Brand new 2024 trailer put together with hopes and dreams.
Back story from the owner:
"I have been having a rough start hotshotting
I go out for my first couple weeks drive 9000 miles, deliver 15k worth of loads for mabe logistics aka raptor transport aka backwater logistics aka maybe transport (don't sign on with these con artists) and they ghost me on my pay. Now this happens to my brand new trailer going 75 down the highway, I barely got off the road safely. Im not sure how to proceed, brand new 2024 trailer the manufacturer obviously at fault here as the welds broke due to the fact they didn't penetrate, is offering a new trailer and helping me get the load delivered, and the dealer I bought it from has put me up in a hotel while they figure it out. It's literally only because of my driving that this didn't hurt me or someone else and I feel like them offering a replacement isn't enough. Do I lawyer up? I'm down over 24 hours now and unable to work this whole weekend at least meaning I'm losing and spending money on the meantime. I don't want to accept anything if I should but I need to get back to work. I'm only a month and a half in and stopping money now is a terrible idea but I can't get a solid answer from anyone what my options are"
View attachment 1775696
View attachment 1775697
View attachment 1775698
View attachment 1775699
View attachment 1775700
Sorry to hear about all your troubles. You’ve chosen a rough time to get into the hotshot business. The rates are low and insurance insurance cost and repairs are high.
Until you’ve established relationship with any broker, I wouldn’t take more than one or two loads from them. They promise but they don’t always their honor promises. And since most pay on 30 day delay, you need to cover your expenses until that money starts coming back in unless you factor. But then the factoring company take up 2% or 3% of your profits.
If you’ve got your loads from a load board, it may behoove you to go back to the load board and report the broker that is not paying you correctly. Often they will block them from using their load board until they get an OK from everyone has gotten their money.
I had one who didn’t pay me for the load. Apparently he didn’t pay a lot of people and he was banned from the load board. Years later, he contacted me and wanted me to send a letter that said I had received my money. Since he never paid me, I refused to send the letter until he paid me. Once he paid me, I told him to pound sand. I would not recommend him to anybody.
If they still have not paid you, you can file the claim against their bond if you’ve crossed the state lines with your load. Otherwise you’re pretty much screwed unless you want to go to the trouble of taking them to court.
As far as your trailer problems go, the company is already telling you they’re gonna make you a new trailer. They also need to correct any damages on your truck. Then I would ask them for a reasonable compensation for your time while the repairs are done.
Now I have a couple of questions. What was the brand of trailers that broke on you? Are you running with MC numbers? If so, how are you legally running 9000 miles in a couple of weeks. You don’t want to get caught exceeding your time.
