best freight broker

Shorter runs equals more money. I've gotten 3+ on a 200-500 mile loads with the people everyone disses. Everybody's situation is different. What works for me may not work for you. As long as I'm making money and staying profitable I'll use whoever I want, don't care if JoeSchmoe complains about them all the time or not.

 

los angeles, ca tuscon, az run ? or nearby Washington dc?

 

What works for me may not work for you.
I agree

do you use DAT ?

 

Aside from having some pretty good loads, I've learned a thing or two about customer service from TQL. When I email updates (I prefer it to check calls), I almost always get a quick "thanks" in response -- lets me know they saw & processed my update instead of me just wondering if I should call in & wade through the automated directory...

Shortly after I submit my invoice and BOL, the accounting department responds that they've received it. A few days later they email telling me its been processed and payment will be on X date.

Other brokers don't say a thing -- you just have to trust that they know what they're doing and that you'll be paid when you're supposed to. Lots of drivers operate that same way "you paid me to take this from A to B, and I will, so stop hassling me for updates." But aren't those updates nice to have? Does it have to be like pulling teeth to get them?

They make a difference to me anyway so I, in turn, have incorporated similar strategies. When a new broker sends me a carrier set-up packet, I now send a response "got it, thanks. I'll have it filled and returned to you within an hour." That way the broker isn't wondering whether they had a typo and sent it to the wrong email. 30 minutes later, I've got it filled out and sent back.

Likewise I give reasonable, but conservative ETAs to all my stops. And then I beat them. Always. And all the while sending quick update emails: "empty in X, heading to Y" "arrived & checked-in at Y" "Loaded at Y, heading to Z. ETA is ..." My goal is to answer their question (where is he?) before they've asked it. And when empty I take a quick scan of the bol and send it in, along with the rate confirmation and my already prepared invoice. They've got it all within minutes, not 24-48 hours...


I have had a couple brokers tell me such detailed reports aren't necessary & more than a few don't say anything at all, but I get so many positive remarks that I can't imagine doing business any other way...

OTR...

[TABLE]
[TR]
[TD]Miles[/TD]
[TD]Rate[/TD]
[TD]R/M[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Origin[/TD]
[TD]Destination[/TD]
[TD]Extra stops?[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]375[/TD]
[TD]$750.00[/TD]
[TD]$2.00[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Las Vegas, NV[/TD]
[TD]Hanford, CA[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]952[/TD]
[TD]$2,450.00[/TD]
[TD]$2.57[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Ennis, TX[/TD]
[TD]Gering, NE[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]408[/TD]
[TD]$950.00[/TD]
[TD]$2.33[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Commerce, CA[/TD]
[TD]Vacaville, CA[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]430[/TD]
[TD]$2,000.00[/TD]
[TD]$4.65[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Springfield, MO[/TD]
[TD]Roanoke, TX[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]986[/TD]
[TD]$1,800.00[/TD]
[TD]$1.83[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Carrolton, TX[/TD]
[TD]South Bend, IN[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]259[/TD]
[TD]$950.00[/TD]
[TD]$3.67[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]St. Joseph, MI[/TD]
[TD]Marion, OH[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]327[/TD]
[TD]$1,500.00[/TD]
[TD]$4.59[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Columbus, OH[/TD]
[TD]Buffalo, NY[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]327[/TD]
[TD]$1,500.00[/TD]
[TD]$4.59[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Columbus, OH[/TD]
[TD]Buffalo, NY[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]327[/TD]
[TD]$1,500.00[/TD]
[TD]$4.59[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Columbus, OH[/TD]
[TD]Buffalo, NY[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]381[/TD]
[TD]$1,250.00[/TD]
[TD]$3.28[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Los Angeles, CA[/TD]
[TD]Richmond, CA[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]773[/TD]
[TD]$2,350.00[/TD]
[TD]$3.04[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Vacaville, CA[/TD]
[TD]Seattle, WA[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]984[/TD]
[TD]$2,625.00[/TD]
[TD]$2.67[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Oshkosh, WI[/TD]
[TD]Lexington, SC[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]185[/TD]
[TD]$975.00[/TD]
[TD]$5.27[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Loudon, TN[/TD]
[TD]Atlanta, GA[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Total[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]6714[/TD]
[TD]$20,600.00[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Average[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]516[/TD]
[TD]$1,584.62[/TD]
[TD]$3.07[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

I started really listening to rollin coal the 4th load in...

 

that's a nice bunch of loads DY, even some of the cheaper loads are great considering the origin and destination.

