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Originally Posted by charged
I'm guessing you need to be careful because you deal with so many and there is no telling who are good and bad.
If you are running brokered loads off load boards what do you look for in the contract to make sure the broker is not going to rip you off?
Can the contract be changed with brokers or is it just take it or leave it?
I've read people say don't move until you have signed rate confirmation.
Do you guys accept loads that have high penalties for late delivery?
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There is no way of telling who is about to go down the tubes. I've already hauled for at least 3 companies who have had an A rating then went out of business owing more than $30,000 to carriers each. I've already been paid but I do watch the credit reports listed by The Internet Truck Stop. Arrow trucking also is on the crap list with an F rating and owing carriers money.
When a broker decides it's time to get out of the game they rack up as much money as possible and don't pay the carriers and there's nothing you can do about it so it's pretty much a crap shoot.
Make sure you have the credit option with your load board. Look up the broker and make sure the return phone number matches the load boards one. If not, call the load board one and verify this is indeed a broker working for the company.
When you get the rate conformation make sure there isn't a note that says to tell the shipper you are hauling for a different company. That means the load is probably double brokered. Call the company that the broker tells you to tell the shipper and tell them what's going on. Chances are you will get the load from them instead at a better rate and the broker who called you will be whacked with a double broker complaint.
If the broker is listed as a factorable company then they are good to go.
If the broker has an E rating that says they refuse to supply credit info or they have been in business for less than one year then call them back and tell them they don't have a credit rating and unless they pay you up front in full you won't do it.
Do not move the truck until you have a rate conformation. Keep looking for another load just in case. Lots of times the broker is still looking for a cheaper carrier. You play the game too!
When you get the rate conformation or contract, cross out anything and initial it if you don't like what they are saying.
Before signing the rate conformation and sending it back make sure you can deliver on time. Lots of times the delivery date will be unreasonable. Don't call the broker, they will say deliver any time. That's BS. Cross out the date and put your date in.
I cross out all penalty clauses. If the broker calls you says what the heck. Tell him you can't control the weather or breakdowns.
Make sure you check on the FMCSA web site that the broker actually is a broker with a bond and not just another truck driver. This is a scam where they pretend to be a broker but actually are the ones supposed to be carrying the load. You deliver then send everything to him and he gets paid and you get crap.
Make sure you check the delivery date. Sometimes you may pick a load up on Thursday that you can deliver on Friday but the delivery date is for Monday. Your not a warehouse! Sometimes a shipper will want the load out of his yard but the receiver will not be ready to take delivery for many days after you get there. You just need to calculate out how long and stuff. Make sure you also take into consideration the weekend. If a load will take you until Friday afternoon to get there then you better plan on spending the weekend sitting with nothing or find another load that is either a shorter distance or longer one over the weekend.
What to do when running brokered loads off load boards?
