Complaints

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• Initial Complaint

  Date:01/29/2025

  Type:Delivery Issues
  Status:

  AnsweredMore info

  Complaint statuses

  Resolved:

  The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.

  Unresolved:

  The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.

  Answered:

  The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.

  Unanswered:

  The business failed to respond to the dispute.

  Unpursuable:

  BBB is unable to locate the business.

  To Whom It May Concern,
  We are a transportation company that booked a load with Corporate Traffic Logistics. The load was picked up in Jacksonville, FL, on January 21, 2025, at 5 PM. While driving north on Interstate 75, our driver had to stop around 9 PM due to severe weather conditions, including black ice and hazardous roads. These conditions, entirely beyond our control, made it unsafe to proceed.
  The delivery was originally scheduled for January 23, 2025, at 11 AM. Despite resuming travel as soon as it was safe, our driver arrived on January 24, 2025, at 7 PM. Upon arrival, the broker informed us that the delivery was rescheduled for Friday, January 31, 2025, tying up our truck and trailer for 10 days.
  Key Points
  1. Hazardous Conditions Beyond Our Control:
  Weather conditions along Interstate 75 caused unavoidable delays. Attached weather reports and photos confirm these conditions.
  2. Unreasonable Delay:
  A 10-day delay for rescheduling delivery is excessive and far beyond industry norms, leaving our truck and trailer out of service.
  3. Significant Financial Loss:
  Detention pay of $500 per day is standard in the trucking industry. The 10-day delay caused a loss of $5,000 in gross revenue.
  4. Efforts to Resolve:
  We proposed reasonable solutions, including rescheduling earlier, returning the load (with additional compensation), or storing the load elsewhere. All were rejected, leaving us with no compensation.
  5. Fair Compensation Request:
  We request $5,000 to cover detention costs for holding our truck and trailer. This is a fair and standard request, aligning with industry practices.
  Conclusion
  While the delay was caused by hazardous weather, the broker’s refusal to provide reasonable solutions or compensation has placed an undue financial burden on our business. We kindly ask the BBB to mediate this matter and ensure fair compensation.
  Thank you for your time and assistance.
  
  Sincerely,
  Almir Didelija - President

  Business Response

  Date: 02/20/2025

  Good Morning,

  While we sympathize with this vendor for their situation, the allegations they described are without context and not within the norms of the transportation industry. They listed 5 main points in their complaint and I will touch on each one.

  First, with regards to weather being outside of their control, that is entirely correct. Weather is known as a "force majeure" event meaning it is indeed out of any party's control and no party will be liable to the other party for any effects weather has on transportation delays. The same way the carrier is not due ANY compensation for weather delays also applies to the delivery location, they would not be able to penalize any carrier for not being able to deliver ontime. It goes both ways and is laid out clearly in our broker/carrier contract as well as any shipper/carrier contract. This is the industry standard, if however weather was not a factor then the carrier would be well within their right and owed compensation. 

  Second, with regards to an unreasonable delay, this is a factor outside of our control and the delivery location. In the transportation industry many delivery locations are booked up with delivery appointments anywhere from a few days to a week ahead of time, this is normal. When a situation like a weather event occurs there simply is no "easy fix" to get them unloaded earlier as every other carrier affected is in the same boat. Carriers most often look to be reimbursed for scenarios like this simply because they want the money and who can blame them for that? The reality is that while its not their fault they were delayed, its not the delivery location, the broker or any other party either, it goes back to the weather. This carrier was rescheduled as soon as possible and the date provided was what they were given. broker/carrier contracts do not provide downtime payments to carriers as that is handled by the carriers insurance provider should they have that on their policy.

  Third, significant financial loss goes right back to the above point, they look to their insurance provider for resolution under their "downtime" policy. The carrier is in the same boat as the delivery location as both sides have to take a pause during a "force majeure" event, no liability is on either side financially when its triggered by an event covered under that policy, of which weather ALWAYS is a "force majeure" event. Its beyond anyones control and considered legally an "Act of God". The carriers only option is to look to their own downtime policy as no legal liability is placed on the broker or delivery location to compensate a carrier for expenses occuring during a force majeure event.

  Fourth, again while we sympathize with the carrier, there are no additional steps that could have been taken to resolve this any sooner. Everything the carrier requested included demands for compensation, ie holding the product, storing it, returning to the shipper, etc. We explained that their contract, (along with the industry standard) does not provide any additional compensation during "force majeure" events as neither side can penalize the other or charge fees, etc. They rejected this and demanded payment at every step which is not the norm in the industry. We deal with these scenarios regularly in transportation as we are based in Florida. Hurricanes can close facilities for days, weeks, months, etc., the same as snowstorms in the north and we have never had any carrier demand compensation for a weather related event in the 32 years we have been in operation, let alone file a complain with the BBB. I understand their frustration, but in a scenario like this the only relief possible is from their own insurance provider for downtime if its included in their policy. 

  Fifth, again they are asking for fair compensation here which would be due if this was not a weather related event, ie "force majeure". These are governed clearly by our broker/carrier contract which the carrier agreed too prior to doing business with us. This was not the first shipment they have moved for us and we have never had an issue prior.

  In closing, I do sympathize with this carrier as "force majeure" events are beyond all parties control and it leaves each side frustrated and answering with unknowns. The reality of the situation though is neither side is liable to the other for compensation as governed by their contracts and the industry norms. Imagine if all businesses who were forced to close due to weather, riots, war, etc., had to compensate all carriers for downtime caused... it wouldnt be fair or just. The same way it would be completely out of line and again prohibited by the "force majeure" clause of their contract if a broker or delivery location fined or assessed penalty fees for a late delivery caused by weather, war, riots, etc. onto a carrier. Both of those are exactly what is covered here and enforced to make it fair and just for all parties.

  Please let me know if you have any further questions,