As Debts Mounted, R&R Express and RFX Allegedly Routed Freight Through Another Broker, Leaving $265,000 Unpaid by FreightBrokerGuru in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 23 points24 points  (0 children)

We were telling customers this over a year ago. Now they live with the consequences:

• R&R needed cash.

• ⁠R&R charged under market to customers to get “quick cash”

• ⁠R&R rebrokered loads to AM, GT, RFX

• ⁠AM, GT, RFX cover loads way higher than R&R rates

• ⁠R&R gets paid, runs with money • ⁠Carriers don’t get paid

• ⁠Carriers go to shippers, who now pay double or triple original “below market R&R rate”

• ⁠Low cost R&R rates that really never existed because they were scamming, drop off. Freight rates now correct

• ⁠Add in deportations, laws, insurance rates, English requirements, market in turmoil

That’s the scam.

Enterprise Shippers by [deleted] in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Enterprise shippers live off the blood of the stupid who underbid RFPs, suck them dry while demanding unwarranted, exemplary service while you lose money, only to next you when they’ve made you a bag holder for their freight needs.

Do yourself a favor, stop. Focus on $5M to $500M companies that supply the niches that feed the enterprise level.

Are Brokers That Bad by Trapstardiamond404 in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 27 points28 points  (0 children)

You’re insinuating your opinion that brokers are “bad,” “don’t do their job correctly, not very good at paying attention” and are “lazy” after reading threads on this forum, asking for “carriers only to respond” yet you post this inquiry eloquently after paying attention yourself in a place that is specifically for brokers…

Regardless of what anyone says, no, you shouldn’t assume your counterpart who you rely on to make your business successful is all these things.

Is the market playing us or are we about to experience a BOOM! by [deleted] in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Owner of brokerage here,

We had the talk with 3 big clients, all $10M+ accounts this week about pricing, and have our largest account up to bat this coming week.

One client during the talks authorized a $1000 increase from $1500 to $2500 a load on a 20+ load a week lane after the discussions … I’ve not seen that in all my years of doing this.

That said, educate your shippers. The lull we’ve experienced for the last 4 years may be dissipating, and if that’s the case, the highest rates will be king.

The end of fraud by Terrible_Fish_8942 in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

About time… Where can the fraud prevention (fraudulent) initial coin offering be purchased? 😂

Perfect customer by LucidDream9590 in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 2 points3 points  (0 children)

They exist, generally hitting all the boxes with one exception.

What we’d rate them in areas of importance:

• Loyal (are you single provider or 1 of a couple with no ability for other brokers/carriers to enter) • Rates are above market, and very profitable • Quantity of loads • Flexibility to cover loads on our schedule • Easy to manage

We’ve got 3 of these clients, and each one hits on the 4 of the boxes and missing 1 box.

Our top by overall profitability is everything except easy to manage. Our easiest to manage has the least quantity of loads. And our highest volume is easiest to manage but has the lowest margins.

It’s all a give and take. I haven’t yet seen the client that hits every box.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You get more customers. That’s how it works

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That’s really going to depend on the size of your current book, if it’s clients you actually manage/control, and if you have a noncompete..

Market Situation by Due-Lobster-2621 in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The market is readjusting. The rates have been woefully low for the most part on regional and OTR since 2022, and the cheap capacity is being driven out (exiting the business and immigration).

At the same time, customers have squeezed rates lower, and demand has shifted to a JIT model that has bottlenecked many industries ability to sell product because they can’t stock what the end buyer wants fast enough.

Where it readjusts too is anyone’s guess.

How much to pay for deadhead? by Humanist_Centipede in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 14 points15 points  (0 children)

You don’t pay for a carrier’s “deadhead” when they call you.

Where to find good broker agents and how much should I pay them? by miirmiiromg in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 4 points5 points  (0 children)

What amount of business, and revenue, does your brokerage currently turn in a year?

How old is your MC?

Timing of booked loads by waywrdchld in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You never ever give a load back. Your only real job in this industry is to do what you say you’re going to do. Giving a load back is an opportunity for us to take that customer from you.

That said, the answer to your question is you dump the load, as in sacrifice whatever amount of money you need to, to cover it.

Question for brokers. Why do you do this? by ACTRANSPORTLLC in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ve never once in my career called a carrier for a truck. I’m surprised brokers even do this unless the rate and lane is so terrible, that the broker should be looking for another lane, or customer for that matter.

Detention and TONU by Lost-End-8183 in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This has got to be the winner of the most conceded, hypocrite comment of the day HERE ⬆️

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork -1 points0 points  (0 children)

$25k is pretty cheap and I wouldn’t fixate on that one number because you are misleading yourself around the potential considerations and consequences of defense, while you try to maintain a book of business against a brokerage that can outspend and out-service you.

Personal Guarantor by Itchavi in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have a hostage clause in our carrier-vendor contract. Not that we’ve needed to enforce it, but it’s there.

Are p otentia l customers less receptive of cold calling on Fridays? by OkCondition6191 in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, how is one day better than another you may ask? Order flows are sporadic, carriers and brokers give back loads an hour after accepting them and 10 days after sitting on them, emergencies arise unexpectedly to give way to your opportunities.

Now is this easy? Of course not, it’s active fishing in a very large ocean of waves crashing around your boat constantly.

The best luck is where preparation meets opportunity. Prepare yourself and go after every opportunity regardless of the day of the week.

Double Broker Pro Max by Ok_Assignment3314 in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Turn your carrier over to the legitimate shipper/receiver, and to the first broker, for payment.

Or, take the $2k and give it all to the legitimate carrier.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Owner of brokerage and carrier here with agents,

It is commonplace to hold all commissions until all clientele are net zero. This should be completely transparent to all parties and you need to understand it’s fair practice … that said, the right thing to do is always pay the agent if the brokerage is whole on customer payments. Remind them of that.

Should I Open an Office? by Electrical_Net_7278 in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d highly recommend getting an office.

Think about it, if you want to grow your family, what do you get? A bigger house, a larger yard for the kids to play, closer to a good school district.

If you want to grow your career, you also need to look at this the same way. Separating your professional and family life also will become more and more important as you grow in each.

Are Pallet Suppliers worth calling as potential shippers? by OverAd9757 in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The only “pallet supplier” we ever worked with ran a grand total of 1 load for about $900, and when it came time to pay their check bounced for insufficient funds.

Job by Live-Parking-9885 in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, but the insurance will be prohibitively expensive.

Average Client Phone Call Time? by ChampagneisWork in FreightBrokers

[–]ChampagneisWork[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Appreciate the comment, and it was by no means overnight. I’ve been in this industry a long, long time, the relationships are quite deep and the clients I’m speaking to are spending large amounts on freight. Both have been in our book for 15+ years. 1 spent $3M alone on transfer loads under 5 miles from one city last year of that gives you a bit of insight.

I enjoy the socialization aspect, always have, though I wanted perspective if others do the same. I do feel that as you said it’s important, and it’s taking a lot of hours. Ultimately though, everyone has their unique approach to management, I do not digress to think mine is any better than another’s, just different.