First load with TQL

I cringe when that phone rings from TQL because I feel like I have a 50/50 shot (assuming I take the load) of getting screwed somehow. (Not TQL really but their shippers and receivers do not seem to be the best compared to soooo many other brokers I run for).

I still answer their calls though and I try to remember the good ones and forget the bad ones and I have to assume they are trying to get better every day like the rest of us? Maybe?

 

You really do have to take control of every word though. I booked a TQL on Friday and they said it was their policy to not release carrier info until Monday. I told the broker and his "partner" make it happen in 5 minutes or take me off the load and lose my number forever. 5 minutes later I had what I needed to plan my Monday.

The OP story reminds me of my very first run with them. Dispatched for Friday unload and arrived to see it was a Monday unload. One call and I said I was already headed back. Man you want to see people hustle!!!

 

You are correct.
Regardless of the actions of the op do you think he is likely to repeat this scenario very soon? Highly unlikely. Unless he keeps taking loads from that 503 number.
I guess in op's case he may have to eat it...considering his prior incidents involving insurance... snow blade damage and stolen trailer come to mind..

 

I also came to complain about TQL. An incredibly dishonest company. They frequently book the load, continue to look for other cheaper trucks, then when you call in for dispatch they say the load fell through but since you weren't dispatched yet there is no TONU. The last load we finally did for them required a 6 foot tarp or a conestoga even though we stated before the load was booked we only had 4 foot tarps. No problem he says, any size will work. Well this was not the case when we arrived at the shipper. The dispatcher at TQL INSISTED our driver either get up there and try to tarp it using only 4 foot tarps to prove that 4 foot tarps would not work, in the wind and rain, or that we were willingly coming off of the load and he was refusing a TONU. He ended up yelling at me, calling the driver lazy, and hanging up the phone. Will never work with again.
Also, they are in clear violation of wiretapping laws in about a dozen different states. Their outgoing calls do not provide any sort of recording or notification from the 21 year old kid on the other side of the line that it is being recorded. Only their incoming calls provide this. Just a heads up for anyone in one of those states that require 2 person consent to record the call and looking for an easy win.

 

But, but,... it's only used for training purposes.

 

I had a friend that let the Mexicans have his drop deck at the boarder. He had enough sense the remove his chains from the load and they threw a fit about that. He didn't have brand new tires on his trailer but they we less than half worn. When he got the trailer back, it had 8 bald tires on it. They claimed the trailer had a flat and the repair facility stole the tires, but who knows. All I know is he had to buy 8 new tires and have them put on before he could even pull it home. Said they were all holding air but wire was showing on a couple and the rest looked like racing slicks.

I've heard of them even stealing the lights off the trailer and one instance that they stole 2 brake chambers.

Only way I'd ever let one of my trailers into Mexico is if they paid me enough to buy it.

 

I got down to the border one time with first load on the trailer, ever. Recieving said drop your trailer and we will bring it back later. Um?...... NO!

 

I worked for cr England in the 90's, this was a hive problem. They would go down with new tires and come back missing all lights and completely bald tires. England finally changed the contract so the Mexican career was responsible for missing lights & bad tires. An inspection was completed in Laredo when it left & came back. Cut down on a lot of the BS. They would just with hold payment or deduct the amount for tires.