Quote:
Originally Posted by DD60
How would they even enforce this clause? Every broker I have hauled for had this clause. Most of these brokers double-broker anyway and no one seems to prove it. As competitive as this industry is it is all fair game. :lol:
You never know the relationship a shipper has with a broker. I recall one broker that I dealt with who had a relative who was over the shipping department where I picked up. Had I solicited this shipper then it would have been very easy for the broker to find out about it. Whether the broker attempts to collect on his contract or not may be another issue. You could lose out on a very good paying load by soliciting the brokers account. He would be foolish to send you to another shipper when he knows you may solicit their business for yourself. I know it may not be fashionable to keep your word, but when I give my word or sign a contract it means something. I can't do anything about what a broker or anyone else does, but I can control what I do. If you plan on back soliciting shippers, then why even sign a contract with a broker who has the back solicitation clause in his contract? If you want to get your own shippers, then perhaps you need to start knocking on doors. That is what the broker does. I never sign ANY contract with the idea of breaching it. There have been some contracts that I have refused to sign without modifications. I have lost some loads because I won't agree to some terms of a contract. To me that is the best way to handle it. For me, it is a matter of character. My word is my character. If I give my word and break it, then I have compromised my character. Most people who know me understand that I am a man of my word. I don't need a contract to keep my word. I don't even need a handshake. If I tell someone that I will do something then I will do everything possible to keep my word. When someone gives me their word or makes an agreement with me, then I expect them to honor their word. Whether the broker finds out about it is irrelevant. I know about it and that is what is most important to me. I spoke with a broker the other day who told me that I am old school. Perhaps so. It it makes me old school to keep my word, then I suppose that I am old school.