brokers,brokerboards and the TRUCC act

[gearjammer]

Folks, we have GOT to keep the pressure on Washington to pass the TRUCC act.
I have talked to a few elected officials that don't even know what the TRUCC act is about!!

Another thing is that the brokers and their associations are organizing to stop the TRUCC act and even convince the Owner/operators that it is a bad thing for them, they are running scared and will do anything to stop it.

I was recently in a VERY heated debate on a site with 3 or 4 brokers that went all out to get the members of this site to call their elected officials and ask them to vote against it, the crap they was saying was completely ridiculous, until I got into it they were winning, I was able to get the point across and finally sway the members that the brokers were full of crap.
what reall scaired me is that this was a private TRUCKing site .

People we need to call our elected officals at least twice a week and impress on them how urgently we need the TRUCC act to pass and we also need to educate and impress on the truckers out here that their help is needed.

[TN. TRUCKERS WIFE]

I agree, this is also very critical for our survival. Already sent out some emails. Will make this part of my daily list. Please everyone HELP.....

[4x4]

I have The trucc act up on the forums to discuss it.. if you want put up Information who you want people to contact as well...I currently have my hands busy with the NY trip however I can easily apply this to my front page...

www.truckersandcitizensunited.net

[truckerstrike08]

Gearjammer I am on it now's pal

Here is where you can actually read the bill and whatnot:

Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress)




TRUCC Act (Introduced in Senate)
S 2910 IS
110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2910
To require brokers to disclose and pay independent truckers for any fuel surcharges received from shippers that relate to fuel costs paid for by the truckers.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 24, 2008

Ms. SNOWE (for herself and Mr. BROWN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To require brokers to disclose and pay independent truckers for any fuel surcharges received from shippers that relate to fuel costs paid for by the truckers.

• Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

• This Act may be cited as the `Trust in Reliable Understanding of Consumer Costs Act' or the `TRUCC Act'.

SEC. 2. DISCLOSURE AND PASS THROUGH OF MOTOR CARRIER FUEL COSTS.

• (a) In General- Section 14102 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

• `(c) Disclosure and Pass Through to Cost Bearer- A motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder, providing or arranging truckload transportation or service using fuel for which it does not bear the cost, shall provide to the person that bears the cost of such fuel--

• • `(1) a payment in an amount equal to the charges, invoiced or otherwise presented to the person directly responsible to the motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder, which relate to the cost of the fuel; and

• • `(2) at the time payment is made under paragraph (1), a written list that specifically identifies any freight charge, brokerage fee or commission, fuel surcharge or adjustment, and any other charges invoiced or otherwise presented to the person described in paragraph (1).'.

• (b) Billing and Collection Practices- Section 13708(b) of title 49, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

• `(b) False or Misleading Information- No person may cause a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder to present false or misleading information on a document or in an oral representation about the actual rate, charge, or allowance to any party to the transaction or transportation.'.

[WestTrucker]

Brokers provide shipper rates using rate + fuel surcharge, or they utilize a flat rate. If this bill passes then they will pay us $1.05 + 47% fsc rather than $1.55 per mile. Its all numbers in the way they put together a rate. Demand drives our economy. They would pay more if we demanded it. But too often, a truck is always there to take cheap freight. If the freight keeps getting moved for cheap, then they will take the cheap truck. If a shipper gets a cheaper rate from the broker, then they will use that rate over a carrier rate. Many of my friends are brokers and all they want to do is make a living just like all of us. My friend has a difficult time competing with the "super carriers". The shippers are going to go with the most cost effective rate, often times this means utilizing a large carrier that has the financial backing and optimized systems to provide such cheap rates. What we should be doing is bringing foreign manufacturing back to the U.S. and stop taking cheap freight. If everyone stops taking cheap freight then the amount of pay will increase. Brokers get price gouged by trucks when the demand for trucks is high, just as I get gouged when the demand for trucks is low. Last quarter, 900+ trucking companies went out of business. This has affected the market in many ways. Trucks w/ the financial backing to continue through these tuff times are using thier leverage to demand more money then they need to successfully move. They can do this because now there are less trucks on the road than before. Shippers are still hesitant to increase thier rates to meet this demand and we can expect the crunch to continue until they can budget for additional transportation costs.

[Wyatt Earp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gearjammer Folks, we have GOT to keep the pressure on Washington to pass the TRUCC act. I have talked to a few elected officials that don't even know what the TRUCC act is about!! Another thing is that the brokers and their associations are organizing to stop the TRUCC act and even convince the Owner/operators that it is a bad thing for them, they are running scared and will do anything to stop it. I was recently in a VERY heated debate on a site with 3 or 4 brokers that went all out to get the members of this site to call their elected officials and ask them to vote against it, the crap they was saying was completely ridiculous, until I got into it they were winning, I was able to get the point across and finally sway the members that the brokers were full of crap. what reall scaired me is that this was a private TRUCKing site . People we need to call our elected officals at least twice a week and impress on them how urgently we need the TRUCC act to pass and we also need to educate and impress on the truckers out here that their help is needed.

The place you were chatting about wasn't on the getloaded.com message board was it?

there were a lot of brokers on there telling everyone to vote against this bill also.

[gearjammer]

I saw some stuff there, and on a number of company sites as well, the brokers realize that there gravy train will leave the station once the people see the real rates the customers are paying versuses what the O/o's are getting, they also know that once we see the real rates that in order to move the freight they are going to have to come up with a more fair rate to the truck of the freight will sit on the dock.

Sadly, the brokers are actually getting some O/o's to believe their bullshit,hopefully more people are opening their eyes that turning their heads