What do you charge for above and beyond type loading/unloading?

I just started working with a new customer that seems like he will provide a decent amount of direct loads. The problem is it all goes to the port and I can tell it will often involve me getting stuff ready for shipping and so forth. An example might have to drain the gas or occasionally put stuff on pallets or band down for shipping ect. Also might have to do measurements for various items to give to his shipper guy so they know how big something is to get it shipped on the boat.

How do you guys deal with that kind of extra work that you might have to do for a direct customer? For example the current load I have for him I need to use a skid steer I loaded to unload a pallet, I then have to band a bucket to that pallet and then band a 2nd bucket back to the forklift forks of the bobcat for shipping.

It's all little stuff but can be time-consuming extra work that doesn't really fit into a per-mile rate. Do any of you guys do that kinda stuff and bill separately for it?

Obviously, I think I need to charge for that kinda extra work but I also want to be fair about it.

 

I avoid jobs going the port unless they are willing to pay my $75 an hour or at the least $50 an hour for anything past 2 hours of waiting or non driving work.
In Jacksonville I use to have a port delivery yard and paid I think $50 per unit, I'd drop the load there and it was delivered to the port next day and they sent me all the paperwork, pics and whatever else I needed to get. I add the waiting time to the BOL and screenshot my eld clock for proof of how long I've been waiting/working.

 

I had a customer load the other day that required a cross dock, box truck with lift gate, delivering into the city, and taking each pallet to the correct floor of the building. So after delivering to the cross dock, the contractor charged $162.50 per hour for hours 5am to 8am and then $130/he from 8am to 5pm. Then had delivery fee, cross dock fee, etc.

My point is, in your case somewhere around that $150/hr plus supplies is going to be fair and worth your while. This customer unless finding a sucker, is going to pay it one way or another.

Edit: I used to charge 49/hr back 10 yrs ago and thought that was sky high. My example is just a sign of the times and especially in a large coastal city.

 

...i was always amused when CA based broker paid $35per hour detention ...200-250k worth of equipment sitting and waiting for $35 per hour ...i dont want even $100 , i want to be loaded in time and go

 

I have a TWIC card so I don't really have to wait for an escort or anything. They are going to the Crowly terminal at Port Everglades so for this kind of stuff and cars it's a separate entrance from the cargo container guys so you just drive up to the gate walk to the guard shack and give him your load number and your ID's then go in drop it with the check-in guy.

Although they took all day on Tues to get him the drop off number for the truck I dropped. By the time I got the number it was 3:00 and when I went there they closed the gate (they stop taking stuff at 3:30 but apparently before that) Anyway I had to stay overnight that night because port jerk-offs are lazy #####...

I'm the same with ports though.. I avoid them for normal cars at all cost.. This 1st truck was paying enough I decided to do it and ended up with a good connection it looks like because of it. I don't think I'll take other cars or anything for normal port stuff though.

 

Yeah, I'm the same.. I'd rather just get in and out than worry about detention money..

 

That's crazy they'd pay that just to move pallets but I guess when you add up the people who are getting paid at various points it makes sense.

 

I have a TWIC card also and don't need escort either, but the first time I unloaded a single car at the port in Jax it took almost 5 hours. My dispatcher told me about the port drop off yard for $50 a unit and I never went to the port ever again, just asked for $50 over the price I wanted for the job and instant drop at the lot. They had forks if the car was inop and charged I think $10 to swap out a flat tire. Once they started to know me they allowed me to drop 24/7 and gave me a code for the gate. I just made sure cars had only 1/4 tank before I got to the pickup.

I'd kill to find that kind of lot in the Newark NJ and Baltimore area! Ton of port work that I refuse to take. Someone can make bank with a 6-9 car hauler just running from the lot and dropping at the port. When ports realize you are a regular they start to unload you first/faster.

 

If you don't mind, send me that info on the drop yard. I don't ever take anything to Jax port but might start if it's quick like that.

 

Service this customer the best you can. Think about your daily charge, while being time consuming charge him accordingly. Direct customers fit good in your pocket book well.