Just What Do Trucks Need/Want From Brokers

As someone who's been down this road, don't even bother. Some guys just hate the thought of a broker, but they want to get paid same day (which we don't) but they forget that if they were going direct they wouldn't be getting paid same day. I can go on and on. I've used companies who complain about every little thing getting paid $2/mile running for me and yet never complain to my customer (they run certain lanes direct) and they get paid $1.50/mile from them on their direct lanes.

Now don't get me wrong, there are some wonderful guys to work with, that treat me well and I genuinely enjoy speaking with them often. Those are the guys who get first dibs at everything and I'm willing to work with them for better rates, etc.
If you're not paying the truck $5/mile and losing money, there are some guys out here who will still not be happy. Those guys have a special place in hell, the no load list.

This is a discussion that needs to happen. Thank you for launching this thread.
Disclosure is the key to ironing out the wrinkles of this problem. The freight broker has to be willing to disclose the total revenue of each load. Then the broker tells the carrier how much they are going to keep for there services. If the carrier thinks the broker doesn't deserve that much then they can negotiate for more or leave the load for someone else. This will end the blame game.

Good morning everyone, This is a great topic and it does need to be discussed. I think we all know there will be a certian percentage of carrier that just do not like the idea of brokers and may never change there mind. Thats OK and I think for the most part we understand. I am all for full disclosure if that will make a carrier happy.
I do that with the shippers that request it. It sounds like most of us in this discussion would be willing to do that. Most of us brokers are all trying to accomplish the same thing. Keep the carrier and shippers happy while making a living. We can't do without happy carrier who do all the hard work and we can't do it without the shippers either.

This is absolutely true. Maybe my views are different and while I walk away from some loads that seem outrageously low, other times I keep in mind some days low rates are all I run into and question then becomes do I walk away from each low shipper and take a no revenue day at all and knowing how bad the economy is I do know some truckers will take a low rate to keep food on the table so by walking away I am not looking out for my fellow man either. Sure I want my carriers to have steak and potatoes but are they like me and enjoy the steak and potatoes days but also will eat ham and cheese sandwiches other days rather than starve? I hear everyone say and suggest we all stop taking the low rates but in business this really does nothing because someone out there will honor those rates so then here we are with no jobs and nothing in the end. I was at a truckstop recently and a group of truckers were talking about rates and 2 said they are going to start keeping their trucks parked if the rate is no good but once the other truckers chimed in, their tunes changed. Trucks costs money and time lost having it parked and not running at all doesn't pay any bills. Maybe some truckers would really not drive at all vs drive alot for lower rates when shippers are stiff but how many truly would stay parked when there are bills to pay? How many brokers are going to just stop taking low loads and end the day with nothing at all? It is a hard choice and I guess I just keep the truck in mind who may take the load and get by for them and their family and I keep myself and my own family in mind as well. What one passes up, another Broker or Trucker will gladly take and make due with and unless everyone gets on board with not taking loads of a certain rate, Shippers will keep moving with the rates they offer. That is just my view and opinion however. Other than not taking the low Shipper rates what more can be done? I would love to see a solution to force Shippers to pay better but wonder if that is realistic. Seems like it has always been the case for many, many years. Alot of progress to still be made I guess. Ugh :( Only time Shipper seems to increase rate is when on a good lane, when in a remote area no Carriers are in or when they have sat on a load to long. I would almost be willing to boycott low shippers but afraid I will be out of business pretty quickly. I am definitely open to seeing how others see this or opinions on what we all can do.

I like your thoughts. A question how do you find a broker that helps the trucks i would like to find one. Everyone i try send you crap loads that ofer cheep rates or long waits. Thanks

i haven't heard of journeys logistic in houston. I live south of houston, and have a hard time getting out . call me 979 299 823six. thanks

I agree and once we are a bit older and bigger I want us in the position to be able to pay that same way when possible. You are correct, loyalty and honesty does go far and guess that is why I am kinda picky about good carriers and even my shippers. Dishonest shippers hurt carriers who deserve so much better so even for the sake of a dollar, I don't jeopardize my integrity and loyalty to others. I need to see how memmonite does it. Studying others is wise to learn to be good like them :)

Looking for a fair shake that's all but either the shipper or brokers who bid for these load
does not have a clue what it takes to make a living running a truck and breaking even is NOT
making a living I see you are in Texas so am I you have freight for a hopper give a me a call

I actually show my dedicated carriers the original rate confirmation sheet and honestly that is about what I am taking. I believe alot of Brokers are doing the same because really Shippers are not coming off money much and those taking 25% and greater is not because what the Shipper provides but because they are finding carriers desperate or starting off and giving the carriers lousy rates...shame on those kind of brokers. I just never have been controlled by money so no need to be greedy so taking advantage of a trucker is something I can not do. My husband is a driver plus my heart would not let me sleep good if I was greedy. What I am finding interesting is that after a few lousy rates you have with a Shipper negotiating is actually a bit easier and they will increase rates for you.

