The NIGHTMARE of the HIGHWAY APP for spot market.

Don't know man..
I usually like what ya got to say, but none a this gives me the warm fuzzys..

They making it real difficult to run spot with our exempt trucks...

 

Totally get it my friend. I don’t even like what I typed but things are ah changing. I’m young but at the same time old school. #### the dumb #### as my Dad would say.

 

But why do they need access to logs makes no sense? Are they making sure you are booking loads that you can deliver with hours? It’s all weird

 

To make sure the truck that books the load actually hauls it. None of this "dot number taped to the door" at pickup, or relaying it off midroute.

 

I agree there will be a few big ones in the end. Still never signed up, only lost one broker(first time using them)
We will sign up like we do with our customers, until the driver hits tracking on the qualcom they can only see from that point until the driver stops the tracking.
The good thing about it is it makes you focus more on finding direct customers for those short load's between your customers.

 

I admire you but from what I've gathered your business model is being a multi truck carrier with mostly direct customers. As a one man on the spot market it's impossible now to make a living without giving in to Highway. Anyone who is doing it should speak up. I really don't think it can be done.

They have won this one. And it's all because of fraud.

 

Certainly agree with the fraud part. We spend a lot of time clearing new carriers. Highway is a pretty expensive program to use. We just have in our contract that we may require the logs for the load sent direct from the ELD provider to us before payment. No match, no pay.

I do have a number of trucks that self dispatch off the load boards. No real problem with it yet, but it will come at some time. Then I will set up a different ELD account just for those trucks. They want to look at loads other brokers have, go for it. Will never give a broker the ability to see any direct customers.

 

That's a pretty good policy, no match no pay I mean. I would have no problem with that at all.

Here's my current problem and I definitely DO have a problem with it. Lots of brokers I've run for for years won't use me right now because I haven't had an inspection in over 2 years. I realize that this is not Highway's problem, they are simply enforcing a rule that the brokerage opted for.

The problem is that this flies in the face of the way DOT inspections work. They are, by definition, RANDOM! I don't bypass scales. I don't drive extra miles to avoid them. I simply haven't been randomly inspected. I'm not willing to ASK for an inspection. That's just stupid IMO. I've tried to explain to one or two brokers that I'm happy with them vetting me another way but I'm not going to LOOK for an inspection. That's not my job. All the other things they check me out on should prove I'm legit.

Anyway, I know this is totally off topic and really has nothing to do with Highway but it's seriously pissing me off lately.

 

The inspection thing doesn't do anything for the fraud problem. Just means you actually had a truck on the road at that time. If it was a year ago doesn't mean you still have one.
We have carriers that have worked for us for years and have none.

 

I agree! Not sure why they use that metric. So many other things can tell you if a carrier is legit, such as having made several previous runs for that broker recently. SMH.