We have introduced a new version of a service we already provide to many of our customers. We call it Contract Freight Management, or CFM. Even if you’ve tried everything to minimize your truckload and LTL freight costs, and “hit the wall,” you might want to look into our CFM program. In most cases, we can still find total systemic savings in the range of 5% to 20%!

It is simple and "painless" to find out if Tucker's CFM is right for you, and there is no obligation to sign up. To see if Tucker's CFM program is for you, contact your representative, or call our office.

The issue of “Guarantees” and/or “Deducting money from freight bills for missed appointments” is arising much more frequently in trucking conversations in recent years. Much of this is due to some carriers offering limited guarantees on certain services.

These limited guarantees have restrictions, are priced higher than “normal,” are very specific with regard to defining late, laying out the penalty, and are confirmed in writing at time of quoting.

Simply put, if freight moves from Point A to Point B with "reasonable dispatch" and no contract between both parties states otherwise, the shipper must pay 100% of the freight bill.

If a shipper wants to challenge this “reasonable dispatch” standard, and try to deduct money from the freight bill, when he has no contract laying out the penalties, good luck. Historically, the courts have protected carriers in this area. A shipper would need to demonstrate a pretty large carrier error, resulting in significant delay (even a few days late may not stand up to this test).

1. Only talk to your highest performing most trusted transportation providers.

2. Tell them what you are up against, i.e. “I am flying out to meet this truck, and I
    have a crane and a crew to unload it, which will cost me $300.00/hour each hour
    the truck is late.”

3. Ask them to lay out all the options that offer the best odds for on time.

4. Use that information to decide the level of urgency the shipment carries.
    a. Maybe you want to ship 2 pallets as a “single driver truckload” instead of LTL
    b. Maybe you want to use a “team” instead of single driver.
    c. Maybe you want to utilize an expedited service, offering a discount from their
        freight bill for lateness.Get the terms of the agreement from the carrier at
        quote time.**

** If you want a carrier to be “on the hook” and fiscally responsible to pay part of your “crane & crew” charges or other consequential damage, resulting from late delivery, get that one in writing, because that kind of guarantee just plain doesn’t exist otherwise--anywhere. Be prepared to pay a good premium for that service. Many carriers today won’t even touch that freight even for a premium.