Late fees

I don't do appointments so I am never late at all. lol
For some reason they are hung up on giving me the overnight ltl loads now. I generally get there straight through, BUT when I get sleepy, my loose leaf allows me to take a nap, and they know it.

 

I'm calling you out.

So far you haven't responded to any questions regarding why your deliver was FOUR DAYS LATE. That's IMHO bordering on ludicrous...well, okay I will admit it crossed the border over three days ago.

Did you maintain contact with the broker when you KNEW the load would be late? Communication is paramount in this industry. Whenever I am on a broker load I call them at least once a day to give them an update on where I am and my ETA. Did you do ANY of that?

Okey, let's look at some possible reasons (since you have been silent) why a load could be 4 days late:

1. You booked the load knowing you or your driver would have to take a 34 en route. That's a MAJOR no no unless you get approval from the broker BEFORE accepting the load.

2. Your truck broke down. That's a bad situation. As a former owner operator I have been on both sides of this equation. If I break down I get the load repowered by a driver that can deliver on time. When THAT happens I don't get a dime because I didn't deliver the load. I have also been called to repower a load when another O/O breaks down. It sucks. But the most important thing is to COMMUNICATE.

I really can't think of any other GOOD reason why a load would be FOUR DAYS LATE. WTF!!!???

 

how many times has this happened?

We did "emergency freight" for poletown for a couple weeks, and not one of the loads was used when it was arrived, two of the loads sat for over a week.

OP we deal with it this way ... when the contract/confirmation sheet comes from the broker, if it has a late fee, it gets crossed off, initialed and then sent back for their initials before it is signed. If the broker demands it, we put him on a no haul list.

 

Shutdown for 4 days? Never that I know of. Parts flown in? Since I've been delivering to the plant, about once a year. Last time was the big strike in Mexico near the beginning of the year.

 

are you hauling for some cheap old broker??
did you read the contract did you ask questions if something happens in route whether it's our fault or not if the truck breaks down is there delays??
do you do your homework??
dry load reefer load wet load it doesn't matter..
live and learn you got burned don't do it again do your homework next time..
anytime you'd agree to haul anything and move it for a certain price make sure you know exactly what happens.
four days late this one's on you pony up the money be done with it use as learning experience

 

#### you need some better customers. Is this kind of crap normal in the dry van world? Being charged because you’re early? Outrageous.

 

Not my customers. That was reefer. But many food places are dry also and UNFI is a pita if you are late.

 

I was never threatened to be charged for being early, I have been told to leave the property and come back in 30 minutes. groan
What I found to be my biggest pet peeve pulling a box is me keeping my appointments is of paramount importance, but them keeping theirs is of no importance at all.
I tried the box pulling thing and dealing with appointments, never once was I not there when I was suppose to be, but about 6 months was as long as I could handle box freight, I just have the wrong attitude for it.
I do pull some van and reefer freight now, but no appointments or even talking to anybody on either end. I walkin get my paper work out of my box, go to the other end bump the dock, drop it, walk in and put those bills in one box, grab my return out of another,sign the sign out sheet and leave. I like it.

 

That’s what I hate about these places that threaten huge fines for being late, even it’s the delay is caused by weather, disaster, or delayed by the shipper. Yet if you do show up on time it’s “park in the the lot and we’ll call you when a door is available”. And you wind up sitting for hours. During this covid mess it’s gotten worse.