When to book your next load, and be square with brokers?

Most brokers freight will work with you at least somewhat. Make sure you build an extra 2-3 hours for #### happens into your plan for the days where you get unloaded/loaded.

If you communicate clearly what is going on no broker is every going to have a problem with you getting delayed an hour or two. This is the trucking business and brokers know #### happens. They just don't want to get surprised.

"I have my delivery in Walmart DC Coldwater MI at 7 am tomorrow, so I should be all right to be in Fort Wayne, at noon, if they don't delay..." Is completely fine. Make sure you communicate to the broker exactly what your situation is and it's up to him if he wants to take the chance.

Don't be too concerned if some broker yells at or threatens you because you tell him something is going wrong. Sometimes people are angry about something not related to you. If a broker is yelling about you being an hour late something else is going wrong.

Now if he tells you clearly that they will only accept you until noon and you're late to your WM appointment... you need to tell him the second it looks like you're going to be late. Don't hope that they will empty you when you know ###### well that you'll probably sit for a day.

 

If I book a same day load while I'm still loaded, I always inform the broker before he sends a rate con. Most of the time they tell me I have until Xpm to be there or I can pick up first thing in the morning. I think I've only had 1 load in 2016 the the broker didn't want to give me because the shipper had a strict appointment policy and it was a hot load. Otherwise, they never have a problem with that.

Definitely don't lie to them and tell them you're empty when you're not just to get a load, especially if it's something hot.