Actual miles versus what the broker quoted.

We don't work for carriers.

Doesn't matter SAME THING...Honest Work for "Honest" Pay ....

Now @ironpony I hope we all the "SAME" on THAT
 
Doesn't matter SAME THING...Honest Work for "Honest" Pay ....

Now @ironpony I hope we all the "SAME" on THAT
That may be, but the kind of miles involved doesn't enter into it. Some kind of route/direction software generates a number. That's mostly so we can gauge whether the appointments can be met. Payment is in terms of a lump sum. Pennies per mile isn't part of my calculation, except as a way of filtering out cheap freight.

The issue with miles in the broker/independent contractor/owner operator area is an inexperienced broker misquoting a load... like confusing a destination near Green Bay for one in Milwaukee, and entering the wrong number into the distance travelled slit on a load board.
 
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That may be, but the kind of miles involved doesn't enter into it. Some kind of route/direction software generates a number. That's mostly so we can gauge whether the appointments can be met. Payment is in terms of a lump sum. Pennies per mile isn't part of my calculation, except as a way of filtering out cheap freight.

The issue with miles in the broker/independent contractor/owner operator area is an inexperienced broker misquoting a load... like confusing a destination near Green Bay for one in Milwaukee, and entering the wrong number into the distance travelled slit on a load board.
Welp before GPS actually the "Infancy" of Commercial GOS which only were for CARS..

Rand McNally had Motor Carriers and anybody with "Basic" Math Skills could "count" Mile Markers .....

These days Young Folks don't even know how to look at a MAP ...

Nor why should they either cause a Computer tells em where to "Go" and When
 
There are two points that have come up of late, both that deal with the relationship of company drivers to freight brokers.

First, while a company driver may be dealing with a load proferred by a brokerage, unless they're dealing with a very small outfit, they're not talking with a broker. Especially if there's 17001 calls involved. That's someone in the operations department paid to be on the phone harrassing slackers. Freight brokers are paid to acquire freight contracts, and and place them with carriers. That involves negotiating rates and contracts. Not harassing drivers about their current location.

Second, the notion of "Practical/Air/Short miles." That's an issue of how company drivers are paid by their employer, the motor carrier. If you're dealing with a freight broker, one of the first questions a broker has is, "What's your MC number?" If you don't have one or aren't authorized by a motor carrier to act as their agent, the conversation ends. The issue of miles in this context is related only to trip length. Payment is discussed in terms of lump sum dollars. Trip length is quoted so that the trip can be analyzed in terms of HOS regulations, and whether the shipper's expectations for delivery can be met.

Rate per mile, miles and how they're calculated are supremely important to company drivers. Everyone gets that. Once one steps out of employment and into trucking as a business, all of that becomes of minor importance because spot market freight isn't paid by the mile. Sure, you can calculate it: a 800 mile load that pays $1850 is $2.31 per mile plus change, GROSS. You don't put that in your pocket. Haggling for $2.32 per mile gives away something to the broker... you're still thinking like an employee. That gets you $6.00, and he'll give you that in a second. You're much better off asking for $1999 (don't bust the even number,) keep him talking, and you'll probably get him up to to $1950 or so. About $2.44 per mile if you're interested. We deal in dollars and miles equated to trip driving shifts and rest breaks.
 
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This is spot market freight. "Practical/Air/Short miles" only exist in the fairy tale world of company driver jobs to keep the pennies stacked up without anyone getting jealous of their neighbor's pile.

Absolutely agree, unfortunately its how it works.
Almost every broker will use mileage. And 100 miles is a big difference in rates. Chicago to CA is a perfect example of this, and certain loads can't go thru elevation so you could be doing hundreds of extra miles and get paid for it
 
The point is @Uncle Birchy that drivers who deal with freight brokers aren't company drivers. We also generally don't get paid by the mile.

The entire deal with "Practical/Air/Short miles" is just a way of convincing company drivers that one carriers version of the same thing is better than another carriers.

