When does 30 mean 45?

Perhaps the most aggravating part of my job is chasing dead-beat brokers that don't pay their bills in the time frame that THEY have agreed to. In fact, not only have they agreed to it but they WRITE the Broker Agreement and make you sign it before even dispatching the load. Who do you think that legal document favors?

Nine times out of ten the agreement calls for payment to be made with-in 30-days of receiving an invoice and proof of delivery. Many brokers add the word 'original' in there so that actually gives them another 3-5 days for the mailman.

My angst today is caused by Anchor Freight in Oklahoma City, OK. We moved their freight roughly 600 miles overnight paying for fuel on the spot as we went. They agreed to pay us "...within 30 days upon receipt of signed delivery receipt." They were emailed a scanned image of the signed Bill of Lading along with an invoice on Sep 13. The originals were sent regular mail the same day. They were 'in receipt of the signed delivery' on Sep 13 and yet here it is Oct 18 and the check isn't even written yet, much less in our hands.

What happens if you make your house payment late to the bank by one day? What do you see on your next utility bill if they don't have your payment on the due date? And yet in the trucking industry 30-days really means 45-days, if your lucky. Not all brokers are this abusive. But many of them are.

I have had to file claims against the bonding insurance company on a few occasions to get our money. That is a path I generally don't take until it's past 45-days. Perhaps I need to be more aggressive.

I think I will start mentioning BY NAME those brokers that can't abide by their own agreement - like Anchor Freight. Is that asking too much, to do what YOU say? I think it just comes down to respect. Or lack of.