Industry News

07-01-08  - Another reason for Shippers Point

If TRUCC passes, any shipper that uses a truck broker will be subject to audits on freight rates paid to a truck broker if a carrier files a complaint of being denied covered charges paid to them by shipper hired truck brokers. Shippers that negotiate direct with a carrier should not be concerned with these type of audits. By the way this is not happening because truck brokers as a group are helping owner Operators and small fleets stay in the black and in business.

06-30-08  - TRUCC Act S. 2910

110TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 2910 To require brokers to disclose and pay independent truckers for any fuel surcharges received from shippers that relate to fuel costs paid for by the truckers. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES APRIL 24, 2008 Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. BROWN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To require brokers to disclose and pay independent truckers for any fuel surcharges received from shippers that relate to fuel costs paid for by the truckers. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Trust in Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs Act’’ or the ‘‘TRUCC Act’’. •S 2910 IS SEC. 2. DISCLOSURE AND PASS THROUGH OF MOTOR CARRIER FUEL COSTS. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 14102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(c) DISCLOSURE AND PASS THROUGH TO COST BEARER.—A motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder, providing or arranging truckload transportation or service using fuel for which it does not bear the cost, shall provide to the person that bears the cost of such fuel— ‘‘(1) a payment in an amount equal to the charges, invoiced or otherwise presented to the person directly responsible to the motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder, which relate to the cost of the fuel; and ‘‘(2) at the time payment is made under paragraph (1), a written list that specifically identifies any freight charge, brokerage fee or commission, fuel surcharge or adjustment, and any other charges invoiced or otherwise presented to the person described in paragraph (1).’’. (b) BILLING AND COLLECTION PRACTICES.—Section 23 13708(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ‘‘(b) FALSE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION.—No person may cause a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder to present false or misleading information on a document or in an oral representation about the actual rate, charge, or allowance to any party to the transaction or transportation.’’.

05-22-08  - Quality Management

The quality Management System Shippers Point has launched for Carriers operating within the Shippers Point System will assure Manufacturing and Shipping companies choosing to use Carriers in Shippers Point that the service they will receive will be of the highest standards.<<<<< ( A. ) Carrier agrees to maintain all Carriers equipment in a satisfactory state of repair as defined by the Department of Transportation rules and regulations. ( B. ) Drivers must comply with all rules and regulations for hours of service and safety regulations as defined by the Department of Transportation during the movement of any shipment accepted through Shippers Point. ( C. ) Carriers must have available emergency contact information to keep Manufacturers, Shipper and consignee informed of any delays in the pickup and delivery of any shipment under the control of Carrier accepted from any Shippers Point registered Manufacturer / Shipper. Cell phone numbers to communicate with drivers will be provided to the Manufacturer, Shipper to allow direct communications with the driver if the need arises for the registered Manufacturer, Shipper to communicate directly with the driver transporting any shipments obtained through the Shippers Point. ( D. ) All delays in providing service to registered Manufacturers / Shippers in the transportation of all shipments under the control of registered Carriers must be reported promptly to the Registered Manufacturer / Shipper who awarded the shipment to the Shippers Point registered Carrier. ( E. ) All company drivers or permanently leased owner operators under the control of registered Carriers in Shippers Point must agree to conduct themselves at the highest level of professionalism in their communications with all Manufacturers, Shippers and Consignee personnel involved in the shipping and receiving of all shipments awarded by Shippers Point registered Manufacturers/ Shippers. There is never any reason for business communications to be reduced to a less than professional level. No yelling, swearing or demeaning language will be used in any situation in resolving any issues with any personnel involved in any aspect of the movement of any shipments awarded by any registered Manufacturers, Shippers or Consignees doing business within Shippers Point.

05-08-08  - predatory as opposed to useful

We at Shippers Point are always pointing out the benefits of using Shippers Point. I think we need to look at the reasons for Shippers Point. The trucking industry , specifically the carriers and drivers, you know the ones, those guys and gals who work hard to bring everything you touch to us. As a nation we must protect that industry. Truck brokers in our opinion no longer serve an important need when they skim 15,20,30 percent off the rates intended for the truck and driver. The very act of taking those percentages off the transportation rates is a direct attack on the profitability and survivability of our nations industries. Shippers Point was created to give the carriers and shippers a powerful tool to connect with each other without the need to pay high truck broker fees. If truck brokers would restrain themselves to an 8% fee their usefulness could be easily accepted as a cost of doing business. But! When the profitability of both a carrier and manufacturer are impacted by exorbitant truck broker fees, Truck Brokers become predatory as opposed to a useful part of the industry.

05-06-08  - Mozilla Firefox

Mozilla Firefox it is free and it is a great alternative to Microsoft Internet explorer. There is a little learning curve to it but worth the down load.