2. Responsiveness of rates to number of pickups and drops,
 carrier type, and method of arrangement
 In a competitive environment there should be little reason
to hypothesize that additional services, such as multiple pick-
ups and drops, would not command higher rates; or that rates
should differ for comparable services depending upon carrier
type. However, the aforementioned conclusions reached by Maze
and Pavlovic et al. that these conditions do exist raise these
questions. Moreover, there are considerable concerns through-
out the industry that the method of arranging for carriage is
not neutral with respect to rate levels. Of particular inter-
est is the role of brokers. Brokers are extremely important in
Florida (estimated by Pavlovic et al. and by Beilock and
Fletcher to account for between 55 and 65 percent of all per-
ishable shipments). Carriers interviewed by the author have
expressed their feelings that brokers affect rate levels. Such
sentiments are also echoed in a study by Taff. Taff reports
that brokers actively set rates using various devices such as
rate sheets and minimum per mile charges. No actual evidence,
however, is presented to support the hypothesis that rates for
loads arranged by brokers differ from those which are otherwise
set.

 The answers to the questions of the effects of pickups and
deliveries, carrier type, and method of load arrangement on
rate levels are important in assessing market efficiency. If
rates are not compensatory for additional services, such as
pickups and drops, then inefficiencies will likely occur as
shippers demand more service than is justified by the actual
additional costs (i.e., real marginal costs exceed the marginal
benefits). Such a situation could occur if truckers are re-
peatedly deceived into believing that shipments entail fewer
pickups and drops. Undoubtedly such circumstances do occur,
but the likelihood of chronic carrier underestimates of service
requirements seems small. Indeed, there would have to be ex-
tremely limited information flows and a fairly constant flow of