ABS Freight Transportation, Inc Held load hostage and refuse to let receiver unload him until we sent him $680.00 additional on load. Plainfield Illinois

I feel there is much more to the story here.

I am an experienced OTR truck driver and have managed a small company and have booked and billed thousands of "broker loads".

NEVER do anything verbally. Get EVERY DETAIL in WRITNG.
Remember, brokers do not dictate the actions of shippers or recievers, unless there is a stipulation in the contract. Period.

It is very common that brokers, as well as shippers and recievers have TOTAL DISREGARD for the value of the truck's time and value and the driver's time.

I see you listed CH Robinson as a "good broker". WOW! If you consider them "good", you are an amateur in the business. All they offer is CHEAP FREIGHT and headaches!

I can see that you are a cheap freight hauler. That is your problem here.
The company you keep.

It is correct that the load was booked for the $1500.00 on a destination TX-GA but also was agreed to get there early the next morning. It is correct that the driver did his job to be there on time. It is correct that there was difficult conversations between both parties.
However, it was not mention that it was going on July 3, just before the holiday and that the receiver personally told my driver he will not be unloaded before 2 pm.
In addition, it was never mention by Southland that my driver all along was by the dock at the receiver's fenced yard and that in any given moment the receiver would feel the treat of his freight being taken by my driver he could call the police on his property.
All the people that are involved in this transportation business knows that day before holiday is the thoughest, everyone closes early specially the shippers and the receivers. All we asked it was to fulfillment of the verbal agreement with the broker that driver will be unloaded in the morning as we were planning his trip to go home for the holiday. As we found out that the receiver is not able to unload the truck on time and the driver will miss to get his next the load to go home, we asked if the driver can be at least be compensate for the fuel to go to Harrisburg,PA as he will miss the load. It is true that Jr asked $900 which is start of negotiation to get something for the driver as we felt being tricked by the booking broker who new all the time what was going on and when the truck will be unloaded.
It is true we did get the confirmation for $680 which was enough for the fuel to get the driver to Harrisburg plus to compensate for the detention.
However, Southland never mention that they never paid those $ 680 that were agreed. They paid their bill on time but deducted those $680.00. We never reported them but at least we did paid our driver because it was the only thing we could do for him for his trouble and getting him home without load and having paying the fuel out of his pocket.
We are an honest company that is based on trust on one's verbal agreement and spoken word that many brokers are not . We never did hostage a load and we would never do such a thing because hostaging a freight is a serious crime punishable by law. That is why we are working and have great references with many great brokers like Ch Robinson, Command Transportation,Five Star Logistics ...i could go on but it is besides the point.

...I don't think I've ever heard of a trucking company holding a broker hostage.

As a driver, and a former company owner as well, I see to a point, both sides of this issue, but as you say...this was a little extreme. You apparently operate with high ethics, which is something that you should be proud of. ABS however won't be in business very long if this is how they treat customers.

The simple fact here is that you were forced under duress to submit a rate confirmation for an increased rate, while the motor carrier was holding the load "hostage". I think you and I agree that a certain amount of detention was in order, but not $680.00 worth of detention.

There are two ways you could proceed with this. I think it's safe to assume that any future business between the two of you is not on the table, so you could pay them the fair rate, citing that the final rate confirmation was illegally demanded from you, and dare them to drag you into court over it, or you could pay them the agreed upon rate, and then sue them yourself for a refund of the forced overage.

I would opt to short them the final rate, and dare them to sue, and here's why: That company is too small to endure a lawsuit of any sort. They have also only been in business for a couple of years. If they do attempt to sue, and the facts of this come out in court, a judge will throw it out of court. You were forced under duress and a threat to submit an increased amount in a confirmation, and that will not fly in court.

And for future reference, don't let any company intimidate you like this again. When they take the load on-board, they are responsible to deliver it. If they fail to deliver it, regardless of the reason claimed, they pay for it. You can file against their insurance company for the entire worth amount of the load. Any intentional act to rid themselves of the load outside of delivery to the consignee stated on the bills, without a reconsignment confirmation submitted by the shipper, can result in them paying for the load at the retail price, if the merchandise was intended for resale.

I understand that you have to walk a fine line with YOUR customer, but the law is on your side in this, and what that company did was absolutely wrong and highly illegal. It's further reason to check out the companies you deal with, and always ask for and check references before placing freight in trust with a new carrier.