Dealing with a freight broker means I'm negotiating for the entire price of a load, including how accessorial payments are handled. Yes, rate per mile is a consideration, but so is revenue per day and that's actually more important to me. I pay my bills in dollars, not pennies per mile. I know exactly the level of revenue per week I need to net... rate per mile is interesting, and it's more an indication of how I'm doing than anything else.

Dude what are you even talking about, most brokers won't even book a load unless they speak with the driver. You're delusional! Especially now with ELDs. Brokers aren't going to risk losing a customer because of a POS driver that has no hours, takes a load and ****s it up.
So you need to wake up! Cause you have no clue how the business works. You just think you do, and just cause you own your truck means nothing.
95% of OOs don't know how factoring works, safety scores, payment terms, late fees, claims, even PO delivery dates for certain commodity or consignees. That's why I hate OOs cause they really don't know much!!
 
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Dude what are you even talking about, moist brokers won't even book a load unless they speak with the driver. You're delusional! Especially now with ELDs. Brokers aren't going to risk losing a customer because of a POS driver that has no hours, takes a load and ****s it up.
So you need to wake up! Cause you have no clue how the business works. You just think you do, and just cause you own your truck means nothing.
95% of OOs don't know how factoring works, safety scores, payment terms, late fees, claims, even PO delivery dates for certain commodity or consignees. That's why I hate OOs cause they really don't know much!!
I am greatly reassured now because someone knows everything about trucking. Also, thanks for your kind words concerning your hate for myself. I can now rest assured that my work here has not been in vein. You have a nice day.
 
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There are two points that have come up of late, both that deal with the relationship of company drivers to freight brokers.

First, while a company driver may be dealing with a load proferred by a brokerage, unless they're dealing with a very small outfit, they're not talking with a broker. Especially if there's 17001 calls involved. That's someone in the operations department paid to be on the phone harrassing slackers. Freight brokers are paid to acquire freight contracts, and and place them with carriers. That involves negotiating rates and contracts. Not harassing drivers about their current location.

Second, the notion of "Practical/Air/Short miles." That's an issue of how company drivers are paid by their employer, the motor carrier. If you're dealing with a freight broker, one of the first questions a broker has is, "What's your MC number?" If you don't have one or aren't authorized by a motor carrier to act as their agent, the conversation ends. The issue of miles in this context is related only to trip length. Payment is discussed in terms of lump sum dollars. Trip length is quoted so that the trip can be analyzed in terms of HOS regulations, and whether the shipper's expectations for delivery can be met.

Rate per mile, miles and how they're calculated are supremely important to company drivers. Everyone gets that. Once one steps out of employment and into trucking as a business, all of that becomes of minor importance because spot market freight isn't paid by the mile. Sure, you can calculate it: a 800 mile load that pays $1850 is $2.31 per mile plus change, GROSS. You don't put that in your pocket. Haggling for $2.32 per mile gives away something to the broker... you're still thinking like an employee. That gets you $6.00, and he'll give you that in a second. You're much better off asking for $1999 (don't bust the even number,) keep him talking, and you'll probably get him up to to $1950 or so. About $2.44 per mile if you're interested. We deal in dollars and miles equated to trip driving shifts and rest breaks.
Yeah that's what you hope for. Its not 1995 anymore. Carriers have no upper hand anymore. Especially ELD times. Before that ok. Cause many brokers will pay carriers when they know a driver can do 1000 miles in day. This is over. There is to many common carriers that will take loads to cover their drivers and not worry about rates, instead volume. So wake up fellas cause driver are losing this battle.
 
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I am greatly reassured now because someone knows everything about trucking. Also, thanks for your kind words concerning your hate for myself. I can now rest assured that my work here has not been in vein. You have a nice day.
Yeah I would say I pretty much know everything about trucking! Because I learned every aspect of it, from driving, loading, consolidating, equi repair, booking, Brokering, scheduling, TL/LTL, rail, HOS! So if you have any questions ill be more then happy.
Just because you can't handle the truth please don't assume to much. Cause im very well versed in this industry!!
 
