robert carpenter r. carpentergloucester, virginiausdot 2527505mc 878024cell 804 694 9620fax 804 210 1180 he owes me $1200 for the 8 reefer containers that i moved for him. he won't pay because i couldn't move another one because there were no chassis available gloucester virginia

The gentleman who wrote the compaint listed was a contractor, meaning under contract to perform services.  Despite being under contract I do not require contractors to perform work.  I let the contractors know what work is available and ask them if they have the ability or desire to perform the task.

On the particular day in question, the complainant was asked if he could dray a container from Norfolk International Terminals.  His response was yes.  I let the complainant know that there was a truck of freight waiting for this container at the drop off location for cross docking purposes.  I made him aware it was important that he get the container as oon as possible. He told me he was going to dray the container. 

I contacted complainant at 1745 on the date in question, fifteen minutes prior to the port closing.  It was at this time he stated there were no chassis available and he would not wait for one any longer.  I searched the container in question and found out the claimant had lied regarding his wait for a chassis because had he tried to actually get the container, he would have been notified the container was already mounted on a chassis and waiting for his arrival for pick up.

The claimant is under contract to perform services.  While a contract outlines certain terms and responsibilites to the parties involved, it also lays out and defines what expenses and payment terms will be abided by.  By the complainant simply not doing what he said he would do, he cost various issues.  One, the truck driver at the cutomer loading facility waiting on the empty container had to be paid detention for his wait.  The complainant had no regard for that drivers time or the detention someone would have to pay to him.

The customer we had specifically viewed my company as unreliable, despite never having dropped the ball, or being late in the past and in turn trminated our services.  Other drivers had to be pulled off last minute loads the following day to cover this empty pull costing demurrage fees on those loads due to the inability to get those container unloaded and returned in time.  

This complainant, again, was under contract.  That contract specifically states that any action you take on your own that cost the company money, you have to pay for those actions unless those actions are asked of you by the company.  He signed such contract.  This contract and that stipulation was developed due to past drivers going off route for personal reasons and incurring tickets in excess of $14,000.00 that the comany in turn had to pay.

Lastly, you will find no other mechanic, driver, or vendor of any nature that has had transactions with Carpenter that were not paid, paid in full, or in our drivers and contractor cases, paid in excess of the agreed amounts,  or anyone that will state Carpenter is in neglect of payments of any kind. 

The complainant himself can not honestly state that prior to this he was not paid, paid on time, paid well, and paid according to contract.  If you sign a contract you must fulfill that contract and the relationship you enter into via that contract is one that is governed by that contract.  

People must understand that you have to take responsibility for their actions, their lies, or actions taken outside the direction of the company, the law, the contract or whatever governs the relationship between the parties.