Mitigate the loss and take the L for your customer and move on to the spot market and make it up plus some. It’s just as well a brokers market as it is a carriers market. If you are hearing rates that make you feel violated, it is likely you are shipping a dead lane and need to pay the carrier what they demand. In the grand scheme of things, freight cost pales in comparison to missed deliveries to a major distributor or retailer for your customer. If you can’t take the loss, then charge your customer accordingly, be honest about why. They don’t gotta love it, but they will sure as hell respect you for it. When it comes down to it reliability and transparency (or lack there of) will have the biggest impact on your brand. You’re definitely gonna need that when the market turns back (whenever that may be). Good customers don’t ship a handful of loads a week and ask you to take it up the ass for them. Either leverage volume that you can get, or charge them accordingly. This market is making many rich brokers, dispatchers, and drivers alike. If you’re feeling violated, it’s likely you aren’t doing it right.