Home > Forum > Why Do Brokers Post The Wrong Cities On Loads And Why Don'T Shippers Post Rates?

Why do brokers post the wrong cities on loads and why don't shippers post rates?

Sep 18, 2024 at 11:31 AM CST
+ 12

This are common questions we hear, and I’m happy to share some insight.

First, when it comes to brokers posting incorrect cities, I’ll be the first to admit—guilty as charged! I did this when I was a shipper and apologize to anyone who found it frustrating. It wasn’t about misleading the carrier, but more about protecting our position from competitors. I didn’t want rival grain companies knowing exactly what we were moving because they might call my customer or undercut us, which would make it more competitive and drive down rates. When that happens, it affects the carriers too.

Let’s be honest—most experienced people in the industry can figure things out, especially if they’ve been in the game for a while. That said, we’ve worked hard to address this problem. On BulkLoads, we’ve created a feature called "Load Security," where loads can be posted either to everyone (public) or exclusively to carriers, preventing other shippers or brokers from seeing the information.  This is located on the bottom right when clicking on 'Add Load'. While this isn’t 100% foolproof, it goes a long way toward encouraging more accurate postings without fear of competitors spying.

Additionally, our BulkTMS program offers a solution to this problem. It allows private group messaging, where loads can be sent directly to carriers, who can then accept and book the loads through the TMS system or our app. This ensures that load details remain private while still enabling seamless booking. One shipper shared with us that they were able to book 200 loads in under 2 minutes using BulkTMS!

Now, moving to the question of why shippers don’t post rates—again, guilty as charged, and I apologize for any inconvenience. One reason for this hesitation is similar to the issue with posting cities: competition. If other companies see the rate, they may try to move it for less, ultimately putting pressure on the carrier to accept a lower rate. Another reason is the flexibility that comes with negotiating the rate directly with a carrier. I always preferred having a conversation with a carrier first. If I knew they needed a bit more and I could make it work, it was a win-win for both sides.

One more reason I’ve heard from shippers is the worry about social media backlash. In today’s world, load postings can be screenshotted and shared in online forums or groups, where rates can be publicly criticized. While I understand the frustrations, this sometimes discourages shippers from posting rates outright. However, in my 20+ years, I’ve seen that most companies truly value their carriers. They understand that carriers are the backbone of their business, and without them, they wouldn’t be able to operate.

As always, I welcome feedback from our members and the community to help improve these processes and make things better for everyone. Let’s keep the conversation going to make the industry stronger for all of us.

Replied on Wed, Sep 18, 2024 at 09:10 PM CST

Good post Jared, with good points as well.

I think anyone who's been in this industry for any amount of time understands why shippers/brokers sometimes hold details about a load close to the vest. A simple phone coversation discussing those deatails can go a long way toward building a level of trust between a carrier and a shipper/broker especially when there's not an established relationship. Personally I like to speak with someone I haven't done business with before to get a feel for them. Once there's a level of trust established a simple text or email is all it takes to do business.

Replied on Thu, Sep 19, 2024 at 07:30 AM CST

I feel the other way, anytime we post something it includes the cities and the non negotionable rate. I HATE calling for that information, and I don't want to waste my time with a million phone calls of 'what is the rate?'. I use the little known feature on bulkloads though...'Block Companies'. No it isn't foolproof either but I don't lose sleep over it.

One thing I don't understand...why is the no rate posting thing so prevaliant in Bulkloads, but Flat or Van is way way more transparent...unless your talking about TQL, but they are on our do not call list so it doesn't really matter lol.

Replied on Sat, Sep 21, 2024 at 06:14 AM CST

Here are my reasons why I have put some brokers on the "Do Not Call" list. Some brokers will take 1 load and post it from 5 different origins, they claim it's to gain access to more trucks when they run a 100 mile radius, but what is bad is this makes it look like there are more loads in a certain area than there actually is, so if I am considering moving a load to an area I usually don't go, I'll check the board and look at load volumes to make my decision and also my rate. If brokers are multiplying their loads, it makes all the stats wrong.

Second, when I ask what the rate is, I am basing it on the mileage I ran previously from my delivery point, then the broker usually says "oh that town is right next to there" then they get short with us when we say we need to run the correct miles.

In my opinion, if the broker can't be honest with me from the beginning, I don't care to haul their load.

I understand the fear of someone poaching your customer, but trustworthy and ethical brokers are the ones who get the best trucks and the best customers.

Replied on Mon, Sep 23, 2024 at 10:43 AM CST
Hope y'all got your muck boots on for this one. Go over to the dat board. The ones not embarrassed about their rates post them. But they also aren't trying to pay cheap freight either. If you're afraid of scrutiny for your cheap freight rate. Don't pay cheap rates