Question:
For one reason or another it is very tempting once you are loaded to simply sign the BOL's and high tail it out of the shipper and get on the road to the consignee with at the most just checking the weight listed. Most all of us experienced drivers have done it at some point, and many of us have also been bitten in the azz by not taking a few minutes to look over the bills carefully.
When you recieve the BOL's for your load take a moment to check them against the info you have before you sign them.
Make sure the pick up or BOL #'s as well as the consignee matches your dispatch info.
If you had to count the load make sure the bills have an accurate total.
Look for anything that might indicate hazmat on the BOL's.
Make sure the seal number on the BOL matches the one that is going to be placed on your trailer.
Make sure the trailer number on the bills is the one you are hooked to.
In short take a moment to double check everything. If something does not match or does not seem right now is the time to check it out and not when you are 400 miles down the road or worse yet when you are at the consignee trying to unload.
Answer:
uturn speaks the truth!
Don't be in such a hurry to save time now, only to cost you later!
Also, read anything the shipper or any other party wants YOU to sign!
Good example, a few weeks ago was loading salt in Watkins Glen. The gal had a read and sign for me. No problem, trailer must be swept before loading then stand by the door while being loaded.
After getting my door assignment went out to back in. Another driver who was just ahead of me when we reached the plant was just finishing his back to the door and was setting in his truck.
I got mine into the door (man that lake is close to the lot ), and a gal was backing her truck next to mine. I helped watch her blind side (read my truck side), after she was safely in I proceeded to go stand inside.
Now, that other driver next to me says "they are already loading yours" He was in his door a good 10 minutes or so by now and nothing happening with his!
I told him about going inside, of couse he knew nothing about it, asked him if he read what we had to sign, he said "no I just signed it."
We both walked inside, mine was about finished. His looked to have about 30lbs of dunnage from the last load, pretty easy to see they were not going to load a dirty trailer, lucky me I always sweep mine before I get to the shipper!
Like stated earlier READ, and READ IT CLOSE!

Answer:
Off the subject a bit, but Bandit mentioned the other fellows trailer being dirty.
Never ceases to amaze me the number of guys who won't clean out a trailer when they empty out.
Then get mad as all get out when they get some place else and the people will not load them. A good many of them are no longer allowing you to clean out at their places either.
It's not their garbage so why should they pay to dispose of it?

Answer:
A couple things to do are.....
1. Pick up pieces of pallets as you notice them when the forklift backs out of your trailer.
2. Sweep it out before you pull away from the dock at the place that just unloaded your trailer, using their dumpster for 'their trash'.
Doing those 2 things can save you a lot of hassle down the road.

Answer:
I had a grocery wharehouse in L.A Ca. (Windixie) charge me $25. to use their dumpster. Even paid their lumper $80. to unload me and he threw the trash back in my trailer. Drove around the side to find locked dumpsters. $25. to throw out their own trash, go figure.
As far as the subject, BOL's. My wife brokers loads. Had a driver last week pick up a load to NJ some where. He got there in good time. Just one problem his BOL's said Washington, the state. They put the wrong load on. It was the right company name just the wrong location. The driver never had a clue until some one showed it to him. A few hours later and alot of griping by the driver and it was fixed. He was lucky. He also had nothing to complain about. It was his fault. You should look at the BOL's long before you leave the dock.
Had another driver carry a load to NY. BOL's said 26 pallets x number of cases. Get there with the seal intact so all seemed good. Until they opened the doors and found only 25 pallets and a bunch of cases short. That took a long time to fix also. Actually from 8am one morning until about 10am the next. Just like the other the driver did a whole lot of complaining. The shipper did a recount of their wharehouse and the pallet was still in their freezer. He was also lucky because it was a driver load and count. He wanted a days detention, didn't happen. The shipper definatly screwed up but the driver was responsible for knowing what was in his trailer. Some thing as obvious as a whole pallet missing makes you wonder about some drivers.
The above examples are experienced drivers. Far from being new.
Any discrepencies on the BOl need to be taken care of immediatly. If not it is your fault, no one else to blame. Once you put product in your trailer it is yours in my opinion until you get it delivered. You should know every thing about it that you possibly can.

