hauler problems

[Patsdeere]

I posted a similar thing in the transport section, but since it probably isn't visited much, I figured I would post my question here too.

I hired a company to haul a tractor for me and I agreed to a price of 600. The shipper decided that since it had 3 wheels instead of 4 it was better on a flatbed semi (with no ramps). Since there had to be a company called out to load the thing ($75) and there will be one that has to unload it, is it fair to reduce the haul pay by what I had to spend to load and unload the truck? When they gave me the price they knew exactly what it was (size, weight, length, width, it has 3 wheels not 4, etc).

 

[ericlb]

probably not, in professional trucking loading is done by the shipper, and unloading is done by the reciver,[you] any cost will usually be your responsibility

 

[Patsdeere]

Normally I would agree. But since I stated that I needed something with ramps (and they decided that I didn't), it seems a little different. It also wasn't based on needing it asap (which would be a different story).

 

[Dave H (MI)]

Seems like you ought to be able to come up with a cheaper plan for loading. NOBODY around the vicinity has a ramp or dock they would let you use? Even the TSC here has ramp they back trucks down but given that you might be in the middle of nowhere it seems you could improvise something to get that tractor on the trailer if it runs.

 

[Mike (WA)]

Problem here is that you stated you needed something with ramps, but trailers only have two ramps, and you can't load a tricycle tractor with two ramps (well, actually, you can, but its tricky, and no hauler in their right mind would incur the liability by trying it). Ends up being kind of a "mutual mistake" situation (I'll bet nobody picked up on the loading problem until after you'd made your deal with the dispatcher), so probably not reasonable to expect the hauler to eat the extra expense.

 

[Patsdeere]

In the middle of a residential subdivision, there isn't much of a chance of a ramp. Even if I did find one, the cost to get it back to my place would overcome the good of using the dock.

 

[Patsdeere]

When I first asked for a quote I told them it was a tricycle, but somebody would be there to help load (thus relieving them of the liability). I was going to be on the unloading end (with a third ramp and again to eliminate their liability).

While it isn't quite "fair" to leave them picking up the cost, why is it more "fair" for me to pick it up when I was totally upfront about all the challenges? Not to mention, they have had the haul order for about 3 weeks, and they never called me back to say that there would be a problem with loading/unloading it.

Would it be more "fair" to have them pick up one end and I pick up one end?

 

[JT]

Normally a quoted rate is transportation from point A to point B. It would be your responsibility to load and unload. You probably would have to pay someone no matter what type of trailer they use. Normally a driver will not unload a truck, unless you have a contract saying driver will load and unload..

 

[Old Ford Mechanic]

Was the tractor loaded on to this flatbed without your presence or your knowledge? If it was then you may have a good case.But if you hired another company to load and unload it,then it would seem that you would have had the choice to make other arrangements.The time to agree on a price is before the work not afterwards.I realize the situation changed,but unless you told them before they moved it,their price should be the same.

 

[Patsdeere]

I arranged it with the shipper so that he could load and I would unload based on the fact that it was supposed to be a trailer with ramps. Then if for some reason the seller couldn't load it and had to have somebody come out and load it up for him, then I would agree with everybody that either the seller or I should pickup the cost. But since they didn't give any warning about switching trailers, I think there should be some give on their part.

 

[Patsdeere]

I had no knowledge (and it was 1500 miles away from me) that it was a normal flatbed until hours after it was loaded and already on the road. I got a message from the seller that they had brought out a regular flatbed versus one with ramps and he had to hire a guy to pick the thing up and put it on the trailer.

I agreed to a price about 3 weeks ago based on the fact that it would be a trailer with ramps.

 

[Anonymous-0]

So why don't you tell all this to the hauler and get it settled before it shows up?

 

[Patsdeere]

Left him a message and am waiting to hear back. However, since the hauler is a contract hauler (I think) I don't want to screw him as I don't know if it was the actual driver's choice to switch or if he was just told to pick it up at a given address.

 

[cornfarmer]

In the absence of a written contract to the contrary, loading and unloading is the responsibility of the shipper and reciever. Even though it is a case of poor communication (the hauler overestimated your statement that the shipper would help load), you are probably stuck. Good Luck-maybe they will help with the bill.

