Here is something we have now run in to a few times. I'm looking for opinions.Here in Atlanta there is a company we often use for transloads and spilled cargo clean up. They have tons of equipment and resources and its really nice to just make a phone call and have it done rather than scrambling to find available bodies at 2 am. We typically like them to bill the customer separately, this is where the question comes from.
If they do the clean up or transload I still bill for the cargo weight on my recovery. My reasoning for this is that typically its reloaded on to my trailer (I dont charge additional for the use of the trailer unless it turns in to long term storage). I have equipment and operators tied up and sometimes helping with the reload / transload. I typically had to drag, push or lift the loaded overturned trailer or or spilled cargo out of the travel lanes when we first arrive.
The sub-contractor then bills the insurance company for their services. The insurance companies initially look at this as being double billed for the cargo clean up. Each time I have explained it they have agreed and paid. Has anyone run in to this situation? I'm just wondering if there is a better way to bill for or explain this. It hasn't been a real problem so far but it wouldn't surprise me if it became one in the future.
My only thought is to replace some of the cargo weight charge with a standby charge for operators and equipment.
If they do the clean up or transload I still bill for the cargo weight on my recovery. My reasoning for this is that typically its reloaded on to my trailer (I dont charge additional for the use of the trailer unless it turns in to long term storage). I have equipment and operators tied up and sometimes helping with the reload / transload. I typically had to drag, push or lift the loaded overturned trailer or or spilled cargo out of the travel lanes when we first arrive.
The sub-contractor then bills the insurance company for their services. The insurance companies initially look at this as being double billed for the cargo clean up. Each time I have explained it they have agreed and paid. Has anyone run in to this situation? I'm just wondering if there is a better way to bill for or explain this. It hasn't been a real problem so far but it wouldn't surprise me if it became one in the future.
My only thought is to replace some of the cargo weight charge with a standby charge for operators and equipment.
