We did two hazmet loads in one week on which we had to take the ferry between Canada and the US. As most of you know, hazmet loads out of Windsor have to go by ferry. The other option is to drive north to Port Huron to take the bridge. Before we took the trips we ask Panther dispatch who would pay the ferry fees. We were told Panther pays the ferry fees.
The last ferry crossing was at 4:00 PM and it was 3:45 PM. We had already been waiting for over 4 hours for our clearance. We spent more than 3 hours on phone calls (mostly on hold) with Panther trying to get the situation cleared up. Canadian Customs was very helpful and re-faxed our paperwork several times to the broker number given us by Panther. Come to find out that Panther gave us the wrong broker information. A Canadian customs official took pity on us and got in touch with US Customs and explained the problem. US Customs said that they had this problem with Panther loads before and allowed us to board the ferry. When we arrived on the US side, a customs official called Panther and demanded they fix the problem immediately. Response from Panther was very swift. The proper broker info was given to Customs. US customs called the broker and again demanded immediate action. We had our clearance in five minutes.
Our truck owner sent us our settlement for these pros and Panther took the two ferry crossings out of our pay. The amounts were $85.00 for one and $89.50 for the other.
I called payroll to try and clear this up and was told that they needed receipts for the ferry crossings. I told them that we sent receipts. Payroll searched for the receipts and found the one for $85.00, but could not find the other. I told them that we did not make copies of the receipts but that customs faxed copies of the receipts to Panther safety. Payroll said they could not confirm the receipts and refused to check with safety. Panther obviously knew we made the ferry crossings and since the fees are paid by comcheck and approved by phone through Panther Safety, there is ample evidence for these receipts.
Since Payroll lost one receipt, they made the mistake not us.....first off, we were not even told receipts were required...second, we sent receipts and they could only find one (if we had not inquired, we would have been charged for that one)...third, customs faxed receipts to safety to be approved,....and fourth, there is a comcheck record of the transaction....and we think there is adequate paper trail to reimburse. Payroll said without the receipt they will not compensate us........and we sent the only receipts we had. We are very upset by this attitude.
We feel we did Panther and the shipper a favor by taking the ferry. Because we had a hard time getting cleared at the border, we could have requested extra miles by going north through Port Huron. This would have cost Panther or the shipper and we would have had a hard time making it to the consignee on time.
So much for favors.
We have no problem taking Hazmet loads or going in and out of Canada, but hazmet loads across the border…never again. In these two loads we had about 17 hours delay total, were given bad information, had problems getting to a decision maker at Panther, over 3 hours of extra phone charges, and got charged for ferry crossing fees. With support like that who needs the extra hassles.
We have tried several times to get help with this with no results....we are hoping that this can be brought to the attention of management .....Please help us if you can....we look forward to your response.
The last ferry crossing was at 4:00 PM and it was 3:45 PM. We had already been waiting for over 4 hours for our clearance. We spent more than 3 hours on phone calls (mostly on hold) with Panther trying to get the situation cleared up. Canadian Customs was very helpful and re-faxed our paperwork several times to the broker number given us by Panther. Come to find out that Panther gave us the wrong broker information. A Canadian customs official took pity on us and got in touch with US Customs and explained the problem. US Customs said that they had this problem with Panther loads before and allowed us to board the ferry. When we arrived on the US side, a customs official called Panther and demanded they fix the problem immediately. Response from Panther was very swift. The proper broker info was given to Customs. US customs called the broker and again demanded immediate action. We had our clearance in five minutes.
Our truck owner sent us our settlement for these pros and Panther took the two ferry crossings out of our pay. The amounts were $85.00 for one and $89.50 for the other.
I called payroll to try and clear this up and was told that they needed receipts for the ferry crossings. I told them that we sent receipts. Payroll searched for the receipts and found the one for $85.00, but could not find the other. I told them that we did not make copies of the receipts but that customs faxed copies of the receipts to Panther safety. Payroll said they could not confirm the receipts and refused to check with safety. Panther obviously knew we made the ferry crossings and since the fees are paid by comcheck and approved by phone through Panther Safety, there is ample evidence for these receipts.
Since Payroll lost one receipt, they made the mistake not us.....first off, we were not even told receipts were required...second, we sent receipts and they could only find one (if we had not inquired, we would have been charged for that one)...third, customs faxed receipts to safety to be approved,....and fourth, there is a comcheck record of the transaction....and we think there is adequate paper trail to reimburse. Payroll said without the receipt they will not compensate us........and we sent the only receipts we had. We are very upset by this attitude.
We feel we did Panther and the shipper a favor by taking the ferry. Because we had a hard time getting cleared at the border, we could have requested extra miles by going north through Port Huron. This would have cost Panther or the shipper and we would have had a hard time making it to the consignee on time.
So much for favors.
We have no problem taking Hazmet loads or going in and out of Canada, but hazmet loads across the border…never again. In these two loads we had about 17 hours delay total, were given bad information, had problems getting to a decision maker at Panther, over 3 hours of extra phone charges, and got charged for ferry crossing fees. With support like that who needs the extra hassles.
We have tried several times to get help with this with no results....we are hoping that this can be brought to the attention of management .....Please help us if you can....we look forward to your response.
no longer have kitties on truck now have good directions, longer runs, no border hassels. P2 was a friendly place to work and many concerened people however the phone problems, lack of good dirctions and QC nightmares("how far are you from Laredo" "We are almost at delivery in Cleveland" " OH!! QC says you're still in Laredo" :-( )and just plain cofusion made it to stressful,but as I'm sure you will hear "Hang in there it will get better when they fix the phones,get the new QC's, get organized etc." Or start looking out for your selves. I'm not telling you to leave just look out for your best intrest P2 may come around.Good luck and hope loads get better.
