Blind Shipment, not a broker, sketch?

that sounds sketchy esp the fact that they don't have a broker mc i would have declined as well.

 

Just yesterday I was asked to check in as Landstar driver...

 

The worst of it is it seems this company didn't exist until two weeks ago plus the sketchy pickup location. The rest, one at a time, aren't show stoppers necessarily. Added together, yeah I'd pass too.

Checking in as another carrier happens all the time, especially when that carrier is also the broker. Or if you're rescuing a load someone else came off of at the last minute. Write your carrier name next to your signature on the bills.

If it's an exempt commodity, an MC may not be required. Coincidentally, a bond won't be required either, so credit check and references are even more important.

Blind bills are common with meat and produce loads. The rate confirmation should not be blind, however. What others have said about product brokers or wholesalers protecting their market. They'll usually tell you about the blind bills in advance and warn you not to share details about your trip while picking up or dropping off.

 

On a blind shipment you should be provided with all necessary information. The bill of lading should state "Blind" at either shipper or consignee depending on which is not to be known by the other.

When we haul something like this it is usually for a used equipment broker/dealer who wants to keep the buyer and/or seller in the dark to protect their profit now and in the future.

 

1) Did you check Washington State corporation search? This would give you their incorporation date, their registered agent and possibly their registered agent's address if it's different from their own.

2) Sometimes on Google Street View you can see a real estate broker's name and number. Call them for a "credit check".

3) Network Solutions "who is" search may show you if they have other domain names registered to the same person.

4) Inflate your rate, and ask for cash up front. Yes, cash. Measure their response.

5) You told us the red flags. Were there any green flags?

 

One policy I have is my trucks don't do blind shipments unless all the information is disclosed. If the shipper isn't to know who the consignee is, that's a simple thing, and vice versa, but no matter what, we have to know or it ain't going on my trucks period.