 

[Anonymous-0]

yea
your right if he seen he picture of the tractor he should of had seen what it took and told you up front. BUT the price is still good that you probably could not go 3000 miles for $600 chalk it up and have a writen contract next time and look at insurance. if you buy stuff up toward ohio and bring back toward south carolina i can give you a price. LH

 

[Bob]

Is all this fuss over ONLY $75.00? If so, AND the hauler did a good job otherwise, it sounds like a minor cost of playing the "old iron game", and you come across as a whiner!

 

[Mark-Mi]

Pat,I side with you.I smell a rat.ANY deck trailer would haul a trycycle tractor.I think what is going on is hauler could not come up with a drop deck or low boy going your way.It is obvious that at that price your tractor is either a back haul or combined load.He found a flatbed going that way and he's going to try to stick you with the load unload even though he knew what the job called for.
Well it,s only 75 bucks on each end maybe Bob will pay it for you.Mark

 

[Patsdeere]

If you cut me a check I will stop talking and use this as a good learning experience. I have never had anything shipped so I am just trying to learn and not come across as rude, ignorant, arrogant, snoby, whiny, obnoxious or any number of other descriptors.

Who knows if the hauler did a good job. HE AIN'T HERE YET.

While $75 to you might not seem like a lot, to me it is. I only go to school and all the money (which isn't much) goes towards everyday expenses, school, and a fun night on every blue moon.

 

[Bob]

Sorry to hear about the limited funds situation! I know it WELL, being married and raising kids!

I've had quite a few units hauled in the last few years, and it ain't cheap! Some of us who mess with this stuff as a hobby sometimes forget it's a tough world out there for the haulers, to keep the bills paid, and their outfits on the road, and their families taken care of!

I cringe everytime I get into a deal where I need to have something moved a distance for fear of what it will cost, but on the flip side, if it arrives safely, and in a reasonable time, that (at least in my "book") offsets paying a good outfit well, for a job well done.

If you're gonna play, you gotta PAY!

 

[Old Ford Mechanic]

I would not complain so much if i could get a tractor hauled 1500 miles for $600.00.Last one i had hauled cost me $950.00.And i got a bargin at 985 miles.Less than a dollar a mile is unheard of on flatbed and semi.You are gonna learn a lot more in this business before you are through.So dig that extra 75 bucks out and chalk it up under the "MY OLD IRON EDUCATION".category.

 

[Walt Davies]

Its simple the owner of the load is responsible for the loading and unloading of the truck. If you make a deal at the loading end then they should have paid for loading it other words it your responsibility.
I have unloaded a lot of trucks in the past and we always had to have what ever it took to get it unloaded no matter what it was or how much it weighed.
Walt

 

[trucker40]

Shipping stuff is not something that started last week.You allready know that you werent going to go after it and couldnt even do it for that price.It costs you 75 to get it loaded,or see if there is a cheaper way.As far as what little I paid attention to as I skimmed through there-Whos idea is it that a backhaul is any cheaper than any other haul?What difference does it make if the truck company doesnt use a drop deck?This stuff is not up to you,unless you want to haul it yourself.It costs a lot to run a truck with $3.00 per gallon fuel.You are lucky to get it for $600.00.Thats what it costs for the trucking,you either unload it,or pay somebody to unload it.Maybe you could work out something on the loading end,but its too late if they allready loaded it for 75.
You are young,but if it was turned around you would want a fair price if you did it.They must have other stuff besides yours on that trailer,you cant run for that.Like they allready said you play,you pay.You may not be happy about it,but thats how it is.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I am gonna chime in here,most of the time it is the shipping and receiving end that has the responsibility of loading and unloading,[maybe not in the physical sense that you drive the tractor off his trailer,, but that you have the means to get it off], most truckers have a tailgate delivery type deal,,

IF the loading arrangements werent met,[wrong trailer sent] the time to stop the transaction would be upon loading!!!it should have been said then and there that it was the wrong trailer that there was no way to load it or unload it on the other end,,,the driver would have been mad that he had to get another load or went out of his way,, but that would be between the dispathcer/ or broker and him not you,

