Tucker's Different. Here's Why.

Tucker’s mission in life is simple—be the nation’s best, most professional broker and forwarder. We’ve spent three generations of family business dedicated to this goal. We hope to work closer with more of our carrier friends, and want to give you some reasons to consider why it’s smart business for you to consider doing just that. Here are a few things that differentiate us:

• We're the oldest privately held freight broker in America.
• We pay our carrier bills - even when a shipper doesn't pay us.
• We pay our dues - we're active members of ATA, TIA, NITL, and NASSTRAC. Knowing the issues helps us make happier customers and carriers.
• We have long-term customers - some of whom have been with us for 50+ years!
• Our staff has an average longevity of over 13 years, with several exceeding 20+.
• We seek to solve your imbalance issues and our customers needs.

Interested In Becoming A "Tucker Secured Carrier?"

Tucker has two main service groups—North American and Dedicated. North American is traditional freight brokerage, while Dedicated is more of a managed 3PL operation, where we move much or all of a customer’s freight. The customers in our Dedicated group tend to have repeat business, and processes that must be followed. 

Our very best, most trusted and responsive carriers are what we call “Secured Carriers.” They handle the lion’s share of the Dedicated volume. As the economy heats up this summer, we anticipate strong growth going through the end of 2014. Call Lisa Cook, 856-317-9600, ext. 111; or Gene Wherrity, ext. 125 to inquire about becoming a Secured Carrier for Tucker.

MAP-21 Also Raises Broker Bond

Another change in MAP-21 increases the FMCSA’s required performance bond for freight brokers from $10,000 to $75,000, which is an amount equal to the bond required of NVOCCs and Ocean Freight Forwarders. The law also places some additional requirements around the structure of the bonding companies, in order to better protect the public from undercapitalized bonding companies. A lawsuit challenging the higher bond failed. To give the industry time to adapt, for the moment, there is no penalty (or teeth) for failing to raise your bond to $75,000. As information, Tucker has voluntarily carried a higher bond amount for years, and was compliant prior to the new law.

How Do You Feel About Your Broker Advancing Cash to Drivers Hauling Your Freight?

Many, many freight brokers regularly use wire-services to pay drivers a portion of the cost of your load, while they’re hauling your freight! Ask yourself, are you comfortable with this?

Here’s why you might not be: 1) a carrier asking for advance payment directly to the driver is likely undercapitalized, living hand to mouth, which may jeopardize public safety and the safety of your freight; 2) when a driver already has cash in hand, the driver’s motivation to drive with care and get paid for a job well done is lowered; 3) money-wiring to drivers is very risky business, rife with opportunities for fraud, extortion and theft; 4) The broker itself may have poor credit with the carrier, which could be the reason for the advance.

For 53 years, Tucker has worked diligently to earn credit terms with licensed motor carrier fleets and owner operators who issue credit. We do not advance cash to drivers. While any firm reserves the right to not extend credit for any reason it chooses, we believe a carrier’s ability to routinely operate on credit indicates a level of business competence and maturity that we believe makes a positive impact on our service to our customers.

Don’t risk it. If you wouldn’t pay up-front cash to a driver to haul your product, don’t let a broker do it. Call Tucker.