Signing On With Multiple Carriers

smcleod · Oct 9, 2011

I operate a Broker/Carrier business and I do mostly regional work with my own trucks and broker out anything over 300 miles. I am in the process of bringing on two cargo vans, one straight truck and a tractor trailer to run nationwide. However, my tractor trailer driver wants to run under his own authority. I know there is a way to sign on with multiple carriers, I just don't know how. Does he just operate under his own MC# the entire time? If this is the case, I will be limited on the number of loads I can provide because some of my contracts require the freight being hauled under my MC#. Do any of you guys have any suggestions on how to handle this situation? Any insight would be appreciated.

Sean

DieselDriver · Oct 10, 2011

Don't hold me to this, but I was told by my current company that who ever you contract with for that load the driver runs under that companies authority and if he hauls under his company name he hauls under his own authority...just has to keep changing signs for each company he hauls for.

LisaLouHoo · Oct 10, 2011

DieselDriver said:
Don't hold me to this, but I was told by my current company that who ever you contract with for that load the driver runs under that companies authority and if he hauls under his company name he hauls under his own authority...just has to keep changing signs for each company he hauls for.

That is the way it was explained to me also.

"Bruises fade and bones will mend-but a psyche can be ruined FOREVER" : LisaLouHoo, c. 2008

smcleod · Oct 10, 2011

DieselDriver said:
Don't hold me to this, but I was told by my current company that who ever you contract with for that load the driver runs under that companies authority and if he hauls under his company name he hauls under his own authority...just has to keep changing signs for each company he hauls for.

Thank you for the information. I will see if the driver is up for swapping signs all the time. I will have to look into the recordkeeping part of that as well.

turritrans · Oct 10, 2011

He can be under exclusive use contract with you, that is not a problem. He just carries his own insurance. He can put his name and MC numbers on the truck and you also have you name on the truck saying Contracted to: abc carrier. He checks into the customers as your company, he uses his authority for DOT purposes.

This is common, especially on dedicated type business. Just have a good contract outlining liabilities and responsibilities. Have his insurance agent list your company on his policy just as you should do with all your partner carriers. You should increase his % being he is covering more of the operating expenses and taking on the liabilities.

Hope this helps....

Vince

smcleod · Oct 10, 2011

turritrans said:
He can be under exclusive use contract with you, that is not a problem. He just carries his own insurance. He can put his name and MC numbers on the truck and you also have you name on the truck saying Contracted to: abc carrier. He checks into the customers as your company, he uses his authority for DOT purposes.

This is common, especially on dedicated type business. Just have a good contract outlining liabilities and responsibilities. Have his insurance agent list your company on his policy just as you should do with all your partner carriers. You should increase his % being he is covering more of the operating expenses and taking on the liabilities.

Hope this helps....

Vince

Thank you Vince, this is good information. Now, if he's is signed on with another carrier. In the end, who is the responsible party for log books?

turritrans · Oct 10, 2011

If it's a regulated truck technically they can only be insured with one carrier at a time.

The way the van guys do it is technically double brokering. The other way to do it is just broker loads to him if he has his own authority and insurance, that way it's clean and easy.

The trucks we have contracted to us with their own authority only run for us under exclusive use contract and do not haul for anyone else. If they did I would just treat it like a broker/carrier relationship.

jelliott · Oct 10, 2011

If he has his own authority then he would be responsible for logs, safety, and insurance. Just broker all of his loads to him and pay him weekly. That would probably be the most legal way to do it. Now on the downside, some customers and most other carriers will not want their freight "rebrokered".

Greg336 · Oct 26, 2011

Hello, I would like to talk with you, are you still taking on any other vehicles? I have a 2011 Ford E-350 and its whats called a small straight truck which isn't dock high. Greg