With rates down, OOIDA says truckers must negotiate

May 12, 2025 at 09:39 AM CST
Rates are down, and any change in that trend doesn’t appear likely in the near future. It’s critical for truck drivers, especially those with their own authority, to negotiate rates in a poor market. Tom Crowley and Aron Lynch of OOIDA’s Compliance Department recently spoke with Land Line Now and provided some best practices for negotiating rates. “Without knowing your cost of operation, how do you know where your break-even point is?” Crowley said. “When a broker is lowballing you, without knowing your cost of operation, you might end up taking a load that you’re actually paying to haul. It comes back to cost of operation – and an accurate cost of operation based on current fuel prices.”

May 12, 2025 at 09:39 AM CST

Rates are down, and any change in that trend doesn’t appear likely in the near future.

It’s critical for truck drivers, especially those with their own authority, to negotiate rates in a poor market.

Tom Crowley and Aron Lynch of OOIDA’s Compliance Department recently spoke with Land Line Now and provided some best practices for negotiating rates.

“Without knowing your cost of operation, how do you know where your break-even point is?” Crowley said. “When a broker is lowballing you, without knowing your cost of operation, you might end up taking a load that you’re actually paying to haul. It comes back to cost of operation – and an accurate cost of operation based on current fuel prices.”