Abandoned

[Rocketman]

It is interesting how so many carry on about how they are a business person, not just a driver, until the unpleasant underbelly of the "business" rares it's ugly head. Who doesn't know who is responsible for maintaining their vehicle? It is clearly outlined in every contract I have signed with a carrier. It's called self employment. Ya know that capitalism thingy that's all the rage these days? Rugged Individualism and all of that stuff? This is part of it.

Oh I get it... your one of those guys that takes responsibility for his equipment? Imagine that!

I would expect nothing but to pay for the tow bill. Its my equipment after all...and I am contracted to move the load. Now, if there is an obvious alternative that will work (and still meet ALL of the requirements of the load), then I would want them to pay if they still insisted on a tow. Even in that situation, unless it was an obvious over-reaction from the carrier, I would likely feel responsible for the tow. It is my truck that broke down after all.

If money is tight and I need the carrier to front the tow bill is one thing, but asking them to be completely responsible for the bill is another...imo.

 

[ATeam]

I would expect nothing but to pay for the tow bill. Its my equipment after all...and I am contracted to move the load. Now, if there is an obvious alternative that will work (and still meet ALL of the requirements of the load), then I would want them to pay if they still insisted on a tow. Even in that situation, unless it was an obvious over-reaction from the carrier, I would likely feel responsible for the tow. It is my truck that broke down after all.

Hypothetical question: You are on a 1,200 mile run (over a weekend for solo drivers). Truck breaks down in a remote area 400 miles into the run. No rescue trucks are available. Do you pay to be towed to the delivery?

 

[Rocketman]

If that is the only option that gets the job done...yes. It is my responsibility to get the freight moved. My contract does not say "unless for some reason your truck can't make it to delivery". The distance or the cost of the tow may hurt, but it has nothing to do with re-assignment of the responsibility.

 

[xiggi]

Hypothetical question: You are on a 1,200 mile run (over a weekend for solo drivers). Truck breaks down in a remote area 400 miles into the run. No rescue trucks are available. Do you pay to be towed to the delivery?

Doesn't matter if its 10 miles or 1000 miles the truck owner is responsible. I do think the company should offer to pay up front and take payments from your settlements.

Sent from my Fisher Price ABC123 via EO Forums

 

[bobwg]

I rescued 2 pallets from a straight truck he used his liftgate lowered the liftgate down slightly above the level of the floor in my Sprinter and we made the slight jump into the sprinter with the pallet jack

 

[bobwg]

Doesn't matter if its 10 miles or 1000 miles the truck owner is responsible. I do think the company should offer to pay up front and take payments from your settlements.

Sent from my Fisher Price ABC123 via EO Forums

LS does this but of course they charge a slight fee/interest. Also LS will not recommend a tow service they will give you a list of tows in the area then it is up to you to call

 

[zorry]

My guess is this is part of Fedex's reasoning behind their policy. They have deep enough pockets to tow it to a customer if need be.
It'd be a cost of doing business. It may be beyond an O/o's capability to get it done.
I don't imagine they want to pay to cover for the same truck very often. That would be poor business.
Just another reason to use a large carrier.

 

[purgoose10]

I know this has been discussed before but Good Sams club Rv roadside assistance is about $115 for the first year. They have extended towing coverage at no charge. I use them for my C/Vans I know they will tow them. They tow large motor homes under that plan so it might be good to check see it they will tow a straight truck. They change motor homes tires also. If you just used them one time it would save you a bundle. My C/Vans have had them come out and change tires and once to open a door (yes the driver did lock it) and it didn't cost anything.

 

[Turtle]

Hypothetical question: You are on a 1,200 mile run (over a weekend for solo drivers). Truck breaks down in a remote area 400 miles into the run. No rescue trucks are available. Do you pay to be towed to the delivery?

The answer, of course, is yes.

In a similar scenario with a twist, same weekend load, the truck breaks down in an area where repairs can be made Monday morning, except the load itself goes to a remote area where you are cannot get repairs made. Do you pay to be towed the 400 miles to the delivery, and then pay again to be towed 400 miles back to a repair facility? Or do you simply wait until Monday to get the repairs done, and deliver the load late? Many carriers will most likely insist on the former. What do you do, and what should be done in that case?

 

[xiggi]

I don't think its up to the truck owner.

Sent from my Fisher Price ABC123 via EO Forums

 

[Rocketman]

Doesn't matter if its 10 miles or 1000 miles the truck owner is responsible. I do think the company should offer to pay up front and take payments from your settlements.

Sent from my Fisher Price ABC123 via EO Forums

I can't agree with the word "should". It is nice if they do...and it may be in the carrier's best interest to front the money just to be sure money doesn't slow the process... but I see no reason why they "should". I'm sure that our carrier would and I have no doubt they would work with the owner as much as possible.... but for this discussion, I feel the responsibility falls completely and directly on the shoulders of the truck owner. Any form of help from the carrier is either a favor or an act of protecting their own interest in the load.

