I have been watching the load board for quiet some time and I notice that there are numerious individuals hauling for what appears to be up to $1.00 less per mile then normal rate. Most of the cheap rates are paid by one or two dispatch companies, and dispatch companies are all they are. If they owned any equipment I would assume the rate(s) may be higher for the loads that they try to cover.

As a buyer, shipper, and in the transportation business I understand occasionally you may do something not so smart but how do you do it everyday.

Here is my proposal, next time you guys/gals want to haul for nothing like some of you are call me. I am tired of paying $4.00 plus a mile to get our loads moved and see others hauling for 3.30 etc. And when we offer that cheap rate it upsets you. We know who hauls for the lessor rates. I have been paying $4.00 to come out of the north/northwest country and I see loads posted for $3.50 for the same area and are getting them covered. I guess I just don't understand. Maybe when some of you see these bigger rates it scares you. I suppose I should be posting them for less the the $3.50 and I would probably get more trucks then at $4.00.

When the rates do fall because of the falling fuel price maybe those of you that are working for $3.30 I can get some of you for less then $2.75.

But on the other hand those that are doing it for these rates normally are not worth anymore then that. Sorry that is just normally how it is.

For those of you that work for us we do appreciate all that you do and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Not sure if Odie or Courtney wrote this post, but it is ironic because I was getting ready to post on the same subject. You are spot on with your assessment that drivers are being taken advantage of by a few dispatch companies and drivers are falling for it. Many companies are paying low rates under the guise of falling fuel prices and backhaul rates. As far as the falling fuel prices it has dropped by 1/3 this year from the $4.00 rate to below $3.00 in some areas. But I don't remember the haul rates going up from $3.80 a mile to the five dollar mark when gas prices were climbing, so that logic doesn't work.

And regarding a backhaul rate, so many individuals try to sell the rate as a backhaul, but let's define a backhaul. If I haul from area A to area B then the trip from area B back to area A is a backhaul, or vice versa. But it is not a backhaul when you are not trying to get to a load or back home from a load.

When will these redicules rates stop? When drivers stop accepting them, period. I just saw a rate today that calculates out to $1.90 a mile, there is no way an owner operator can make a profit at that rate considering the cost to operate. Next time you see this rate JUST SAY NO!!

Not sure if Odie or Courtney wrote this post, but it is ironic because I was getting ready to post on the same subject. You are spot on with your assessment that drivers are being taken advantage of by a few dispatch companies and drivers are falling for it. Many companies are paying low rates under the guise of falling fuel prices and backhaul rates. As far as the falling fuel prices it has dropped by 1/3 this year from the $4.00 rate to below $3.00 in some areas. But I don't remember the haul rates going up from $3.80 a mile to the five dollar mark when gas prices were climbing, so that logic doesn't work.

And regarding a backhaul rate, so many individuals try to sell the rate as a backhaul, but let's define a backhaul. If I haul from area A to area B then the trip from area B back to area A is a backhaul, or vice versa. But it is not a backhaul when you are not trying to get to a load or back home from a load.

When will these redicules rates stop? When drivers stop accepting them, period. I just saw a rate today that calculates out to $1.90 a mile, there is no way an owner operator can make a profit at that rate considering the cost to operate. Next time you see this rate JUST SAY NO!!