OSJ Landstar Hiram, GA

I hear ya! Just stay strong and fight.

I had issues with other Landstar agencies not wanting to pay Detentions/TONUs too. Latest issues I had with them was TONU - My Owner Operator deadhead 75 miles for pickup and the load ended up being a HAZMAT!. (Load Confirmation had no mention of hazmat) Landstar agent told me "Ooooops, sorry for the deadhead but I can't pay......cause my customer wont". I explained to them that its not my problem who made the mistake,our driver still needs to get compensated. The following day I called to get status on TONU, they told me not to bother calling cause they wont pay.

Immediately called Landstar HQ, asked for carrier services and explained my situation, they told me they will look into in and get back to me. Checked with them every Monday for 4 weeks on the status.........on a random day load tender just appeared in the inbox with $150.00 TONU.

 

Landstar HQ did not pay for the TONU, the agency did. I believe the HQ just enforced their policy/ethical conduct and forced them to comply. I mean my complaint was normal and without question it should not have been escalated to HQ.

I would not file a claim against their bond. Just avoid that agency.........just like you said not every agent is bad. If you file complaint, you are not only filing against that agent but entire Landstar. Lets assume you file you claim for TONU $150 or Detention $100-$250 and you get your money, Landstar might be offended/butt hurt and not want to work with you in the future just because you filed. These issues can really be resolved with carrier services if you are persistent.

 

landstar corporate can force the agent to pay but I don't get detention every time . and it takes awhile to get it .... tonu is almost automatic. ....

 

Did either of you have your detention agreement in writing (preferably signed by the Broker)?

So what? Landstar is directly responsible for their "agents". They do not vet them well enough. It's gotten so bad I refuse to work with Landstar at all anymore. It's a literal crap shoot if you'll get a good agent or not. If they're operating under the Landstar umbrella then they should held to Landstar's standards. Let me ask you this; if you ate at McDonald's and they served you a burger with some rotten meat would you not seek legal recourse? Agents are the same deal. They're "franchises" operating under the reputation of the name on the door/sign. Until Landstar starts taking responsibility for all these double brokering thieves I will not haul for them. Most likely the loads you were both on were double brokered. It's getting so bad that real brokerages (not some thieving LS agent) are actually publicly denying them access to loads.

 

all landstar agents are independent contractors there is no franchise and some are very good and some are bad . landstar goes by what's in the load tender if detention terms are clearly spelled out you get it .. if not that's between you and the agent .. I don't mind at all that you are not hauling anymore landstar loads that leaves more for me and mine .

 

My personal experience with Landstar agents when I was an BCO with Landstar was roughly as follows;

1/3, were complete morons
1/3, were out and out crooks
&
1/3, were good to work with

You had to keep track of which agencies were good, and which weren't.
You also had be able to afford to take the time to learn the process, and who to pull for.

If you are operating really tight week to week, Landstar may not be a good match for you.