America Transport Systems | Frequently Asked Questions

What is a freight broker?
Very simply, it's an individual or a company that brings together a shipper that needs to transport goods with an authorized motor carrier that wants to provide the service. A freight broker falls into the category of transportation intermediary, which is a company that is neither a shipper nor an asset-owning carrier, but plays a role in the movement of cargo. Brokers provide an important and valuable service to both motor carriers and shippers. They help carriers fill the trucks and earn a commission for their efforts. They help shippers find reliable motor carriers that they (the shippers) might not have otherwise known about. In fact, some companies use brokers as their traffic department, allowing the broker to coordinate all their shipping needs.

Why use a freight broker?
Many businesses have limited resources to staff an in-house traffic or logistics department. Instead, they source that work out to a freight management provider. These companies are in daily communication with the trucking industry and have the expertise to negotiate competitive freight rates while maintaining the customer’s delivery schedule. These providers are freight brokers. So, why use a freight broker?

A shipper’s core competency is in making and selling their product(s). The freight broker’s core competency is moving those products from origin to destination. It is very expensive for the shipper to have the in-house expertise to handle all of the details in getting a product from the manufacturer to the warehouse or from the warehouse to the retailer. Shippers will do better by focusing on what they do best and outsourcing the transportation to a freight broker.

A freight broker also has access to a much larger base of carriers than a shipper does. Even though the shipper may work with a number of carriers, the freight broker works with thousands of carriers, giving them the types and availability of equipment the shipper needs.

Freight brokers can use the size of their network and the volume of freight they manage as leverage for the best service at the best price. The majority of trucking companies do not have a sales staff. They rely on freight brokers to identify available loads. So, a carrier has a greater chance of securing regular moves because the broker is dealing with various shippers across the country.

Freight brokers maintain state-of-the-art telephone and computer dispatching systems that enable them to provide the shipper or the consignee with detailed load information. It is important to keep in touch with everyone in the transportation pipeline.

In summary, freight brokers serve as excellent transportation managers and consultants so the shipper can free up their resources to do other things.

How long have you been in business?
We began our operations in 1991 and are based in San Antonio, TX.

What transportation services do you provide?
We offer full truckload, partial truckload, LTL motor freight, air freight and international services.

What are your hours of operation?
Our office is open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM CST, Monday through Friday.

Are you a member of any national associations?
Yes. ATS is a member of the Transportation Intermediaries Association. TIA is the only organization exclusively representing transportation intermediaries of all disciplines doing business in domestic and international commerce. ATS is also a member of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. This is an association of over 1200 companies that process, broker and consume scrap commodities.

SHIPMENT TYPES

What is a full truckload shipment?
A full truckload shipment is one where the entire truck is dedicated to the shipping of the freight.

What is a partial shipment?
A partial shipment is one where the customer pays for only the amount of space he uses on a trailer. It is normally measured in linear feet. For instance, a customer might have a shipment that is 24 feet long. Instead of paying for a whole truck, he will normally pay for the space he uses. A partial shipment normally has a longer transit time than a full truckload.

What is an LTL shipment?
An LTL shipment is a smaller weight shipment (usually under 10,000 lbs) that will move on a regular scheduled motor freight carrier. The rates for an LTL shipment are based on the origin and destination zip codes, the weight, and the product being shipped. An LTL shipment normally has a scheduled transit time (e.g. 3 days, 4 days, etc.) depending on the distance traveled.

GENERAL SHIPPING

How are LTL transit times calculated?
Transit times begin counting on the first business day after the day of pickup until the day it delivers. Holidays and weekends are not counted.

What types of freight will you not accept?
We do not accept Hazardous Materials (HM), C.O.D. shipments, household goods, personal effects, products that need refrigeration, personal vehicles, motorcycles and boats. This list is not all-inclusive and is subject to change.

What territory do you cover?
We work all over the United States and into Canada. We also handle international shipments.

How do you calculate truckload rates?
Truckload rates are based on a variety of factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the origin city, destination city, miles, load-type (full or partial), customer requirements (e.g. urgency, loading and unloading requirements), and the most important of all, truck availability.

