When I was a freight broker, I learned something nearly every day. There are certain aspects to this business that seem to never change. And then there are days and weeks when you really learn something different all the time.
One such case was the difference in rates from two similar shippers right here in El Paso. I was moving cargo out of this one company and getting very good rates. The rates were not excessively good rates; but I had 2-3 local carriers calling me sometimes two times a day for loads.
So, then I decided to call this first company's competitor right down the road. And their rates were lousy! I can understand lousy rates - a lot of shippers are pushing lousy rates.
But the fact that these two companies with similar cargo were moving their loads with different rate structures really puzzled me (unless the first company just happened to like me and the second didn't - but I doubt it).
But I learned that you can NOT assume things. For example, if I had first called the lousy paying shipper, I might have thought, "What's the use calling the other? They both have lousy rates".
So, don't fall into the trap of assuming something. The fact is it may not be true at all.
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