Brad Eldeen Logistics is an agent for Network F.O.B. 

Below is excerpt from an article written by Tim Taylor President of Network F.O.B.

Network F.O.B is a freight forwarder, not a broker. There is an important distinction between the two.

Forwarders must adhere to Carmack amendment liability requiring proper claims handling. A forwarder has the same cargo claims and cargo insurance responsibility as that of a motor carrier. 

Brokers, on the other hand, do not have a statutory freight claims (Carmack) liability and can get by with contingent coverage (less than half the cost of primary coverage) because they're not liable in the event of a loss, absent negligence on the broker's part.  Brokers typically forward freight claims onto the carrier for handling.

The important part of the process here is responsibility and the approach to the application of that responsibility.

When a trucker uses a broker it's safe to assume that broker is not their bread-and-butter customer.  Whether that trucker  responsibly processes and pays a claim without being forced by a court of law sometimes is a matter of customer relations and, absent a true customer relationship, the outcome is not assured.

A forwarder, on the other hand, is not only more comprehensively covered by cargo insurance, but also willingly stands up for the customer and works diligently to resolve the issue with the motor carrier on the customer's behalf in a timely and satisfactory way.

A few key points to make in regards to accepting shipment:

Take photos before the shipment leaves your facility to ensure the condition of your freight prior to shipping. Take photos of the damaged material while it's still on the truck.

The bill of lading is an essential part of the claims the process.  When you notice damage open the box or inspect the equipment to avoid having a concealed damage claim after the driver leaves.  When you find damage note it on all copies of the bill of lading.  Many claims are dead in the water due to the driver leaving with a clear signed bill of lading.  

Make sure to save any parts or boxes that have been damaged.  The damaged goods are often the evidence of your claim.  Disposing the evidence can give the carrier or insurance adjuster a reason to deny your claim.

When in doubt call someone to help assess the situation.

Brad Eldeen Logistics is proud to announce our new tiered pricing effective April 2010.   

 Tier 1 Rates

The foundation of our business model has been built around servicing small businesses.   In Tier 1 many our clients shipments are never the same.   We understand that locating a carrier to provide regular and affordable service becomes complicated when you don't have the truckload volume of the bigger companies.   Because BEL is the largest agent at Network F.O.B. we are able to leverage our buying power along with Network F.O.B.'s impeccable carrier payment into sourcing the best carriers at the most affordable freight rates. Clients are free to obtain guaranteed truckload or LTL rates via email, fax or phone.  We request that Tier 1 clients give BEL at least 1 day notice prior to requesting a pickup. 

Benefits Tier 1 Clients receive:

                -  Free Online freight estimates

                -  Paperless Invoicing

                -  Frequent Flyer Program

                -  Carrier Performance Evaluation

                -  Minimum $100,000 Cargo Insurance

                -  Managed Freight Claims

Tier 2 Rates

While we cater to small businesses on a daily basis many medium to large sized businesses can enjoy the service level of Tier 1 with reduced pricing based on shipment volume.   In Tier 2 many of our clients shipments typically originate from the same locations and can be tendered in advance.  Dependent on your companies truckload or LTL volume we will complete a free cost analysis.  In Tier 2 we can work with your existing carriers and find alternate sources in order maximize service and cost.  Through our Least Cost Routing system we can tender shipments directly to the best priced carriers in each lane.  Whether we handle the routing of all your shipments or we're the backup carrier or our primarily goal is to provide the best possible service we can. 

Benefits Tier 2 Clients receive:

                -  Free Online freight estimates

                -  Frequent Flyer Program

                -  EDI

                -  Paperless Invoicing

                -  Least Cost Routing

                -  Carrier Performance Evaluation

                -  Minimum $100,000 Cargo Insurance

                -  Managed Freight Claims

 We look forward to servicing our existing clients and are excited at the opportunity of earning new business through our tiered pricing.  If you have freight that fits into either pricing scenario please contact Brad Eldeen at 866-700-0770 or at beldeen@truckloadfreightrate.com

As you know we are not always the cheapest quote you receive on shipments as a large part of our pricing strategy is geared around providing exceptional service.  Our rates could be lower however we find that we often sacrifice on time pickups and deliveries. One thing I've learned is that regardless of price the customer always expects exceptional service.  Which is why one of things I've never been willing to sacrifice is our service level.  Our commitment to service has been our guiding light for many years and has been one of the main reasons we've weathered this recession better than most of our peers. 

One of the areas we are going to start focusing on is obtaining more volume style shipments.  A point to be made here is that I am going to assume that our service level is among the best you will receive among transportation vendors.   If I may make that leap, one could project that our office could improve the service level on the shipments where the manufacturer is used to arrange the transportation.    If this is true then we should talk more in regards to how we can work with you on these types of shipments. 

One essential part of the equation would be your willingness to allow us to know the manufacturers shipping rates.  By doing this we can target our cost and evaluate whether or not we can handle the shipment at a reduced profit and not sacrifice our commitment to service.  I believe that through this type of agreement we can both profit.  

I am sure you have some thoughts and when you have some time to digest please give me a call or shoot me an email.

Looking for a quick quote for freight shipping?  Brad Eldeen Logistics, Inc now supports online quote requests!  Simply visit our Request A Quote page and fill out the form.  Once submitted, we guarantee a rate back to you no later than 30 minutes from the time you submit your request during normal business hours. If you like our rate we can confirm availability within 1 hour.

Brad Eldeen Logistics, Inc is a 3PL company based in Coralville, Iowa.  As a team we have over 30 years in transportation experience ranging from Flatbed, Van Truckload, Oversize or Over Dimensional, Power Only, and Less than Load (LTL) shipments throughout the lower 48 States, as well as Canada and Mexico. 

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!