The day after we unloaded our too tall freight in Austin, as I’m ironing out problems with the El Paso load the broker calls from our San Jose to Austin load. Apparently, there were things going on behind our back we didn’t find out about till recently. A couple of weeks ago
we were twenty miles away and they canceled the entire shipment. We find out later, the customer, trying to cut costs, went to a different broker who hired another truck. They put these expensive electronics on a flatbed, I’m assuming tarped them, but they were ruined. I talked to the foreman of the crew that unloads us in Austin and he never saw them, he was told the truck broke down, even if it broke down, it would have to get to Austin eventually. We figured the equipment was ruined and they told the truck to take it back to San Jose.

The next time we load in San Jose we keep hearing about how glad they are to see us after their last “fiasco”, (we didn’t know about the flatbed till later that day). The main project manager is there from Austin (we also didn’t know who he was until he introduced himself after we were loaded and ready to go). We’re charging them a lot of money to do this load. I’m assuming the project manager was there to see why we charged so much and to see why
these things won’t work on a flatbed! After we’re loaded and getting the paperwork filled out, he introduces himself as the project manager and how can he get in touch with us for the next time (which won’t be for a couple of months).

Bottom line is, the broker told me this is my account now. We made the right impression the other night and we had done such a great job the other four times for this account, the project manager doesn’t want anyone else to haul his equipment.

That’s almost as good as a raise! It really makes us feel good that the times we busted our butt for this account to get back and work around their schedule were all worthwhile. I don’t really want a dedicated route where it’s the same thing every single day in and day out, but something like this is pretty cool. Pays good, the route isn’t bad (except for California which takes FOREVER to drive through) and now that we’ve loaded and unloaded this a few times it’s fairly easy. I have everyone’s number and I can call or get called direct. We are able to provide great service and it’s great to be able to not only prove that, but be appreciated for it.