What is a blind load?

[JasonBourne]

Can someone please explain this to me? Who does it benefit? Why is it used? Any light shed on this subject is appreciated.....

JB

[Cerberus_Kelpie]

A Blind Load is a load this is NOT going to the destination upon the BOL(s), and sometimes referred to as a Hidden Shipment.
It may or may not even be going to the same State as was originally figured.
The Shipper DOES NOT NEED TO KNOW THIS and one is usually directed to not discuss any changes what-so-ever.

Happy Trails 2U!!

[JasonBourne]

but what is the purpose of this blind load? And why are we trying to pull the wool over the shippers eyes?

[Cerberus_Kelpie]

The way I figure it is that the receiver may most probably still be involved, it is just that the receiver may want a direct shipment or Drop Shipment.
I've taken Blind Loads to LTL companies and other places and NEVER was I questioned as to "why is this load here?".

If the mileage of the Blind Load that is being redirected is shorter than the original destination, run with it. If it is further and you get paid by the mile (Company Driver), what's the difference?!

Nobody is mucking anything up.
The Shipper is paid for their product.
The Receiver is happy.

I hope this either helps clear up some confusion or if not then I hope by God someone appears and corrects anything out of context.
If this post doesn't help then try Googling Blind Shipment or Hidden Load and get a phone book of options.

Think Ewe fur yer Tym!!

[JLKKLJ777]

I have covered many so called "blind loads" or shipments over the past 16 years.

Normally there are 3 players involved. A shipper, A broker, and a receiver.

Shipper "A" will have a product, lets say empty 55 gallon drums, they want to sell. Broker "B" has a request from company "C" for empty 55 gallon drums.
Broker B will arrange for a pickup from the shipper "A" listing the broker as the receiver. Meanwhile the broker has no intention of accepting the load of empty drums nor does he even have a place to store or accept those drums. The broker will instruct the carrier to pick up his load of drums and then will re-direct that shipment to company "C."

Normally the driver will be instructed to "re-write" a set of bills to cover the shipment showing the broker as the shipper and company "C" as the receiver. The receiver assumes the load came from the broker when in reality it came directly from the manufacturer.

Using the above info I will illustrate an actual Blind load I covered.

Company abc in Columbus Ohio manufactures empty 55 gallon drums.

Broker or middleman "John Smith" lives in Chicago Il and has an office there.

Chemical company xyz in Pittsburgh Pa has ordered a truckload of empty 55 gallon drums from John Smith.

John Smith contacts "eztrucking" trucking company and requests a blind shipment.

Billy Bigrigger representing "eztrucking" shows up at ABC in Columbus Ohio and requests the load of drums for John Smith in Chicago Il.

The load of drums is loaded onto the truck and Billy Bigrigger signs for the load. The Bill of Lading shows the shipper as ABC of Columbus Ohio and consigned to John Smith of Chicago Il.

John Smith instructs Billy Bigrigger to write up a fresh set of Bills showing the load came from John Smith in Chicago Il and is now consigned to xyz chemical company of Pittsburgh Pa.

Billy Bigrigger gets paid to drive the load from Columbus Ohio to Pittsburgh Pa while John Smith bills chemical company XYZ of Pittsburgh Pa for the load of drums "claiming" the shipment originated in Chicago IL.

Bottom line? More money for the middle man. The middle man also gets to keep his supplier a "secret."

Hope that helps you understand the concept of "blind loads."