Dude what are you even talking about, most brokers won't even book a load unless they speak with the driver. You're delusional! Especially now with ELDs. Brokers aren't going to risk losing a customer because of a POS driver that has no hours, takes a load and ****s it up.
So you need to wake up! Cause you have no clue how the business works. You just think you do, and just cause you own your truck means nothing.
95% of OOs don't know how factoring works, safety scores, payment terms, late fees, claims, even PO delivery dates for certain commodity or consignees. That's why I hate OOs cause they really don't know much!!
While I don't necessarily agree with anything you're saying, I think it's great that you've picked an argument with our resident troll. 😎👍🏻
 
While I don't necessarily agree with anything you're saying, I think it's great that you've picked an argument with our resident troll. 😎👍🏻
Well that's too bad. Id love to hear what your disagreeing with! It seems like the resident Troll is clueless, yet he's trolling because it doesn't seem like anyone else has any experience, just alot of opinions based on a certain perceptive of the business. But id love to discuss further about what you feel im wrong about, and maybe I am but im not really sharing opinions, im telling you how it is. And don't get me wrong I love to learn as much as I can that's why im very open to a discussion.
 
Yeah I would say I pretty much know everything about trucking! Because I learned every aspect of it, from driving, loading, consolidating, equi repair, booking, Brokering, scheduling, TL/LTL, rail, HOS! So if you have any questions ill be more then happy.
Just because you can't handle the truth please don't assume to much. Cause im very well versed in this industry!!



Please.

Educate us so we can handle the truth
 
Well that's too bad. Id love to hear what your disagreeing with! It seems like the resident Troll is clueless, yet he's trolling because it doesn't seem like anyone else has any experience, just alot of opinions based on a certain perceptive of the business. But id love to discuss further about what you feel im wrong about, and maybe I am but im not really sharing opinions, im telling you how it is. And don't get me wrong I love to learn as much as I can that's why im very open to a discussion.
Yes please oh munificent bearer of The Truth, provide your wisdom to the unwashed.
 
Yes please oh munificent bearer of The Truth, provide your wisdom to the unwashed.

What would you like to know??
That spot rates mean absolutely nothing, and no matter what, it all comes down to rates per mile.
Or that most of you OOs think you're some sort of an entrepreneur and you want to dictate what carriers should be paying you because you're not a company driver!! And how you feel that brokers are the devil and they just f#ck the truckers.
Or that these loads just fall out of the sky and they pay $6 per mile, and that's not including fuel surcharge. The fact is you have no idea what costs are associated with running a profitable trucking co. And also how many of these carriers are clueless as well and just think We'll who gives a shit about anything, or ill just refuse to pay drivers if something happens and then just open up another company with a brand new MC.
What else do you want to know? Anything specific you want to ?
 
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Always ask if they pay
Practical/Air/Short miles
It doesn’t matter what they are paying on. You offer a all in rate on the spot market. You both agree to the rate. If they figure short miles and you figure nautical miles it doesn’t matter. They are paying the same rate. Beside per mile is not the best way to figure a load quote anyhow.
 
It doesn’t matter what they are paying on. You offer a all in rate on the spot market. You both agree to the rate. If they figure short miles and you figure nautical miles it doesn’t matter. They are paying the same rate. Beside per mile is not the best way to figure a load quote anyhow.

Oh ok. So what's the way to figure it then?? If you're an OO or
If you're not a LTL carrier there is no other way.
Please tell me what you do, how you get your freight, how you get paid.
 
Well that's too bad. Id love to hear what your disagreeing with! It seems like the resident Troll is clueless, yet he's trolling because it doesn't seem like anyone else has any experience, just alot of opinions based on a certain perceptive of the business. But id love to discuss further about what you feel im wrong about, and maybe I am but im not really sharing opinions, im telling you how it is. And don't get me wrong I love to learn as much as I can that's why im very open to a discussion.
"Most brokers won't book a load until they speak with the driver". In my experience as a company driver, the load is already booked when I call for pickup numbers. They do sometimes insist on me calling them for that info rather than give it to the carrier though. So you're not totally wrong there. But if it's CH Robinson I stubbornly refuse to call them and somehow the information I need magically shows up on the Qualcomm anyway.

Since they started giving shippers and brokers access to our satellite tracking, it seems like they quit calling for updates every 30 minutes.
 

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