Southwest Traffic Services

Frequently Asked Questions

What do you folks do at Southwest Traffic Services?

We're specialists in several areas:

• We audit and verify freight bills. That means, we check each bill for its accuracy (classification, mathematics and bottom-line rate) and insure all the charges, including the ever-popular, accessorial charges, are correct for each specific client.
  If requested by the client, and several have, we also pay those freight bills.
  By checking these bills, numerous recommendations are made to our clients regarding efficiency and cost-saving measures.
• We are a bonded and licensed motor freight broker, finding the appropriate transportation at the request of our clients.
• Lastly, as an ICC Practitioner, our director assists motor property and passenger carriers as to numerous rules and regulations of the Federal Highway Administration, the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Department of Motor Vehicles and the California Highway Patrol.

What else do you do?

We advise and/or file claims for loss/and or damage, provide rate surveys to compare various carriers pricing programs, provide customized computer statistical freight summaries,

What difference could it make to my company?

• Since the Interstate Commerce Commission was abolished leaving no economic interstate regulation and intrastate regulation was also abolished, shippers (and receivers) of motor freight are charged with "constructive knowledge" when it comes to moving their own freight. Shippers are now considered the sophisticated shippers and are deemed to understand this complicated industry.
• The rate structure, difficult to understand, is predicated on several variables, the commodity, the weight and the distance transported. The discount can be predicated on (1) a percentage of the rate, (2) the classification of the freight, (3) the rate base, (4) any of the above, or (5) all the above.
• Additionally, there are "accessorial charges," which are in addition to the freight charges. Some examples one may see on their bills are: Single Shipment Charge, Notify Prior to Delivery, COD Fee, Cancellation of the COD Fee, Bill of Lading Correction, Hazardous Material Fee, Storage Charges, Oversize Freight, Second Delivery Charge and the ever popular Weight and Inspection Fee. All these can significantly affect your freight bill.
• We also see surcharges on the freight bill, such as the FSC, Fuel Surcharge. These are percentages based on the cost of fuel. And, it wouldn't surprise us to see an "insurance surcharge" soon, to compensate the carriers for the escalating cost of cargo and liability insurance.
• Last, but certainly not least, is the issue of liability. What the carrier pays in the event of loss and or damage.
  

How long have you been doing this work?

Established in 1985, we have been profit making company for over 20 years.

Didn't there used to be a page on your website for trucking news?

You have a good memory! We did, however, the daily scanning of sources for the latest news became too consuming and took time away from our main focus: our clients. We regret that we no longer have that available, but the needs of our clients comes first.

What's this Amateur Radio Station: W7BIA??

That is our director's hobby, addiction and obsession: amateur radio.