Great job to everyone who showed up for Part 1 of the Masterclass! We laid the foundation the RIGHT way. đź’Ş
Yesterday we covered:
- âś… Understanding equipment types
- âś… How load boards actually work
- âś… What brokers are looking for
- âś… Basic negotiation strategy
- âś… How to calculate your target rate
- ✅ Why margin matters more than “just booking the load”
If you missed it — the replay is available. Get caught up before the next session so you’re not behind.
đź’° HOW TO FIND THE PROPER RATE (Negotiation Breakdown)
This is where dispatchers either WIN or LOSE.
You don’t just call and “ask what it pays.”
You calculate FIRST.
đź§® STEP 1: Calculate Loaded Miles
Example:
Load is picking up in Dothan, AL
Delivering to Orlando, FL
Let’s say total loaded miles = 400 miles
📊 STEP 2: Know Your Equipment Target Rate
Every equipment type has a target range.
Example targets (varies by market):
- Cargo Van: $1.20–$1.80 per mile
- Box Truck: $1.80–$2.50 per mile
- Hotshot: $2.00–$3.00 per mile
- 53’ Dry Van: $2.00–$3.50 per mile
- Flatbed: $2.50–$4.00 per mile
- Reefer: $2.75–$4.00 per mile
(Always adjust based on region and demand.)
đź’µ STEP 3: Multiply Miles Ă— Desired Rate
Let’s say you’re dispatching a HOTSHOT
You want at least $2.50 per mile
400 miles Ă— $2.50 = $1,000
That means $1,000 is your MINIMUM goal.
🎯 STEP 4: Build Your Negotiation Cushion
You NEVER open at your minimum.
If you need $1,000…
You negotiate at:
400 miles Ă— $2.80 = $1,120
Now you have room.
If broker says:
- “Best I can do is $1,050” → You still win.
- “I can meet you at $1,080” → Even better.
- “I can do $1,000 flat” → You hit your floor.
But if you start at $1,000, you have no leverage.
đź§ REMEMBER THIS:
✔️ Calculate BEFORE you call
✔️ Know your carrier’s operating cost
✔️ Know your deadhead miles
✔️ Always negotiate ABOVE your desired number
✔️ Don’t sound desperate — sound confident
🔥 NEXT SESSION
In the next class we’re going deeper into:
- Live load board breakdowns
- What to avoid when booking
- How to read between the lines of a load
- Real broker call examples
- Profit vs. busy work
Make sure you’re ready.
If you haven’t watched the replay yet — do that TODAY.
Let’s build real dispatchers, not guessers. 💼🚛
Drop in the comments:
What equipment are you dispatching right now? 👇