Answer:

Why not? Stupid drivers and truck companies won't stand up to the lumper scams, so of course they'd figure that drivers and truck companies will just pay another fee without question.
Answer:
Gee, bandit, you must've been picking up salt over there at Watkins Glen. Hope you took the rt.414 shortcut out.
BTW, watch the shipper there-they can be really tricky........
Answer:
ALWAYS best to fix any discrepancies before you leave the docks.
DO NOT trust what their "estimated" weight is...scale the darn load!
My disp. told me today of a load he dispatched out of Iowa going to Portland, Maine. Driver gets the load, but doesn't look at his bills to see where he is going, just turns west and heads for Portland........Oregon.
Calls up a few days later all bent out of shape because he can't find this place. Disp. three way conference calls with reciever, and directions seemed right on the money until the driver was yelling that there is no I-95 in Oregon.
Nothing like a 5,000 mile mistake to start off your week, huh!

Answer:
If it is a drop and hook. Check the seal number. If there is no seal. Open the trailer up to check bracing and see that the freight is in there.
I have made this mistake ONCE. It was this last week.
Drop and hook. Bills and disp say to get the same trailer. Check it.
You sure would not want to pick up the trailer you were supposed to and pull it accross the country side empty.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
You guys all made good points!
One other thing to watch for very closely: When you go in and pick up a preloaded trailer, or are live loaded....and the bills say: Driver Count, but the trailer is already loaded and sealed....DO NOTsign the bills. Don't argue with the shipper. Tell them you have to go to the bathroom or something, then get on the phone and call your company....I would suggest "Safety"...unless you have a rapport with your fleet manager/dispatcher. If you get to the consignee and the count is short..... Guess who is in the barrel? YOU
Also, if its a live load, and you are not permitted on the dock....like one place I went that had "caging" with a locked gate to keep you out of the warehouse.... and they want you to sign "Driver Count"......DO NOT. Again, make the call. Its on you and your company...if you do and the count is wrong, whether high or low.
Generally I just sign the bills SLC/STC before they can say anything..... if they don't like it....I offer to let them discuss it with my "Boss". It usually ends the conversation. I don't recommend that method, because what will sometimes work for one person may backfire on the other. The safest approach or route to take is: "Call your company" Let them make the decision and take the heat or risk..... You are the "Master of the Vessel".....not the shipper or receiver...and something that can cost your company large amounts of money can be a 1st class career stopper. Like they tell kids nowadays: Just say noand make the phone call. Better to spend a few minutes than hours of "aggravation".So I like what I do, you don't, too bad, get over it. Get on with your life, I am.

Answer:
Highwayman, Most carriers are privy to the cost of having the load unloaded.
It is no surprise to them. It is in the contract with the SHIPPER. In most cases it is not the receiver’s freight till it is PLACED on the receivers dock area.
Most freight contracts stipulate who is responsible for the unloading. Most carriers charge a fee to the shipper to unload the freight. This is used to get the load unloaded. Like using a lumper.
The small company drivers get tricked. Many Owner ops, do not get the same type of contract from the broker. They should and can. They just do not do it. If they don’t ask…
The receiver in most cases are not responsible for the freight till it is placed on their dock. It isn’t even their freight when it is in the back of the trailer. It is the carriers in a huge way. The shipper holds the cards.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
Also, for you new drivers. The bill is the way the carrier gets paid in most cases. It is a very important paper. Turn it in ASAP.
Not sure if many of you were ever told this or not. I never was. I still know of drivers that have been driving many years that just shove the bill under the seat once it is signed.202 N Main Street
Summerfield Il 62289
TRUCK PARKING AVAILABLE!

Answer:
Another thing....make sure you have the RIGHT copy of the bills to turn in.
If bills say copy 3 or the pink copy or whatever must be turned in for payment make sure that is the copy you send the company.
I know of several places that will delay payment if they get the wrong copy back and a couple that will flat refuse payment, citing failure to return proper documentation.
Maybe you figure so what, no skin off my nose.
Maybe. Maybe not.
Your boss doesn't get paid you may find part of your paycheck disappearing.