Waiting time for Customs Issues

bubba-one

bubba-one

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Feb 26, 2008
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Seems that with new rules for importing or exporting we are seeing Customs brokers putting shipments on hold more frequently for lack of info, or lack of interest in processing in a timely manner. Yesterday was C.H Robinson who took 48 hrs to set up a USA bound shipment, and today it's Wilson'd who has shipment on hold as they e-mail the non responsive customer for more details. finally after 7 hrs from the time paperwork was submited and 4 hours for the driver waiting it's released, and so we ask the broker ( RPM expedite ) for some compensation for waiting time only to get the following response
***Sorry guys. This was a budget shipment.

I’ll try and find another load for you guys and try and get you back for this one.***

Why is anyone so scared to pass on justified extra fees to their customer.

Thats my Moen and groan for today.
 
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bubba-one said:
Why is anyone so scared to pass on justified extra fees to their customer.
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I have always said the same thing. I can only come up with the following scenarios:
  • Broker charges but doesn't pass it to the carrier (a nasty thing to do)
  • Broker doesn't want to go through the hassle as the broker probably doesn't make any money on it (no value for them).
  • Broker doesn't want to strain the relationship over a 'few' dollars (they'd rather strain the carrier relationship than the money relationship)
  • Customer is not the one arranging or paying the Customs Broker and Broker knows it.
I always say to the broker, 'If your relationship with your customer is so shakey that you cannot approach them for this messup, if this situation has never happened before, and this is the first time, and you are afraid to call your customer out on it, then take it out of your end. Why do I have to lose money on your customer's horrible relationship with their Customs Broker? You never told me there'd be a seven hour detention and please put it in the rate. If you're afraid to discuss it with them, give me permission to speak to them.' (mic drop)

If the broker doesn't call the customer and advise that there are customs issues, there would be no impetus to get something resolved. The Customs Broker certainly doesn't answer to the carrier. Everyone has a phone in their pocket and there certainly is no reason why a customs broker cannot get a hold of a decision maker at their customer in under an hour. If there is a reason, the customer needs to rectify it.

Letting the freight sit until the entry number is in is not the way to go here. If everyone starts doing that carriers will overbook expecting that something will sit or be delayed. Let the freight sit at the customer until they get their stuff figured out. Then pick it up and move it across the border.
 
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Shakey said:
We, and I'm sure many other brokers on here, fight for our carriers' detention and keep our clients updated with the issues on the border. We take plenty out of our pockets to keep our carriers profitable and happy. Sometimes, they will work with us and take less than they want. Partnerships are what we try to build.
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Yes, sometimes carriers ask (demand, expect) more than can be afforded to give. The relationship is what everyone should want and I'm glad that Shakey Brokerage is one of the good guys that we all work with and are content at the end of the day after dealing with a problem. There are many others, but we all remember that one broker who isn't looking for a partnership for a long time.
 
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Shakey said:
We, and I'm sure many other brokers on here, fight for our carriers' detention and keep our clients updated with the issues on the border. We take plenty out of our pockets to keep our carriers profitable and happy. Sometimes, they will work with us and take less than they want. Partnerships are what we try to build.
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Agreed some brokers have never been behind the wheel and are definitely not in it to create relationships with carriers so they will not be willing to go to bat for the carrier.
Now on the other hand some carriers make up stories and as soon as there is a small discrepancy it triggers the carrier to do whatever they seem to want to do, no urgency to try and deliver as quick as possible and will hold freight hostage if not compensated for waiting time.
I always make sure the carrier is looked after discuss how many hours they have left etc try and compromise so no one is in the rears. Majority of the time 100 bucks to have a nice meal and chill until the shipment hopefully clears the next day usually works.
 
BrokenAxle said:
Agreed some brokers have never been behind the wheel and are definitely not in it to create relationships with carriers so they will not be willing to go to bat for the carrier.
Now on the other hand some carriers make up stories and as soon as there is a small discrepancy it triggers the carrier to do whatever they seem to want to do, no urgency to try and deliver as quick as possible and will hold freight hostage if not compensated for waiting time.
I always make sure the carrier is looked after discuss how many hours they have left etc try and compromise so no one is in the rears. Majority of the time 100 bucks to have a nice meal and chill until the shipment hopefully clears the next day usually works.
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I love the carriers that load 15 minutes ago 700 miles from the bridge but we are in waiting time an hr later as customs has not cleared the load yet and we will not stand for this you must pay. Then I math it out prove their lies and never hear another word..
 
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Rob said:
I love the carriers that load 15 minutes ago 700 miles from the bridge but we are in waiting time an hr later as customs has not cleared the load yet and we will not sand for this you must pay. Then I math it out prove their lies and never hear another word..
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not gonna lie - I tell the custom broker that - esp Livingsoton so by the time it's in 'queue' I am actually at the border
Of course no holding freight hostage or demanding $$$$
 
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Rob said:
I love the carriers that load 15 minutes ago 700 miles from the bridge but we are in waiting time an hr later as customs has not cleared the load yet and we will not sand for this you must pay. Then I math it out prove their lies and never hear another word..
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I know also thinking that we do not have the where with all to figure out the lies
 
tasuinam said:
not gonna lie - I tell the custom broker that - esp Livingsoton so by the time it's in 'queue' I am actually at the border
Of course no holding freight hostage or demanding $$$$
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We all do that or I would think we do. If do not sleep well if i leave Friday and do not see all green lights on my system saying everyone is clear.
 
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