Taking on Goliath---My Fight With TQL

I understand where you're coming from. But I have had some great loads with them. Not all their brokers are scum. After this incident, they probably put me on their DNU list, so it doesn't matter. I don't need them anyway.

 

The broker could have EASILY just called the shipper and told them not to release the trailer. Why DIDN'T they? THAT is the question. Anyone here have any theories?

 

If they are in a jam and need someone to move stuff pronto, I'm sure they use their DNU list. But I get what you're saying. To be honest, I'm pissed about the money, but $825 really doesn't affect me in the grand scheme of things. I'm doing this because people need to KNOW. They do this crap EVERY DAY to people, and it has to stop. I'm doing this because it's TQL. If it would have been one of my other smaller brokers, I would have jumped hoops for them. But TQL doesn't DESERVE anyone's loyalty. They are a billion-dollar company and are always trying to squeeze the last drop out of the turnip. Disgraceful.

As for their bond, I haven't decided yet if I'm going that route. It stands to reason that if they DNU me for filing as you say, then they would DNU me for going the other routes too. We'll see. For now, I'm going to take @Ridgeline 's advice and not talk about strategy anymore.

 

I hear you. I was nice and respectful at first. But when they were being unreasonable and demanding, that's when I had to use the "kind words and a baseball bat" tactic. If I hadn't been waiting three hours, the outcome would have been different. But you can't waste half my Friday in a dead area and not expect me to buck. I'm no simp. I did tell him that everything had to follow common protocol. Trying to change a contract or cancel a load verbally with no paper trail? REALLY?

I have a reefer that one of my mechanics at the yard where I park sold me. He was renting it out to people on a monthly basis, but he got sick of them not paying him. So I offered him $13,500 for it, because that is what they were going for at the time in the auctions. And you're not going to believe this...he countered me with $7800!!! I couldn't get to my bank fast enough! I had become friends with all of the guys at the shop, so he didn't want to ding me for so much money. I can probably get $15,000 for it if I'm patient. But I haven't decided. I hear what you're saying about getting a dry van. I kind of like power only though. At least for now. It gives me flexibility to haul reefer, flatbed, tanker...anything I could legally hook to really. And I don't have the headaches of ownership. The owner of the trailer is responsible for repairs, tires, and maintenance. If I do want a trailer for a lengthy period, I just rent one. I rented a 2020 Swift dry van for a month here in Vegas for $150! They wanted me to take it to Illinois.

On this last TQL load-out, I was driving on "Widowmaker Highway" north of Wells NV. It was raining lightly and pitch dark. Anyone who has driven US-93 in NV will know what I'm talking about. So I'm driving along when suddenly, I hear a cannon go off. I was like, "What the HELL was that!?" So I pulled over when I got the chance, and I saw that one of the trailer tires had exploded. It had taken the mudflap and hanger with it. There wasn't much I could do, because 93 doesn't have a shoulder. It's pretty dangerous actually, with a gradual (but nasty) drop from the road to the desert. It's risky even just to park on the "shoulder" because you can easily tip over. So I had to make my way to Wells and have everything taken care of at the Petro the next morning. I called R+L and they immediately took care of everything. I can't believe how efficient they were. No questions, no belly-aching, nada. I just had to send them pictures of the blown tire and invoice.

 

Big guy, stop imposing your judgements, ideas and solutions onto me. We are not the same. You don't know what my goals or motivations were. You might have done differently in the same situation because you have different goals and motivators. And that's okay. I didn't mind sitting for three days because I stayed at the casino. But nevertheless, I need to make that argument to justify getting paid. If the load would have been canceled, then I would have decided whether to stay or go. No big deal. I had driven over 620 miles a day for three days straight to deliver at 5am in Sumner, and I was exhausted. I then got pretty good money to deliver a 60-ton lowboy from Mt. Vernon to Hermiston. I maneuvered as best I could given the conditions. However, deadheading to Seattle, Portland, Boise or Reno is NOT an option if I could ever help it, unless I'm picking up a good load. But that's just ME. If you don't mind doing that, then more power to you. I had an easy load that took me home. What else could I ask for? So TQL pulled their usual shenanigans? Well, that's on THEM, not me.