Diane and I delivered a load in Ontario Tuesday morning and got a load back to the U.S. the same day. As we drove toward the border, dispatch sent word that we could not cross because a problem was found in the paperwork, and that the broker that needed to straighten it out would not be in until 8:30 the next morning.
A load that would have delivered near Philadelphia at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday stuck us in Ontario overnight. By the time we got cleared to cross on Wednesday, it was too late make the delivery before the consignee closed for the night. We finally got the load off our truck this morning (Thursday).
While we waited to get clear, the computer did not know we would be delayed. We saw and turned down several good runs that we knew we could not pick up because of the botched load we were then stuck on. That is revenue lost because a broker blew it.
It has happened before. A shipper or broker messes up the paperwork and the drivers pay the price. We get stuck at the border overnight while the broker closes up shop and goes home to watch TV and play with the kids.
We have seen recent improvement at dispatch in how border-crossing loads are handled but broker errors continue to plague us. I am wondering if anyone knows of serious and successful efforts made anywhere to address this problem?
A load that would have delivered near Philadelphia at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday stuck us in Ontario overnight. By the time we got cleared to cross on Wednesday, it was too late make the delivery before the consignee closed for the night. We finally got the load off our truck this morning (Thursday).
While we waited to get clear, the computer did not know we would be delayed. We saw and turned down several good runs that we knew we could not pick up because of the botched load we were then stuck on. That is revenue lost because a broker blew it.
It has happened before. A shipper or broker messes up the paperwork and the drivers pay the price. We get stuck at the border overnight while the broker closes up shop and goes home to watch TV and play with the kids.
We have seen recent improvement at dispatch in how border-crossing loads are handled but broker errors continue to plague us. I am wondering if anyone knows of serious and successful efforts made anywhere to address this problem?
Last edited:
