I have not had my authority for too long and have not had experience with this. Today I booked a load in the morning and the appt time on the rate conf states 0700-1500. I arrive at 1400 and supervisor at the site says we stopped loading at 1300 and to come in the morning. I was pissed I called up mr. broker and he said 1500 is what the shipper told him. What should I do?
As an owner operator arent you supposed to be able to figure out if it isnt worth taking? If you knew by simple math that you could not make it, why take it? 11 hours driven per day. Average speed (you may have to go slow in some places) 50 mph 11x55=550 miles per day. Granted you may be able to turn more miles, but this gives you a framework to go by. Perhaps next time you will look a little more closely at the distance and realize whether it is feasible to take whatever load. Hindsight is a terrible thing, yet we learn from them so we can work smarter not harder.
Well, one thing that is always prudent, is to call ahead when you are taking the load and confirm what the shipper or receiver dock times and receiving policy is. The Broker is not always right. On a broker load, I always touch base with the shipper and the receiver if possible. If nothing else, they will be in the loop and expecting your arrival. lovesthedrive, the OP was talking about pickup not delivery.
I find it best to call the receiver to verify receiving hours and appointments. I prefer setting my own appointment times. Even if there is an appointment time on the rate confirmation, you may be able to change the time by calling the consignee.
Always call contacts listed on a broker load. Verify load #, addresses, appt times when necessary, shipping and receiving hours, that they want the product you're bringing and have the equipment necessary to unload it if applicable, who the contact person is on either end. Info from a broker isn't something I'd rely on for anything he/she has no real control over.
Brokers are not always reliable with the information they provide, and take no accountability if it isn't. Don't blindly trust them. Verify all appointment times with the customer.
Like others said always call ahead. Dispatch says the customer receives till 12 I call the receiver and say I won't be there until 1430. Receiver says no problem we are here until 1700.
Brokers will deliberately provide the wrong info so they have to be called for the right info, so they know when you arrive to load/unload. Meanwhile, the driver gets shifted to the bottom of every schedule when the broker is on another call, out to lunch, sitting on the throne, etc. Then, the driver is responsible for the late pick-up/delivery and the broker complains to the carrier and works them for a discount. I assume there's a reserved, special corner in hell for those brokers.