What would you have done?

I am an owner operator with my own authority. I booked a load this week for $400 taking me from one good paying load to another load tomorrow for $1200. When I get to the shipper there is a line of at least 30 trucks in front of me. I have picked up at this shipper before and on a good day if there are 6 - 10 trucks in line you are looking at a 2 hour wait to get loaded. I also know that this shipper loads first come first serve and does not pay detention. I left and called the broker on the way out to let him know that I cannot wait for 6 hours for a $400 load and this shipper does not pay detention. Of course the broker got all bent out of shape and started yelling and telling me how bad I look and that they will no longer use my company for their loads.

What really gets me is that they expect me to sit for 6 hours for free, and then lose my $1200 load. I think it is completely unreasonable to sit for 6 hours for any load. If I would have stayed I would basically be paying them $800 to lose 6 hours of my work week.

So the question is, am I being unreasonable here? Should I have hung around for 6 hours to take this load?

 

i am not an o/o, but i have run a business. anytime it's going to cost ME MONEY i say no way.

 

Should of called first and renegotiated. If you couldn't then leave.

 

That is pretty much what I did, just while headed home . I pulled off before I got on the highway and talked to 'em.

 

If renegotiating didn't work, then you are absolutely justified. Don't let a nickel hold up a dollar. Especially if you're the one paying the nickel with your time.

I've done it, too. So you're not alone in this decision.

 

It sucks that a broker does not understand this. I think what you did was a good move. It is too bad that others find this acceptable.If everyone would put their foot down and see there is a problem with just expecting someone to wait and waste time then maybe things would change. Its funny how companies think this is the norm and believe you need them. Even if you didn't have a good paying load set up I still think it was a solid move.

 

If you knew it takes forever to load, and you did not have detention on the rate sheet, why did you accept it in the first place?
You should have negotiated detention, first, foremost, and always. I don't care if the shipper pays or not. I'm not working for the shipper, I'm working with the broker. If he doesn't want to pay, so be it. There is always another load.

As for leaving first.. Well, it is very unprofessional. You agreed to run the load. You did NOT specify a time frame. That's on you. In the future, specify detention (based solely on time there, not if the shipper pays) and move on if the broker will not agree to pay.

 

Nope,you did the right thing.Broker should have told you on the load or confirmation info there may be a long wait to get loaded.Company drivers can't cancelled but owner op,sittng for hours and not getting paid for it you can find another load.

 

Q

You are a company driver, judging by your other posts, I formed an opinion that you have no idea how to run a business. Please give advises on stuff you know about.

 

Second this