I had a goal to take 15% but your response gives me perspective and as I said I want the input so I can make good decisions not just for me but for my carriers. I generally like to use carriers again and again and build a relationship with. Thanks

I agree with you and my hubby who is a driver helps me understand more about the end of a trucker and other truckers I meet I always listen to them on their issues of cost and maintenance and such so I can keep that in mind when bidding. I don't want to be clueless. I have a few truckers who work with me and say business sometimes is so bad they can't find loads even if cheap ones and have to stay parked and out of work so when a crappy load lands in my lap, yes dang it I hate the hell out of taking it but if I know my trucker friend "Bob" is always ready to roll because he is having a hard time, well I keep him and his family in mind and grab the load after he says yes. Most times I am lucky if I get 5% from a crappy load but in the end I see it like this, help my truckers out, get a bit of change for myself for my efforts and all is well. Not every load rate is bad but if a truck says he needs work of any rate, I will negotiate higher of course but won't pass a bad rate because someone will take it. I commend all truckers because it is tough. A Broker and Shipper has limited worries but you all have trucks to maintain, fuel costs, physical things to endure as well that come with the job. Where in Texas are you located?

I think most of it come's from one bad broker. People today think everyone is the same Shoot even back in the 80's some brokers were good. While others were out to rip off everyone that hauled one of there loads..In the winter of 1986, I picked up a load of Gun power. 24 100 lb barrels of gun power. This was being Hauled to Fort Chiswell VA.. This load paid the truck, $5.39 cents per mile. Was told when I started out to not put placards on the load. I made the shipper sign the bills they were making me not placard the load. And if anything happend they were the ones being hit with the flying bull.
Next am there was 0 of us in line to unload. Took us until 9am to just get in the gate. While sitting around drinking coffee. The price of the loads came up. One guy was proud he had gotten $1,35 cents for his load. One of the company guys was bragging that his company was getting 1.44 per mile. Rest agreed they were getting that price also. First guy was mad. He has hauled his load cheaper. I did not open my mouth. It was mine and mine only to know they were all hauling it way to cheap. I had sat in Buffalo waiting on a load. And would have been happy to have gotten it at there price back then. But a guy that I had used before. Got me the good deal, as they had one more load coming out of the Lockport dock. And a snow storme was hitting. So they offered the high price to get the load delived.
I had hauled a couple of loads for that broker. That almost made me show a loss on the loads. But he always came through for me when he found a good load. But I might call him 3 or 4 days in advance. When I had any ideal I would be within 75 miles of where he could get me a load.

Brokers that try there best to work with you. And thow a good load your way when they have it. Makes for a better releationship. But so many try to get trucks to haul it at a price that will cover fuel only. And that hurts..

Truckers need to quit running to just put food on the table. If they have their home base overhead so out of control that they can not work at Wal-Mart or McDonalds to just put food on the table then they have a problem. We are in business, and business runs on profit margins not just to break even or put food on ones table. The trucker would be better off to work for a Mega-Carrier if all they wanted to do was put food on the table. This concept is part of the problem, truckers not treating their business as a business but as a job to put food on the table.

Business is not about whether you are eating ham and chees or steak and potatoes. It is simply about profit margins. If you as a broker accept a cheap load from a shipper and then take your margin from that cheap load, and then in return offer it to a starving trucker. You have now become as big a part of the problem as the starving undisciplined trucker. You in effect are becoming the drug dealer for the junkie.

We all know that shippers believe that they have the magic golden goose that we are all looking for. I believe that I am the golden goose and thereby refuse to be leveraged by a shipper or broker for anything less than my margins. Let the shipper and broker get their own assets and manage them. Here is what will happen, the quality of the widget that they are moving will suffer. There is a reason they are outsourcing and it is not always about the price. Undervaluing ones service and worth is an ongoing event in our industry. A trucker should get his margin, a broker should get theirs, and the shipper should get the service they desire. Then all parties are in a winning situation. I am working with a broker that takes my rates and then marks them up with his margin and if the shipper decides to go with it, then we are all winners. Shippers need to stick to concentrating on making money on their widgets instead of worrying about driving the price of my widget down.

I have sat across the table from the shipper that is asking me to take a loss on my services and then in return asked them to sell me their widgets at cost -10%. I told them I would take all the widgets off of their hands that they could give me at that rate. You would be shocked at how many shippers today don't even realize that they are asking brokers and truckers to in effect do the same. That is not a win,win,win situation. You as a broker need to steer away from losing situations or you will gain the reputation that you are trying to stay away from.

Just remember this that not all money is good money. Good luck with your venture and hopefully you do it the honorable way.

Most everybody out here knows what is coming next from me.

Freedom with Integrity.