Do you do permit loads?
Yes. One of our greatest strengths is the ability to move oversize (length, width or height) equipment in a safe and reliable manner.

What about insurance coverage for my truckload freight?
We only conduct business with truckload carriers who contractually agree in writing that they meet or exceed the following insurance requirements: public liability, and property damage, $1,000,000; motor vehicle liability, $1,000,000; cargo loss and damage, $100,000.

While ATS arranges for the transportation of your goods, by law it is the motor carrier who bears responsibility for loss of and/or damage to your freight. Many carriers (truckers, airlines, etc.) limit their liability for freight in their Care, Custody & Control. Carrier’s liability for freight moving domestically by truck or rail is usually governed either by the Carmack Amendment or Contracts entered into with specific clients.

While Carmack (as far as liability conventions are concerned) is rather broad, it is still centered on the liability of the carrier. At the heart of the concept of carrier liability is the idea that the carrier is not responsible for paying claims if they did not cause or contribute to the loss. Increasingly, insurers of trucking companies are limiting coverage by adding exclusions to their policies.

“All Risks” Shipper’s Interest Coverage provides the owner of the cargo with coverage for direct physical loss or damage to the cargo without the need to prove liability. While the exclusions in the Trucker’s policy forms will differ, the Shipper’s Interest coverage remains constant. Unlike Motor Truck Cargo/Carrier’s Liability Insurance, Shipper’s Interest insurance provides coverage for the Direct Physical Loss or Damage to the Cargo, not the Carrier’s Liability.

For this reason, ATS recommends that its customers purchase shipper’s interest cargo insurance or consult your business property insurance policy. Your materials may already be covered under this policy. For your convenience, we offer you the option of purchasing this important coverage as a part of our package of services.

Advantages of Insuring Your Cargo Through ATS’s Policy:

Covered losses are paid without the need to prove carrier negligence.
Insurance company deals with collecting from the carrier (if possible) once the claim has been paid.
No need to demonstrate where the loss occurred.
Claim payments based on insured value, not weight of pieces missing/damaged or Carrier’s limited liability.
ATS will report and handle claims on your behalf.

What about the value of shipments moving on LTL carriers?
ATS and our customers are subject to the rules and condition of service that apply on shipments moving via the specific LTL Common Carrier that are contained in that carrier’s Rules Tariff. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, LTL shipping rates provide some protection for loss and damage which vary at rates per pound (released rates) depending on the commodity being shipped.

EQUIPMENT TYPES

What is a flatbed?
Flatbeds are usually 48’ long but range in lengths from 45' to 53' with a deck height usually at 5’.

What is a step deck?
Step decks are usually 48' long with an upper deck length of 11’ and a lower deck length of 37'. The height of the rear deck is commonly found at 38" to 42".

What is a double drop?
Double drops have a low deck in the center, known as the "well", to accommodate high loads that would be too tall on other trailers. The length of the well is usually 25' to 30' with deck heights as low as 12" but more often at 18" to 24". The extendable double drop has the added capability of extending the length of the well to as much as 50' to 53'.

What is an RGN (removable gooseneck)?
Commonly known in the industry as a "detach", this trailer is mainly used for hauling construction equipment, cranes, forklifts, and other self-propelled equipment that can be driven on and off. The gooseneck detaches and is pulled away from the lower deck along with the tractor, clearing the way to drive the load onto the trailer. The RGN is found in various configurations of deck types (flat floor, beam, or drop side), lengths, heights, and variable configurations of axles.

What is a multi-axle?
The really heavy loads get moved on these high capacity trailers. They are available in many combinations of decks, axles, and spacing.

What is a dry van?
Van trailers are normally 53' long with 110" of overall height. Most van trailers are 'dry' vans with wooden floors and side paneling.

CREDIT AND PAYMENT

How do I arrange for payment?
For multiple load shippers, we offer a credit account after a successful review of their credit history. We normally can establish a credit account within 3 business days. All credit decisions are made by the Accounting Department after a careful review of a customer’s credit history. For customers who do not ship regularly, we accept MasterCard and Visa or a wire transfer. Payment is processed before the load is dispatched.