Signed Rate Con

I there are no changes on the Carrier side I can see why there would be no need for a signature. Did you sign and return the only rate con you saw this year that had the added information to it?

 

Allow me to answer your question with a question. How much do you think your truck is worth per hour including the Driver's pay? Shippers can choose to pay whatever they want doesn't mean you have to accept it. I agree though...it's like walking into McDonald's and telling them what you're willing to pay for a Happy Meal.

As far as TONU/Cancellation fees go I don't really have a set number for every situation. So many variables involved. It's more of a load specific deal. Example: I just billed one for $100 because I was about 10 miles away, only lost 1 hour, was in a good area and it was still very early in the day for me to find another load. In fact, I had another one in less than 15 minutes. I had that one signed by the Broker agreeing to the $250 TONU and $80/ hour detention rate billable in 15 minute increments.

She tried to bail using some excuses on the TONU and I reminded her I had a signed rate con so therefore I would be billing it. She quickly capitulated and sent me an updated one with the TONU on it for the cancelled run. I only cut her a break on the rate due to the above mentioned circumstances. In hindsight, I should not have been so friendly about it since she tried burn me. I firmly believe she never checked the rate con when I first sent it back to her. By the time she noticed the accessorials it a done deal.

I've actually added that particular Broker to my "Do Not Haul" list for trying to weasel out of the cancellation fee. I only want to deal with good business savvy Brokers. I'll let that truck sit and rot before I run just to run or to operate so every one else can make a buck while I get peanuts. Not happening. I think it's a big pie and as long as we all get a piece that makes us happy then it's all good. Problem I'm seeing is too many greedy leeches trying to take so much they leave the biggest part of the equation (the truck) to struggle. "Not I" said the cat!

 

I just copy/paste it to anywhere it fits on the rate con and edit the numbers to fit that particular run. If it's a Broker like TQL who likes to send an uneditable version that only requires your initials in their system controlled application you can ask them to add it themselves after you've negotiated it all. Also, there's a link in the email that lets you download a .pdf copy to physically edit as well.

I see it all as time, not miles. Miles in the Midwest aren't even comparable to miles in the Northeast. The only thing I use miles for is to determine fuel costs and to help gauge an hourly basis for a quote. A 600 mile run in an area where I can generally cover the distance at 60 mph is 600÷60=10x100=1000. Then I add fuel and tolls to the total for a rate quote. Of course, you won't get this in every lane for obvious reasons. Places like outbound Florida comes immediately to mind.

 

No, it was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks. These things never seem relevant when booking a truck but it's the transportation industry and we all know how that goes. Everything changes in the blink of an eye. I thought about putting these terms into the Agreement from day one but if the rates ever change (either decreasing or increasing) it can become messy to the point of making the initial addendum moot since it will all have to be negotiated again anyway.