *general* rule of thumb if it's under 600 miles, I quote round trip miles. If it's over 600, I quote between 3.5-4.00/mile on one way miles. I never even ask a driver to start their truck for less than $400, and that's a local move like less than 20 miles. As has been stated above, everything gets higher for pneumatic and tankers and specialized from there even higher. I really don't even try to quote a walking floor lane without talking to carriers becuase it just seems to vary so much.

Good luck to you sister! #WomeninBulkTrucking :)

Replied on Tue, Aug 08, 2023 at 12:41 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "As a broker myself, I have struggled with this myself. I hated bugging people for hypothetical rates, but I just learned to make sure I'm being transparent that that's what it is. Most guys are williing to teach us if we ask. I think too, that this is what separates us as brokers the do bulk. The knowledge and ability to be a human and talk to humans LOL. Meaning, those phone calls on the hypothetical rates will bring relationships that pay off later. I will learn that Bob has 3 grandsons and he takes them to Great Wolf Lodge every winter and so when I see a special (becuase I too take my kid there in the winter), I shoot Bob the link. Because relationships matter. People matter. I can cover freight cheap with fly by night carriers or I can teach my customers what the rates need to be and here's why. I tend to go with the *general* rule of thumb if it's under 600 miles, I quote round trip miles. If it's over 600, I quote between 3.5-4.00/mile on one way miles. I never even ask a driver to start their truck for less than $400, and that's a local move like less than 20 miles. As has been stated above, everything gets higher for pneumatic and tankers and specialized from there even higher. I really don't even try to quote a walking floor lane without talking to carriers becuase it just seems to vary so much. Good luck to you sister! #WomeninBulkTrucking :)"

thank you! I am very transparent in this industry. Having been in it for a while, I value relationship more. I will keep the carriers I work with as informed as the customer keeps me. I will even share my markups when I need to. Sometimes customer's can be strict on pricing so I always appreciate it when a carrier can work with me, even if I make $25. I just enjoy this industry and Bulk is new to me so I don't want to waste anyone's time by always asking.

Replied on Thu, Aug 10, 2023 at 07:20 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "Please explain." It was a sarcastic response, probably shouldn't have said it when someone is looking for real info. My apologies.

Replied on Fri, Sep 01, 2023 at 08:25 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

I would recommend to focus primarily on one mode of the bulk industry as each segment is specialized.

Every carrier is different and every customer calculates their LH differently. Some customers pay washouts, some have a set rate, others pay and budget for different equiptment and ancilliaries.

It's a really long process and ardous procecss to get involved. Bulk is based on relationships as the equipment is specialized and the market is somewhat illiquid.

I was a R&D chemist, so I focus on chemicals because I know the clients, the chemicals and just had to learn some of the equiptment specifics.