Elogs and denied freight

I've been asked of elogs. I've also been asked of california compliant.

It really pissed me off when the boss gave out my number. Answering to the brokers should be HIS responsibility. Not mine. I"m just the dumb trucker hauling the freight. I'm not the one who booked the load.

 

But at that time, there were no blanket requirement for elogs, as there is now. A broker asking the question now is redundant and still has not lifted their liabilities that they have.

 

Truck in question does not require elogs. So why would the driver add liability to the broker by legally not running elogs?

I don't run flags and banners on my truck unless I'm hauling oversize, as they are not required. Does that add liability to a broker if I happen to be hauling for one?

 

I have a 1998 and I run elogs - with malleable elogs

My elog is not plugged in.

So far, not one broker is complaining. It's my truck, it's legal"-ly exempt". Deal with it.

 

I only answer my phone if I recognize the number, so usually a broker will try me a dozen times or so getting a message that "the voicemail box you have reached is not set up...goodbye". Then they call dispatch, and he'll call and say "answer the phone for them" and I'll run the number past him to verify the number.

Basically, every time he gives a broker my number, he gets a phone call from an angry broker who can't reach me. Once he alerts me that it is a broker trying to call me, I'm very professional on the phone, and explain after I pick up that even with bluetooth, I don't like to talk on the phone while I'm driving so I simply don't answer phone calls from unknown numbers unless I'm expecting a call. They usually act like they appreciate a driver who isn't glued to his phone...even if it was difficult to make 1st contact.

 

Can't speak for all the brokers out there, but I do. I don't like pestering you guys any more than I have to. A check call, or a heads up from your dispatcher periodically saves me from having to do that. I don't want to impede your operations because the less I bug you, the less of your time is being wasted. In this industry, more than any other, time is money. The more I save you to do what you need to do, the better we're both doing.

 

There are generally only three times I refuse loads to a carrier who agrees to my rate. The first set of circumstances: Your company's safety ratings are outside of our company's guidelines for booking you. Get to lower percentiles, and we'll happily use you. The second time is because you've hosed my company in the past. If you're on our "Do not use" list, you don't get used. The third time is because the carrier has equipment that the shipper and/or receiver cannot or will not utilize and has called in after failing to read the notes on my posted load. That happens more than you'd think. I certainly haven't been denying carriers who don't have E-Logs. I haven't even asked about them, once. It is driving rates up a little, and making me double check that the guy in question has available hours, but I'm not asking if he has an ELD.

 

CH Robinson lost $23 million in a civil lawsuit-

"According to published reports, while acting as a transportation broker, C.H. Robinson hired motor carrier company Toad L Dragonfly to move a shipment. While transporting the shipment on an interstate highway near Plainfield, Ill., the Dragonfly driver reportedly lost control of the tractor-trailer and rear-ended multiple vehicles.
At the time of the accident, the driver was reported to have a suspended license and falsified log books. The collisions caused the deaths of Joseph Sperl and Thomas Sanders, and serious injuries to William Taluc."

C.H. Robinson Case: Brokers Learn Liability Lesson - Inbound Logistics

 

Well, time for shippers/brokers to pay up. That's what I'm telling people who call me.

Pass those extra costs onto the dumbarse consumers who vote & keep these politicians & bureaucrats in office.

Had a guy call me today with a nice dry van (900 mile) load going right where I wanted to go.

Guy told me $2,600. Not bad at close to $3.00 a Mile.

I told him my price would $3,000. You know, the ELD mandate, rising fuel costs, etc.

He paid it...

 

Interesting and unbelievable!
So now what, CHR will want me to scan and send them my CDL every time I book a load? Nonsense case!
It only proves, that the foxy lawyers found a way to jump at the giants throat. This will only give more ammunition to those scumbag lawyers who die to wait for a CMV accidents and the more lethal they are, the more they rejoice. This can be a good case for trying to increase auto liability premiums.
P.S.
The potential precedent it creates could be mind boggling. That was CHR. What if that's a small, two brothers in law and a wife, brokerage with a basement office? Are they going to take their house and then surely go and hunt the shipper too? LOL!