IF you chose a smaller carrier...
- Thread starter OntarioVanMan
- Start date
Does an agent take care of customs ppwk for example if you're doing a cross border load?
The customer prepares international shipment paperwork and uses a customs broker (usually). We deal with the brokers directly. If an ACE manifest is needed, we make a phone call to Landstar and one is immediately faxed or e-mailed to the truck (we have in-truck fax and e-mail capability).
Border crossing became simpler when we moved to Landstar where we gained the ability to deal directly with the parties concerned, and the people who dispatch our freight (agents) know better than to inject themselves between the truck and the broker.
Why should an agent deal with border crossing issues on a weekend when the driver can resolve them as well as anyone and the agent can be playing golf instead?
Diane and I once had occasion to wake an agent up in the middle of the night with a border crossing issue. He was the right person to call since he was also the one who set up the shipment and knew how to get ahold of the customer, also in the middle of the night. Unlike our previous carrier, he did not wait for business hours. Rather than stranding us at the border overnight, he called the customer at home and got the needed information.
This approach means more work for us but it also means a decreased likelihood that we will be stranded at the border because of a paperwork snafu or dispatch dropped the ball (and then tells you it's the broker's fault).
Landstar, a huge carrier, has a Canada help desk that we can call if we have questions. It is staffed during regular business hours. We made use of that resource a couple of times early on but once your questions are answered and you get the hang of international border crossings, you remember the answers and don't need to call again.
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Thanks Phil.
PreacherRich and Blizzard have been great to work with, they have gone above and beyond to make sure I'm okay and have everything I need... Examples; Rich calls me on his day off that he was spending with family on Friday to check on me and I wasn't even under a load... Blizzard calls me Sunday nite to offer me a wakeup call cause he knew I would need to be on the road at the wee hours of the morning... Keep up the great work guys, I for one appreciate it very much!!!
Sent from my MB300 using EO Forums
Sent from my MB300 using EO Forums
BigCat
Expert Expediter
I couldn't handle someone having to call and wake me up. That doesn't sound trusting IMHO.
I tend to agree. I don't need a call when I'm not under load and I can wake myself up. These guys do seen to mean well though.
BigCat
Expert Expediter
Maybe its because he is new but still, ya know i have an alarm clock on my phone. And if I am not under load i dont want to be bothered either. I guess it can be a good gesture depending how the person feels about it.
It was a friendly gesture had nothing to do with trust, they genuinely care about their drivers... Again, I appreciate the thoughtfulness...
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CharlesD
Expert Expediter
How much is it worth?
So, I should just trust that all drivers get up on time and head to their pick-up location without being reminded to do so? I called a driver once and he thanked me for calling because his alarm clock did not go off. If you don't want to be monitored then you shouldn't be in the expedite business. I need to get a grip on the situation before a problem arises not after one arises.
He was under a load. I was calling him to make sure he was awake and rolling to the shipper. It's called being proactive and when you are running a customer service based business being proactive is the name of the game. What if his alarm failed to go off or if he was having some sort of a medical emergency and I waited until the protect time to call and find out what is going on. That is not how things work when you are running an expedite company.
BigCat
Expert Expediter
I see your point but I'm just saying if I get a call from dispatch unless I'm getting close to being behind I'll tell them where to stick it.
I do see your point though just seemed a little mistrusting at first sight.
100% on time on every load for me without anyone calling.
I am the same way. I used to get loads from one of my pevious carriers and they never once had to call me and the loads were all delivered early or on time. But that is not the best way to do things. Anything can happen such as an accident or a driver not getting up on time. So actively monitoring the drivers and loads is a very important part of providing great customer service. I love to track my dots but I don't necessarilly like to adjitate my dots lol!
That's not what I said. He said he was called by someone when he was not under a load and that's what I replied to.
He also said you called with an offer to wake him up, and you say you called to make sure he was already awake and rolling, so again, there's a difference there.
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Must be a Canadian thing. J/K I am gonna get all of your numbers and harass you guys at midnight. I can use skype to calll Canadian numbers for free!
I was just up to take a leak. I'm going back to bed.
That's dedication. Get up to take a leak at 430 in the morning and stop to check the web.
By the way, where did you take it to ?? LOL
By the way, where did you take it to ?? LOL