Anti-surcharge skimming bill sought in US - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

Cybergal · **^ Top** #1 04.26.2008

Anti-surcharge skimming bill sought in US
4/25/08

Quote:

WASHINGTON -- A bill introduced by Sen. Olympia Snowe, (R-ME) will make it illegal to refuse to pass on 100 percent of fuel surcharges to whoever buys the fuel.

The bill, which has been lobbied for by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, would help owner-ops recover fuel surcharges, which are sometimes skimmed by carriers or freight brokers.
The Truthful Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs Act or (TRUCC Act) "will go a long way toward helping truckers and their shipping customers weather the brutal cost of fuel," said Todd Spencer, OOIDA executive vice president.

There is no uniform fuel surcharge standard for the trucking industry in the U.S. or Canada. They must be negotiated individually, leaving shippers and truckers vulnerable to opportunistic "middlemen."
Quoted by OOIDA's official website Landline, Spencer commented that it’s all too common for middlemen in the trucking industry to push shippers to pay fuel surcharges, "but only pass along a portion of those surcharges to the truckers who are actually hauling the freight and paying the fuel bill."
To make matters worse, he continues, owner-ops are often denied access to the contracts and rate information negotiated between freight brokers and the shipper they are hauling freight for. http://www.todaystrucking.com/news.c...TOKEN=82132362

milestogo · **^ Top** #2 04.26.2008

Go get ' em Olive Oil, Popeye is getting tired.

BigDiesel · **^ Top** #3 04.26.2008

This bill should die a quick death..... If it passes surcharges disappear.... And will hurt the ones who need surcharges the worst....

Lurchgs · **^ Top** #4 04.26.2008

Big D, I think I disagree. Surcharges will continue. I think what will happen is that the proliferation of brokers will cease, and the overall number of brokers will decline - possibly significantly.

Shippers obviously are willing to pay the surcharge, and we all know the O/O need it... the agent in the middle making the mess. Make it harder for the carpetbagger to suck extra money out of the system and everybody wins.

It may be LEGAL at this point for the broker to take part of the surcharge, but it's darn sure unethical. I think I'd be looking for a new broker if I didn't get a full fuel surcharge on my contract.

Brickman · **^ Top** #5 04.26.2008

I heard Todd Spencer on Sirius Road Dog show Friday. He said that many brokers are screaming to high heaven about this bill. I hope it passes as it will help to end their rape of the O/Os. Taking more than 10% off of the freight for brokering is stealing from the guy that pays the bills.

twinturbotrans · **^ Top** #6 04.28.2008

ive been waiting for this for a long time...its gonna be slow death to all pencil pushers in this biz.

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