It never ceases to amaze me! Read any article about an industry conference somewhere, and there will be the large shippers going on about 'partnerships", "synergies, "win-win relationships" and glorifying their "valued suppliers". Sounds great and wonderful doesn't it? However the reality returns on the Monday following the conference when those same "valued suppliers", lose the business for a rate reduction of $25.00 from some previously unknown entity. We have basically stood on our heads for a large multi-national shipper, completing numerous RFQ's, safety surveys, compliance questionnaires, etc., etc. and signed multi paged contracts confirming our rates and service levels for the next 12 month period. After a quiet stretch with no loads tendered, we discover that someone else now has the lane because they came in with a marginally lower rate, not during the bid period mind you, but as an after thought. I guess our "partnership" didn't offer the correct "synergies"! So before we start throwing freight brokers under the bus for low rates and a lack of loyalty, perhaps we should set our sights on the "big boys" out there.