Help for a Brand New O/O!!

I think the clause is completely fair. If the back solicit clause wasn't in the contract, then the broker would essentially be paying you to give you a sales lead, a trial run, the shipper's rate structure and a face to face appointment with the key traffic manager for the shipper and receiver. Sorry, the world just doesn't work that way. Its a little (lot!!) harder than that.

That being said, I hate brokers as much as the next guy and the rates they are giving are rediculous. Still, trucking companies are taking the rates, and if you take the rate, you need to abide by the rules.

Load boards are a convenience and there is a hefty price to be paid for that. You always pay for convenience. Load boards cut out the 'hassle' of securing your own shipper, which is the hardest part of trucking. Stay away from the load boards. A big problem in the industry is that getting loads off of the load boards is the only way some companies know how to get freight. How would you do it before the internet?

Also, I don't think that brokers are getting $2/mile and paying carriers $1/mile right now. Every carrier is banging on doors right now, and a 50% margin wouldn't last for long. There may be an account or two that produces high margins, but brokers are cutting each other's throats as much as they are cutting ours. All brokers really have to offer is price. I think that the greedy broker with the huge margins is a myth that we tell ourselves so we can comfort ourselves and feel like a victim. Brokers are greedy, stupid and are destroying our industry, but most are making thin margins and moving volume.

I'll also say that the Internet Truckstop load board now has a function for brokers to post info about carriers. If you are late, hold a load hostage, abandon a load, book a load and give the load back or back solicit, they can put notes in on your performance. It is sort of like a DAC for carrier performance. All other brokers will see those notes when you post your trucks and steer clear. They can also search based on your mc# when you book a load. I am not saying I agree with this, just passing along info.

 

Completely agree. Again, from the outside looking in it looks like bs but really...the clause is there to protect someones hard work. Just like there are protection for us

 

What do you type in on youtube?

 

If you have taken a brokered load for your dad, then you better have been aware of the clause as every Broker-Carrier contract has some form of it. You need to read through every broker-carrier contract that you sign. It is mind numbing, but necessary.

Yes, you can haul directly with a shipper. Carriers hauling directly for the shipper is the way the system is set up to function. Brokers are simply an unnecessary middle man to the transaction.

 

In a situation like this you can ask for a moderator-staff member to forward things like
I appreciate you reading the TOS and not posting links
Thank you

 

This is what I said in probably my very first post to you. He should be doing this himself and extra help was not necessary. As far as justification, if he feels he NEEDS you, then there you go. BUT, you are giving him fish... better to just teach him to fish. Dealing with the broker direct should be plenty.

 

Agreed. Your dad needs to do this on his own, if he can. If the load goes sour, doesn't pay enough, or the broker/shipper turns out to be a deadbeat, it needs to be the result of his decisions, not yours. From your first post, I was asking myself 'why isn't his dad doing this on his own?' I didn't post it, because it was a realization you had to come to on your own.

Whatever you decide, good luck.