When “One Hour Late” Becomes a Full Freight Deduction in Modern Logistics

TaskSwap

Member
Jul 16, 2025
37
44
18
Mississauga
5
In logistics, we’re often told that time is everything. Fair enough. But it seems that rule only applies when it’s convenient for one side of the table.

Let me share a recent experience involving Western Alliance and their Director of Corporate Growth, Todd Isaacson.

We were contracted to move a load from Mississauga, ON to Stockton, CA at an agreed rate of CAD 6,500. Simple deal. Clear rate. Clear route. Clear expectation: pick up, deliver, get paid.

And to be fair, that part went exactly as planned.

Freight was picked up and delivered successfully. No damages. No issues. No drama. Just a completed job.

Then came the twist.

Payment is now being withheld over a “one-hour delay.”

Not a missed delivery. Not a failed service. Not even a broken agreement. Just one hour — suddenly upgraded to the value of the entire freight.

Interestingly, the extended waiting time at the shipper (where time apparently moves differently) doesn’t seem to carry the same financial importance. Funny how that works.

In trucking, delays happen. Everyone knows that. What’s unusual is when only one side of the delay calculator is working.

So now we’re in a situation where the load is delivered, the service is complete, but the payment is apparently still stuck somewhere in that one-hour time warp.

We’ve requested a fair review and release of the agreed CAD 6,500. Nothing more, nothing less.

Because at the end of the day, a completed load should still mean what it used to mean: pick up, deliver, pay — not pick up, deliver, negotiate retroactively.

And if “one-hour late” is now the new standard for rewriting contracts after delivery… the industry might want to update its definition of on-time.
 
  • Sad
Reactions: Rob
There must be something more to this other than one hour late. How are they justifying a one hour delay to equal the entire cost of the load? More information would help if you can provide it.
 
So, the tender said to deliver at 8. You said you arrived by 9. They are saying you didn't arrive at 9 but do not indicate the time of your arrival. Do you have proof of what time you actually arrived? Either way, you're right about this customer being unreasonable about the amount of the hold back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LrgCar
It would be amazing if there were arrival and departure times on the BOL at the time of delivery to help readers understand what happened.

Also, there was a mention of a delay at the shipper. How long was that exactly? Are there times listed on the BOL for that? Is there compensation required for additional driver time on site? Was it communicated after loading that there could be an issue with the delivery appointment? Communication is key!

I feel like we're missing a lot of details here.

Happy Friday,
Mike
 
  • Like
Reactions: loaders
Was this delivering to one of those weird Amazon Walmart or other places that fines you if your to early or late for your appointments?