A new one to me, a receiver refusing to sign the BOL

I've done it a million times. Where I just scribble something sloppy on the paper.

 

Rocket Science this isn't.

 

I get this all the time with containers, sealed loads, never any paperwork. I present them with one of our invoices, which simply shows that we are dropping off a sealed container. If they refuse to sign, we notate "Customer refused to sign for delivery of a sealed container", give them a copy and leave.

Few years back, had a customer tell me they would not sign until it was unloaded, and that I would have to wait for the trailer to be unloaded and counted to have the paperwork signed. I asked for a time frame, they said 8 to 12 hours. I told them we charge $75/hour driver detention, beginning at hour one. The guy laughed. I called my dispatcher, he called the broker, the broker called the customer who said that was their policy to not sign for a trailer until it was unloaded. Broker said ok, $125/hr detention charge beginning at hour one. They told him to get bent. He called me direct and asked if the trailer was opened yet, I said no, he said to leave and go to the nearest safe spot and wait for his call, I went to the nearest truck stop. 90 minutes later, he called and said to take it back. The customer verified the intact sealed load, signed for an unopened container and said have a nice day. Not sure what transpired, but they were very pleasant when I returned.

 

I get asked to sign for drugs on trailer. I refuse as I don’t see them get loaded and I will not be responsible. Company just says “ok” and away I go. Some sort of chain of command for narcotics freight

 

Welll.I mean...They dont get the trailer...unless theyre Willing to sign some way.Either "Delivered Seal Intact,Subject to Final Count,or Delivered Seal Intact "Unknown Condition and Count". Something...I would never just "drop a high end trailer somewhere...without a signature.

 

Sometimes there is Various Shippers,cross dock,brokers involved Gets fairly complicated.At an old company I worked at,it was crazy(7 or 8 companies all had their hands in the pie.1st the load went from Dallas to Commerce City Colarado,then...crossdocked in kcmo...then reloaded sent to StLouis,then to Chicago.Why not 1 driver running it straight? Oh,HOS excuses and everyone getting a cut.

 

Do you guys know the difference between a freight bill and a bill of ladening?

 

Many of the customers I use to drop trailers at had an ink stamp that had the words something along the lines of - "seal intact, drop trailer, subject to count and condition" and a line underneath where they would sign. If they didn't want a dropped load, then they should have scheduled a live unload appt.

 

Delivering to a job site on time, several trucks delivering from the same company, we were transporting a big machine. I had the electrical cabinet and was told I would be unloaded first, so I booked my next load according to that info. Receiver decides to do his own thing. Call the broker, no big deal, we will pay you detention. End of the day, get unloaded, guy won't put the time on the bills. Called the broker, in front of this dope, asked him if he had a clock around because this guy thinks he controls the knowledge of time. Broker recorded the time, i wrote on the bills that receiver would not sign, dated, and put the time and never said another word to the basta*d. All turned out well and spring came on time. Don't let them have control. Take control, write whatever fits / is the situation, give them a copy and move on to your next adventure, That is why I always carry that old world solution called carbon paper.

 

When I was delivering explosives I had a guy open and count every single god dammed blasting cap in every single SEALED BRAND NEW f’ng box before he would sign then let me go. We are talking hundreds of caps. That was after packing all the boxes and many, many 50# bags of ANFO 300’ up a hill that the truck wouldn’t climb to his magazines. I wanted to kick him in the head. Luckily he went out of business a few months later.