1.
What is the Match Maker?
The Match Maker, Inc. is a trucking brokerage firm.
Our job is to take the loads that our customers need
transportation for, and find a truck that can carry
that load to its destination for a reasonable cost
to our customer. In other words, we "Match"
loads to trucks!
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2.
Why do carriers sell their services
through us?
With
deregulation of the trucking industry in 1980, many
contract carriers with 48 state authority were formed.
It is very expensive for these carriers to maintain
a sales force necessary to keep their trucks loaded.
Many times they are in an area infrequently visited
and are afraid of dealing with unfamiliar shippers.
The contract carrier has found that the most cost
effective way to market his service is through The
Match Maker, Inc.
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3.
How do carriers locate The Match Maker?
We
advertise in Transport Topics, Southern Motor Carrier,
Transportation Intermediary, Owner Operator and many
other publications. We hold memberships in the Florence
Chamber of Commerce, Transportation Intermediaries
Association, Carolina Intermediaries Association,
and many other key trade associations. Our credit,
history, reliability, and job performance help us
attract only the country's best carriers.
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4.
How do we check a carrier out?
Carriers call us during the day informing us of the
location of their empty trucks. We have a computer
system that allows us to track this equipment. Before
we use a new carrier, we check the carrier against
our 50,000+ ICC Contract Carrier Database verifying
operating authority and insurance. If the carrier
is not found in this database, we then call the carrier's
insurance agent for insurance verification. A contract
is negotiated and signed. We maintain a data base
of insurance and authority information, thereby saving
our shippers from having to maintain these records.
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5.
How do we make Shipper contact?
When carriers notify us of locations of their trucks,
one of our trans. coordinators will start calling
shippers. We try our best to find a load for our carriers
that will put them back in their home location. We
have over 3,000 carriers under contract who rely on
us. We actually loaded 800 different carriers from
1 to 900 loads each last year. We run credit checks
and guarantee carriers prompt payment whether or not
we get paid.
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6.
What if a shipper has a load for a
location other than one we asked for?
One of the best parts about dealing with The Match
Maker, Inc. rather than a truck line is that we can
always substitute trucks for loads without causing
our shippers an inconvenience. We have 50,000+ carrier
profiles to browse through. We also post loads on
two national computer hookups that most contract carriers
subscribe to. Carriers shop from these posted loads.
Think of all the time and money truck availability
alone saves!
7.
Who does the billing?
The
Match Maker, Inc. will bill the shipper and pay the
carrier.
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8.
Can the shipper be liable should The
Match Maker not pay the carrier?
No!
The carrier can't bypass the broker and bill the shipper.
The Match Maker, Inc. pays its bills promptly and
has an excellent credit history. If a problem were
to develop in the future, The Match Maker, Inc. maintains
a $10,000 bond to protect both the carrier and the
shipper.
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9.
What about undercharges?
An
additional benefit of dealing with The Match Maker,
Inc. is protection from carriers billing the shipper
for undercharges that occur from moving loads at rates
less than the carriers published tariffs. Shippers
leave themselves open to this liability by dealing
with a contract carrier first without having a contract
or by dealing with a contract carrier without a published
rate. Many shippers seem to think all they have to
do to work with a contract carrier is to negotiate
a rate and move a load. If you deal with a contract
carrier without a contract, common carrier rates must
apply. How many future claims could have been avoided
by dealing with The Match Maker, Inc.?
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10.
What about insurance?
It
is the carriers' responsibility to have liability
and cargo insurance. Contract carriers are not required
to offer cargo insurance, but we have in our contract
a requirement for coverage for the full value of our
shipper‘s products. There are many carriers
operating these days with no insurance at all. Many
show a shipper a certificate, but when coverage is
further inspected, the coverage may only be on one
vehicle - just enough coverage to keep the ICC from
taking his authority. If there is an accident lawyers
will sue both the carrier and the shipper. THE DEEP
POCKET THEORY SAYS THE SHIPPER HAS THE MONEY TO COVER
THE LOSS. In order to offer additional protection
for you as a shipper and us as a broker, we maintain
both contingent cargo and liability insurance.
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11.
What about claims?
Our
carriers are fully liable for any cargo loss. The
Match Maker will assist the shipper in filing claims
against the carrier, and collecting the money from
the shipper.
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12.
What about having your own trucks?
If
you don’t have authority, we will support and
help you obtain authority. We will then help your
trucks find return loads. We can be your process agent
service, sell you truck insurance, and factor your
freight bills (through Match Factors, Inc., an affiliated
company).
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13.
What if there is no truck
line interested in your business?
We
can create a truck line for you or find another mode.
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