, the seller [shipping end] loaded the tractor on the trailer, telling the trucker there was no trouble with the trailer that was sent,, the trucker is assuming there is going to be no trouble on your end either,,
[although I can assure you he is saying to himself the whole 600 miles that this is going to be fun getting off, untill he sees you have a ramp/dock,,which you wont]

heres the other thing, if this is COD he wont even take a binder off until the money is in his hand,, if it was paid already,,, you still need to get the tractor off,,, its a sticky situation,, plus unless the guy delivering the tractor is actually the guy you spoke to,, he wont know any details about you conversation with the "dispatcher",,,

again he is going to assume that since the tractor was loaded on the other end, he was not doing anything that wasnt already discussed,,,

This is from years of dealing with dispatchers and brokers,, they care about getting the trucks rolling and out,, the rest is pretty much they will play it by ear,,, of let the trucker worry about it,,,

You should pretty much start setting up a flatbed to get it off before the trucker arrives or you could be faced with a waiting fee as well, and remember he has your tractor on his truck,,, so insense he has the lien and "ownership" well not ownership but you dont have your tractor yet,,

hope it works out for you,,

on the other note 1500 miles for 600 bucks is unheard of,,,,---if you know someone with a gooseneck flatbed trailer you could drive it onto that trailer and then onto the ground,, may be a little cheaper than a flatbed,, but dealing with transporting a piece of equiptment gets expensive,,,pat

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have to agree with you .. what exatly is a back haul??? is it cheaper to run the truck t owards home than the other way? I never understood that,a nd still dont, going back to the days waiting at the ontario truckstop in California,, looking for a load back east,, they were paying almost half of what it should have paid normally,, I know many times it was better off money wise to deadhead to utah an pick up a decent paying load than to give the money to the broker to get me home,, once I deadheaded to chicago from CA,, and probably made money,,, back hauls,, there is no such thing,,, I am sure this is partial that either filled his truck or was the start of filling it,, I would like to see someone run 3000 miles for 600 bucks to get that tractor with their pickup and a trailer,,, oh well, just spoutin off in the mornin have a great day pat

 

[Patsdeere]

It is just filling up the load. He supposedly has something else to drop off locally.

I appreciate the knowledge from you and everybody else.

 

[Patsdeere]

Had I known that it was the wrong trailer I would have put a halt to it, but I didn't know about it until it was already on the road.

I have to agree that the driver may be clueless about the agreements that I made with the dispatch, and thus I don't fault him. I guess I will need to have a long chat with the dispatcher/broker that I had dealt with.

I had arranged the means for loading and unloading (like protocol says) for a truck with ramps, not a plain old flatbed.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out (espescially since it is supposed to rain tomorrow).

 

[Patsdeere]

Being limited on funds I know the constant juggle of life. I don't fault the driver if the broker/dispatcher misled them. However, if the driver figured he could put me in a bind and I would find a way out, then I have a problem with them.
I am just a little bent out of shape (which probably is apparent) that I will be paying an additional 25% for somebody elses screw up. If they had only said that they didn't have a trailer with ramps or something like that ahead of time (which would have allowed me more than 1 working hour - told at 4 pm that delivery would be at 7:30-8am), I wouldn't be half as ticked off. I just don't like being taken advantage of because I don't know how the low lifes of the industry work.

 

[souNdguy]

i have to agree. Due to my work schedule.. i am limited in how far / long i can make a run to get a tractor.. IE.. I can't go much past south georgia since I live in central florida, IE.. I can make the run out, pickup, and get back so i can work the next day... Thus.. when/if i buy anything out of state.. i have to make haul arangements.. and either pay to have it moved.. or just do without.. etc.

soundguy

 

[Anonymous-0]

You got a tricycle tractor loaded, hauled 1500 miles, and unloaded for $750, and you are crying about it? You should be happy. Don't be such a tight-wad. Tom

 

[Anonymous-0]

So if you're so broke, why are you buying tractors half way across the country and then whining about $75.00?????

 

[JT]

Then the shipper should have had the ramps to load, I do not know of any trucking company that furnishes ramps. the reason they do not furnish ramps or will load a load is because of the liability involved. I do not think most trucking companies are insured on the loading and unloading of a anything. that is why I said, most shipping quotes are from point A to point B, and the responsibility of loading and unloading are for the people at the shipping end and receiving end. Ask the seller to split the loading fee, he was the one who was not able to load the tractor after you and him agreed he would load it.

 

[Leland]

you have nothing to whine or cry about ,I get 200.00 to haul 1 pallet 150 miles in a pickup .and your think you got ripped off over a loading fee .