Partial Claim

Okay, this morning has sucked. I haven't been able to book any load because the load I'm on has already been pushed back a day because the appointments weren't correct.

The load is a Shipper Load & Count, a complete mixed bag of frozen goods that would be impossible for anyone to count individual cases (hence, SLC). Get to the first drop, we're missing a product. We scout out the trailer and can't find the product amongst the remaining stops. We sign for the missing cases and I'm off to the next stop, broker is notified, and all is well. Next stop has some damaged cases (probably from sideswiping a pallet while loading, happens a lot with this shipper, not an issue). No big deal. Get to the third stop the next morning (a day later than it should be because of three hold ups so far).

Have a pallet that matches the case count of the one missing from drop one. However, it's label (each pallet is labeled by stop from the picker) isn't for the first stop (the one short cases). I've now been sitting at stop three waiting for word on what to do with it. Detention policy with this broker is 4 hours, and I've been here over 6. But, since the appointment for this stop was yesterday but was unable due to being delayed at both the pickup and the two other stops, was done as a work in. I've been empty for hours, but waiting for the shipper to determine what to do with the pallet.

I'm only 60mi from the first stop that this pallet appears to belong to. My rate was just under $3/mi with $50/stop. I've already told them I expect to get the usual rate for the relaying the pallet to its rightful owner. Now, I'm sitting without word on what to do. They know I'm planning on going home (quite a bit of deadhead), and said they might be able to find something on my way to stop and drop at a food kitchen, etc. However, if I'm hauling it, I want it at my rate, even if it is one skid.

Usually this shipper just tells you to throw away the refused product, but this is a little more than usual. The damaged cases are probably going to be pitched, however.

What would be your suggestion for detention/mileage/drop pay for holding this last pallet? Think the rate of the load for the additional miles is excessive? I'm going to deadhead about 600 miles to go home since I wasn't able to book anything today to get me home because I've been dealing with this all morning. I'm not about to babysit a pallet for fuel money to some stopping off point on my way home. I want to get home tomorrow morning and if I have to deal with offloading, even one pallet, that's going to really make me want to get paid, and paid well, for the hassle. Probably more than the pallet is worth.

So, what say you?

 

Quick update, they found a cold storage facility to take everything a few miles up the road. I'll get mileage plus stop pay for that, but this load still ate into my ability to get a load for today. So, again, what would be a reasonable request? This load was supposed to be finaled last night if the schedule was done correctly to begin with.

 

The second stop gets detention because it was originally the last stop and was there by the appointment. The first stop was late, but they only kept me 2+ hrs, but that made me miss the cutoff for what became the last stop. So, that pushed it into today. I've got $200 plus $68 for the additional stop. The broker is looking to see what he can get me for sitting this morning now and missing a load out.

 

Got another $200 out of it. I felt that was acceptable. I've hauled for them in the past and they're pretty honest with what they do.