 

Thanks, I probably wouldn't do the first 3 again if I had it to do over, but they weren't terrible either...

 

I remember that 4th load you really couldn't believe it until you did it. I'm so glad for you. When I talk about rates from some of these brokers I'm not making stuff up and it's not about pounding my chest. It's about inspiring others to aim high and strive for the best always. Now maybe your examples will do the same for others.

This game is more mental than anything else. You see it in here all the time guys will tell you woe unto them it sucks, it's lousy, blah, blah, blah never realize their attitude colors every aspect of everything they do and they act surprised when everything turns out just as they knew it was.

Trucking is a tough business and it's easy for everything to wear a guy down. Can't let distractions veer you astray. I love to see and hear of guys getting solid rates from a brokerage that most won't even answer the phone. And anyone can do it there is really nothing special about it.

It is funny the guys that will criticize you for working with them because they think they're worthless/cheap always. As for those first 3 sometimes a rate like those work, sometimes not, you learn from them and move on. Not the end of the world to book a bad load now and then. If you learn from it then it was a good thing.

Just got word today that our company is in the top 1% of mid sized carriers that TQL does business with. They sent a nice letter and small plaque. That is from lots of drivers here just taking care of business and not being distracted about the unimportant. Proud of that.

There was a time I would put "TQL do not call me" in the comments of my truck posting. Until one day it dawned on me how foolish that was. Anyone seeking me out deserves a shot and if we can agree on a price that is win, win. For some of their wrinkles I still think they are a good broker to partner with.

 

cool !!!! keep rolling.
I am not going to write here rates/numbers. just want to share with you what I do what I think. You know that TQL always posts loads with not correct origin and destination cities on load boards. if they have one load they post 5 loads with surrounding origin and destination city names )))). lets say they have posted Fontana, CA to Canton, MI. If you call them they will say it actually goes from Ontario, CA to Romulus, MI. If you check similar loads(origin and destination city names) on DAT 3sixty you will see that's not a TQL load , that's a O.H. 's load or Werner or some big guys load . And if you call these guys they will offer you few hundred more. Now about TQL pay options - FYI JB pays faster than TQL and takes only 1.5% -48 hours, Schneider takes 2% for quick pay-48 hours, Denso Logistic 2%, FedEx Truckload 2%, Pepsico Logistics 3 % for 48 hour pay not 5days as TQL, ABF 1.5% ... there are big shippers who will pay you $500-600 more for 2000m runs but you will need to wait 30 days or use you factoring service. One of them is DB Schenker- one of best paying logistic companies.
TQL does not have own shippers a lot. They are usually middle man between owner operators and big carriers/logistic companies.

 

I like it when they co-broker a sylectus network load. The load might have been booked for less had someone contacted me via the network depending on the carrier. When TQL calls offering it then it's basically an open checkbook situation for them and for me because they are last resort and usually I am too. You are dealing with a professional then not some sniveling college grad acting like you punched him in the gut groveling to book you for nothing lol.

 

I hate that -- there aren't many agents doing this, but it only takes a couple to really muck up the load board.

One of the key points rollin taught me was not to make the first call, and it really works. I'll post my truck on ITS & DAT and within minutes the calls will flow in. With TQL in particular, a lot of the time it'll be a trainee that makes the initial call. I'll name a price they can't meet, they'll counter a few times, and eventually we hang up. 20 minutes later the lead agent calls and makes it clear it is his load and he wants it moved -- this is the person that usually meets my price.

My impression is that the copy & paste agents with the bs loads are the former trainees who are trying to make ends meet while they slowly build a list of good accounts. They usually aren't calling when I post my truck, but if they do, they hang up shortly after my initial quote. They don't try to sell me because they really don't have much in it and they're not going to waste time that could be spent looking for another truck...

Now if I post my truck and the phone isn't ringing -- then I know right away I'm in a bad area. I'll reluctantly make calls then, but usually I'll know in advance and be prepared to deadhead to a better area.

I haven't used many of those brokers yet -- Schneider did not accept my "risk retention group" liability insurance because it wasn't rated by AM Best. JB & ABF wanted more time in business last we crossed paths. Pepsi is OK, but I hate their portal thing. Haven't run across the others yet.

FWIW I don't use quick pay, what I meant is that TQL's standard payment almost always hits my bank on day 26 instead of day 30 (or day 40+ like many brokers). Even with Landstar it'll be 31 days one time and 45 the next. So when I book a load with TQL I know exactly when I'll be paid (and that I won't be making collection calls).