Handling Breakdowns

your at the mercey of the broker/receiver, we are in the same boat and have only had 1 brk down in 4 years that made us late and we called the receiver 1st thing and they was cool, then broker, they was cool also. the biggest thing is to keep in contact that way know how things are going and what the eta is going to be. Most will work with you if you just keep them informed

 

Setup an account with a MAJOR TRUCK RENTAL outfit if at all possible before hand, that way if you need a truck its just a phone call away , not having to try and get an account set up on top of the problem you already have

 

Keep a list of carriers handy as well that are trustworthy. Sometimes renting a truck doesn't work out, and sometimes it's best to repower the load. It may cost you some money in the short run, but if the broker pays well, and you have a good working relationship with them, it's better to lose a little money and keep the customer and broker happy as opposed to burning a bridge.

 

Everybody else has good suggestions, I agree. Especially with the part about communicating early and often when the breakdown happens. Do not keep anyone in the dark or wait until the last minute to drop it on them. My power divider crapped out on a hot expedited load about a year ago. Luckily we do have other owner/ops here and it just so happens a buddy of mine leased here, who tends to run the same lanes and freight as me, was at home after busting it for a solid week. He was tired but he agreed to bobtailup and hook to my trailer finishing the load on up to OH. Had a lot less miles in it than I did even bobtailing up, and the rate was already great to start with. He even got a great rate on the return trip as well and made out great on that round. I was glad for him to help me out like that and also make out well in the process. I would have done the same. I gave him everything I had in the load and even offered to sweeten it up with a couple of hundred extra, or even more, but he refused to do that. It was a contact that was very good to us. I kept them informed from the first sign of trouble until I knew I had to drop my trailer and go find a shop.

The load ended up being only a couple of hours behind schedule, no line went down fortunately - wasn't so hot after all lol. The broker was shocked and awed, said no small outfits ever take care of a breakdown like that. The second time it happned to me, coolant going into the motor oil, I rented a truck and finished out that one, also another expedite load, a round trip. I lost a LOT more money on that second one than I did the power divider but the broker again could not believe it and was at least happy to be kept up to date and informed every step of the way. What typically happens with most operators out here is they just toss the problem back into the broker or shippers lap and throw their hands up in the air giving up. Either they don't have the funds to take care of problems or they just lose focus on the tasks and can't hack it. Thinking ahead like this and having a plan of action in the event of, because it happens to everyone even folks who meticulously maintain equipment, is a good thing - just stay level headed when it does happen and take care of business.

 

Did not realize rental company's would rent to us single o/op's. Will have to look into this. I know they won't rent trailer to us.

 

Now that I think of it, as a one truck operation, you may be SOL but could be wrong. We had been in business about 2 years at the time and were around 20 trucks. I found a Penske nearby when the motor went down and had our office call them and get details on insurance, etc, etc and then Penske called me and we talked price etc. It was a painless process. Except for the pain of driving my truck to their yard and knowing what I was facing with that. When I walked into their office they had all the paperwork ready and waiting for me, swiped my credit card, and was on my way within 45 minutes. They had to top off the fuel in the tractor and washed for me before I left out. They even let me leave my tractor in their gated yard while I finished out my trip. I bobtailed back in their tractor 3 days later then hopped in mine for the long drive home.

 

Penske will. Ryder will not however penske will rent a trailer or lease a trailer or tractor to you. Rentals are something like $35/day+.04/mile. I've rented them before its not too bad. Trailer was a 2012 trail mobile. That's how I took my CDLtest the first time. Had to rent a trailer from penske because we didn't own one at the time.

 

Actually here is the problem with your question - it is hard to understand if you are an expediter, hot shot owner or what?

It matters a bit for a number of reasons.

first off if you are a hotshot owner, then I would think that the broker could help you out with getting a second truck. But if you are leased to an expedite company, many times the company will arrange help for you.



By the way, Ryder rents trucks and trailers but as I am looking at a bill for a weeks worth of a semi and trailer, it costs me about $1100 for the rental for the week and 38 cents a mile on each unit.