03/01/2025
Some of the early hauls after getting my truck back from the accident. Including a tale of deception! Facebook is refusing to load these in the proper order, so they'll be backwards to the story. The first haul getting back on my feet ,was delivering the 72 Coronet for Austin Swanger(Obsolete Automotive)The same one that I had inspected, purchased and delivered on his behalf from Redwood Falls, Minnesota. This time going to a classic car enthusiast in Cincinnati, who was excited to own such a unique car being three speed on the column slant 6 and such great shape. Smooth sailing, and while looking for more loads, I did as one does around Cincinnati and stopped in for some Skyline chili. I made my way home stopping in WV for some rest, at the hospitality of a friend of mine, and continued on back. In Bluefield I stopped for some West Virginia style pepperoni rolls, enough to take home and share, good eats.
Soon after getting back home it was time to take another grooming van to Dallas. I arrived in Easley SC, got it loaded up and spotted a screw in the tire, likely picked up in their shop. I documented it, notified both the receiver and shipper so it was known it occurred before I picked it up. It wasn't leaking , so it was decided that the company would pay for a mobile tire repair service once delivered.
The drop off in Dallas went smoothly, struck a deal to deliver an F450 almost directly home for $1300, picked up from a Ritchie Bros auction site. This turned into an ordeal as there were various funds and papers that had not been transferred, especially between the freight cargo and seller, this was a bit of a foreshadow. Communication wasn't consistent with them either. Finally everything got squared away and I backed up to a loading dock and was responsible for driving it across the lots and onto my trailer. It was a little funny hauling a truck bigger than my own. Things started getting odd with communication, the buyer of the truck called me asking how he could pay me, I informed him that he pays the broker that contracted me. The broker, Blue Square Logistics, was inconsistent in agreed payment methods. The signed agreement was that they had up 45-90 days to pay, this is pretty common.
The journey to Charlotte went smoothly, right off of i20 in east Texas I stopped for some really good Mexican food in a gas station. I dropped it off in Charlotte and responses from the broker go cold. I think to myself I'll give it some time as per the agreement.
I then headed to Hickory to pick up a 56 Star Chief I acquired from a close friend and had been stored at Austin's for some time. Fired it up and drove it home from my unloading area, more to come in the future on that machine. Anyways the broker and the $1300.
Time passes I call my contact with them and he sounds surprised at first, and says it should have gone out and he'll look into it, and call me the next day.
I give it over 2 business weeks, no answers, I try from a different number, I get an answer, an apology and that they'll really check it out. After this silence, no contact, no answers, emails, multiple phone lines, nothing. I report them to the DOT/FMCSA for fraud. The response I got was that as of some act in the 1990s, it was not the government's responsibility to oversee such things and all they will do is note it on the brokers record for fraud.
Unfortunately this is somewhat common in the business, these brokers pop up, scalp out loads, run a few legit and then start ripping off a lot of people, once the heat picks up, they close out that brokerage business and roll it into a new already set up shell account and they keep repeating. At one time the government offered over site and protection for transporters on this but every so often they pass legislation that erodes that duty.
Many lessons were learned here and applied going forward, knowing what all documents need to be shared up front in these situations. The usual protective agreements to ensure they pay by making reports doesn't work with these dine and dash brokers, it's also a good argument for going through a factoring company to ensure pay, and a reminder of only working with brokers that are approved by factoring companies. Blue Square Logistics was not approved for any factoring, that was a big red flag, I gambled it because the load was solid and believable and going home.
I'll keep making these posts as I go through photos of my old trips. If there is anything y'all would like to see more of or hear in more detail, just let me know.
