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r/FreightBrokers

▲ 17 r/FreightBrokers

Why do 2 out of 3 brokers feel the need to mock my rates and tell me I’ll get stuck in Knoxville, instead of just saying, 'No, that doesn't work for us?

Here is my main question: Why do 2 out of 3 brokers feel the need to mock my rates and tell me I’ll get stuck in Knoxville, instead of just saying, 'No, that doesn't work for us'? And what is up with this phenomenon where I am constantly asked to 'explain your rate'? Why can't we just part ways professionally without the sarcasm? I really want to understand the psychology behind this.

Hey, my favorite brokers. It’s been a while since I posted here. Honestly, I wouldn’t be bothering you if I had another place to get some real insight on this matter.

I own a few 26ft box trucks. However, I’m also a driver myself and run one of them. I’m based out of Knoxville.

To get straight to the point: for my hired drivers, I offer standard market rates around $1.80 to $2.50 depending on the destination, and I make sure not to send them into dead zones like Montana.

But when it comes to booking loads for myself, I bid significantly higher. Personally, I only take about 4 to 5 loads a month. Since I live in Knoxville, I occasionally pick up a load from here for, let's say, $2,800 to Mobile, AL. Also i booked Knoxville to Miami for $4200 4 times this year.

What kills me is that I don’t even call these brokers on the phone , I just submit an email bid. Yet, they still take the time to write back just to talk trash and treat me like garbage.

I’d really love to understand why it’s so hard to just say 'no' and move on, and why they act like this.

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u/Big_Living1448 — 9 days ago
▲ 10 r/FreightBrokers

DOT harrasment

Vlad here, carrier. I know it's not a broker question, but still:

DOT has been harrasing me for 3 months now. They pull my trucks only when they can give me a violation. I don't question most of the violations - speeding, driving in left lane, stuff like that is normal, it happens.

What I question is the absolute refusal from DOT to give me a clean inspection. Yesterday for example I had a driver pulled over at a weigh station (not the port of entry) and 3 DOT fuckers checked EVERYTHING on the truck - tires, brakes, HOS, paperwork, windshield wipers, reflective tapes even... The truck was IMMACULATE. They told him they won't give him an inspection, because they were just checking the weight. I told the driver to record them on video and they ran away to the cabin.

This has been happening for 3 months now. They gave a born and raised Texan a failed language proficiency violation. The guy has a degree in theology. They put another driver of mine OOS and slapped me with "ELD tampering" because the DOT animal couldn't believe I allow the driver to drive only 300-400mi. The driver was sick, those were his actual miles.

Literally 3 months ago I was top 10% in safety among companies my size. Now I'm bottom 25%. I used to get 4-5 clean inspections for every one with a violation. Now they refuse to give me a clean one. My safety is fighting the unreasonable violations. I have lawyers in 4 different states working on removing those. But it takes months to get a court hearing, my safety is shit and now it will cost me on the insurance renewall.

The trucks are immaculate. I'm about to hire a former DOT officer turned safety consultant. I'm consulting a lawyer to take it to DOT in court. I'm wirking with the DataQ system.

But it doesn't matter, because I just can't get clean inspections.

Any suggestions how I can get those fucking animals off my back? Has anybody experienced anything like that? Is it because I'm an immigrant with a trucking company in Chicago? What the fuck do they want from me?

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u/VladIsRambo — 9 days ago
▲ 3 r/FreightBrokers

Curious about rate reductions and or fines

When a carrier agrees to use MacroPoint throughout the load yet turns it off shortly after loading and keeps it off even with repeated requests to turn it back on after signing a confirmation and verbally agreeing to a rate reduction if MacroPoint is not used, do you enforce the deduction? As well as agreeing verbally, electronically (email) to deliver on time otherwise a rate reduction yet intentionally takes the load just to have a load knowing it will be delivered late.... I been in this shit 20 years and know when carriers take a load just to secure a load they need. Anyone here enforce this?

I just reduced a rate $1500 because of this bullshit; this is the things that cause a loss of a multi-million dollar a year customer. And there was more than plenty of room left on the trailer to make plenty of money on a 2500-mile lane with a 10' partial on a 53' trailer. Especially when it is the customers MacroPoint that they monitor.

Just curious what you guys do in a situation like this. BTW, I have zero guilt.

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u/SouthernEvent6789 — 9 days ago
▲ 2 r/FreightBrokers

Is Steel End Dump impossible ?

I have a large customer for little under a decade now that has a huge annual volume of end dumps. Never stuck my toe in but they really need help and could get me more volume. Any carriers or brokers got advice?

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u/Affectionate-Bid-102 — 9 days ago
▲ 7 r/FreightBrokers

Citrus: California reefer rates up 50% this year, USDA now grades every lane short

I write a commodity brief for our users every Monday. This week is citrus. Sharing here in case useful.

Commodity Opportunity

Citrus 101

California grows most of the country's fresh oranges, in the San Joaquin Valley between Fresno and Bakersfield. Navel oranges are the big crop and ship from late October through June, about 53,000 truckloads, out of packinghouses that wash, sort and box the fruit.

What changed this season

A year ago a truck of California citrus averaged $5,900 across the 9 cities USDA reports, and USDA graded truck supply adequate. In May rates jumped 20% in 3 weeks while diesel was getting cheaper, and never came back. On September 22 USDA moved all 9 lanes to shortage. The average is now $8,900. Washington apples and California vegetables rose the same way, so the cause is fewer trucks out of the West, not citrus and not fuel.

Why it matters

Navel oranges start later this month. That whole crop loads onto lanes USDA already grades as short. Opportunity to call.

Commodity Playbook

Where it hauls

South &Central California, per load, from USDA:

To Last October Now Change
Atlanta $5,300 $9,100 +72%
Seattle $3,150 $5,200 +65%
Boston $7,150 $11,050 +55%
Chicago $4,650 $7,150 +54%
Miami $7,200 $11,050 +53%
Baltimore $7,300 $10,600 +45%
Dallas $3,950 $5,600 +42%
Philadelphia $7,150 $10,100 +41%
New York $7,550 $10,500 +39%

How to find shippers

Citrus packinghouses that sell their own fruit. Sunkist houses ship on Sunkist's instructions

Packers that also run mandarins and lemons

Ask who the buyer is. On some loads the buyer sends the truck

Who to call

  • Cecelia Packing, Orange Cove, CA
  • Bee Sweet Citrus, Fowler, CA
  • Golden Star Citrus, Woodlake, CA
  • Booth Ranches, Orange Cove, CA
  • Johnston Farms, Edison, CA

Shipper Discovery Questions

  • Do you sell your own fruit, or does it go through Sunkist?
  • Has your early fruit passed the maturity test yet?
  • How much of the crop is packing fresh this year, and how much is going to juice?
  • Navels only, or are mandarins and lemons loading on the same truck?

When to call

Call now. The first loads are about 3 weeks out.

–

Sources: USDA Specialty Crops National Truck Rate Report (Oct 1 2025, Sep 30 2026). USDA AgTransport refrigerated truck rates (May 12 to Jun 2 2026). USDA Citrus Fruits Summary (Aug 2026). Energy Information Administration weekly diesel (Sep 28 2026).

Hope this is useful. If anyone hauls citrus, lemme know what we missed. And if there's a commodity you want covered next week, say the word and you got it 🍞

u/breadd_ai — 10 days ago