 

[Rocketman]

The answer, of course, is yes.

In a similar scenario with a twist, same weekend load, the truck breaks down in an area where repairs can be made Monday morning, except the load itself goes to a remote area where you are cannot get repairs made. Do you pay to be towed the 400 miles to the delivery, and then pay again to be towed 400 miles back to a repair facility? Or do you simply wait until Monday to get the repairs done, and deliver the load late? Many carriers will most likely insist on the former. What do you do, and what should be done in that case?

Again...the circumstances dont matter. You are contracted to make that load happen. The fact that your going to have to tow it 400 miles to delivery, then tow the truck 400 miles afterwards changes nothing but your ego and your account balance. Responsibilities are still the same.

 

[ATeam]

Again...the circumstances dont matter. You are contracted to make that load happen. The fact that your going to have to tow it 400 miles to delivery, then tow the truck 400 miles afterwards changes nothing but your ego and your account balance. Responsibilities are still the same.

In what way are you contracted to make that load happen?

How do you know this?

What exactly are you required by contract to do in the original hypothetical example?

Where exactly is that contract language found?

What exactly does it say?

 

[Rocketman]

In what way are you contracted to make that load happen? How do you know this? In what way exactly are you so contracted? What exactly are you required by contract to do in the original hypothetical example? Where exactly is that contract language found? What exactly does it say?

I haven't and don't need to look at my contract to know that it is my responsibility to get the load delivered. It is, at minimum, an ethical issue. I wouldn't ask a carrier to cover the expenses associated with doing the job I've told them I would do even if there was no contract at all.

 

[cheri1122]

What ^he^ said: a deal's a deal, and accepting a load means doing everything possible to deliver it as promised.
Even if it costs more than it pays, you keep your word, or it's worthless.

 

[ATeam]

What ^he^ said: a deal's a deal, and accepting a load means doing everything possible to deliver it as promised.
Even if it costs more than it pays, you keep your word, or it's worthless.

OK. Let's talk about your word then, cheri1122 and Rocketman. How is that word given? Expediters do not raise their right hands and make pledges to shippers at loading docks. Somewhere, somehow, it is communicated between driver, carrier, shipper and consignee the services that are being promised.

What services exactly are promised?

By what document or method is the promise made?

What, exactly, are you promising or is your carrier promising when you agree to haul a load?

Sorry, Rocketman, you may have to look at your contract to answer the questions I am asking. I'm not looking for ethical bravado. I'm looking for the obligations a contractor and/or carrier has in the event of a breakdown under load.

Using the original hypothetical question: You are on a 1,200 mile run (over a weekend for solo drivers). Truck breaks down in a remote area 400 miles into the run. No rescue trucks are available.

Talking about "your word," on such a run, what word was given exactly, who was it given by, who was it given to, and what are the contractor's obligations under the word given?

 

[BigCat]

Talking about "your word," on such a run, what word was given exactly, who was it given by, who was it given to, and what are the contractor's obligations under the word given?

Well on panthers depart shipper it ask "Can you safely and legally make scheduled delivery appointment?". It is a y/n question. By saying yes you are giving your word. At which point it becomes your responsibility to get that load there.

 

[cheri1122]

If you need explicit, I'll leave that to Rocketman, as I don't have a copy of the contract handy.
Implicit is good enough for me, though: when I accept a load offer, it is my responsibility to follow through to delivery, and that's all I need to know. Because I don't own the truck, I may be absolved from a legal responsibility to do some things, [like pay for a tow], but it doesn't mean I don't feel responsible for seeing that it gets done, even if I do have to pay for out of my pocket.
If that's 'bravado', then so are a whole lot of your posts - just saying.

 

[ATeam]

Well on panthers depart shipper it ask "Can you safely and legally make scheduled delivery appointment?". It is a y/n question. By saying yes you are giving your word. At which point it becomes your responsibility to get that load there.

Let's take a closer look at that. If the question is, "Can you safely and legally make scheduled delivery appointment?" and you answer yes, you are stating that you can make that delivery. You are not stating that you will, only that you can. Note the difference. They are not asking "Do you promise to safely and legally make the delivery at the scheduled time?" Saying yes to that question would be to make a promise or give your word. Saying yes to the first question does not.

 

[BigCat]

Let's take a closer look at that. If the question is, "Can you safely and legally make scheduled delivery appointment?" and you answer yes, you are stating that you can make that delivery. You are not stating that you will, only that you can. Note the difference. They are not asking "Do you promise to safely and legally make the delivery at the scheduled time?" Saying yes to that question would be to make a promise or give your word. Saying yes to the first question does not.

If I tell them or any company I can means I will. Saying you can but then you don't is like saying " I can but I'm not going to". If you can still do it but it has to be towed it is still your problem.