Warning about Venom Motorsports delivery

[nogreaterlove]

I ordered a KPX250 from Venom Motorsports USA (order #42681). The shipping method per Venom's website was "Door Step Delivery"
Venom uses a carrier called R+L Carriers. On July 25th I received a text message from R+L stating the bike was out for delivery and "no signature required" delivery method has been chosen by Venom.
I went to R+L's website and found the following information about this type of delivery: "Freight placed in secure location to the best of the drivers ability".
I live on a dirt road, one mile from pavement that is traveled by at least fifty vehicles a day, including tractor trailers. My driveway is a 200 foot 16 foot wide hard packed gravel road that leads in a straight line from this dirt road to my house. I have personally backed a 26 foot U-Haul truck down my driveway. I have received two deliveries on 48 foot tractor trailers who backed down my driveway. I have had numerous 27 foot trucks back down my driveway for deliveries.
However, after reading about other peoples experience with Venom's choice of delivery not living up to the promised standard of "Door Step Delivery" when it was absolutely possible for this to happen, I was concerned.
So at 4:45 PM when I heard the 26 foot R+L delivery truck stop on the dirt road in front of my neighbors house, I drove up to him and found him unloading the bike onto the dirt road. He told me he was going to leave it on the dirt road in front of my neighbors house.
I asked him if he would back down my driveway and deliver it to my house. He said no, it was impossible to back down my driveway. I explained to him about the many other deliveries I have experienced. I could tell he was angry and had no intention on backing up to my house. I asked him to "please" take five minutes of his time and back down my driveway. I told him it would save me a lot of time and work. After begging several times he reluctantly with a bad attitude backed up to my house and unloaded.
What a negative, stressful experience. If I would not have been home and intervened, my bike would have been sitting on a well traveled dirt road in front of my neighbors house just up a hill and around a bend where oncoming traffic would have had to make a last second decision to avoid running in to it. I pass this experience along to others who may use Venom when purchasing a bike.
In Venom's defense. The bike appears at first glance to be undamaged. It arrived in a timely manner. The staff responded quickly to my inquiries. I have had no negative experiences with Venom directly.

[JerryHawk250]

I've read mixed reviews on R+L Carriers. Some not so good. R+L Carriers in my area are probably the best. I usually have the same guy delivering and he usually helps me uncrate it to make sure there is no damage.

[red2003]

Unfortunately, R&L is the only choice for some places in the states. I have gotten several bikes delivered by them. 50% easy peasy, the other 50% PITA.

[Zapkin]

My experience with R&L and that of my son-in-law was great, but we had a really easy place to deliver.

[Crossbar]

I deal with R&L at least twice a month and they've always been good to work with. A lot depends on the originating requester passing on correct contact information. Their dispatch always calls to confirm logistics before the truck goes out; loading dock or lift gate needed, truck size ect...

[mutiger]

My bike is scheduled Monday and I am concerned about this very thing.

[Megadan]

That has nothin to do with venom. I can tell you from having worked in the trucking industry, including driving said trucks, that your problem was with the individual driver.

Now, to defend R&L Carriers and the driver a little, did you specify anything in the "notes" column about your driveway/road situation, or specifically requested the bike be dropped off away from the main road? "Door Step" is just a vague term to say "On or near your property." That said, the driver giving you an attitude is unprofessional. You should file your complaint with R&L so they can potentially take steps to improve.

R&L is one of the better LTL carriers out there.

[carlN]

For sure file a complain with R&L carriers about driver unprofessionalism.. As a former delivery driver I tried to work with customer on deliveries sometime they will request impossible things.. like back up a steep hill on gravel possibly getting stuck and the answer is NO.. or some weird shit like that..

Your request to back down the driveway did not seem out of the ordinary.. for the most part.. I would take pictures of your location to include sat view, on the ground views and send email to terminal manager.. enjoy..

[Dusman]

R&L Carriers did a great job when I dealt with them in receiving my DLX150 Storm, but the GSO terminal staff was also very friendly and easy to work with when I spoke with them on the phone. Thus, it probably varies from terminal to terminal and/or driver to driver.

[Do©Hawk]

I agree with others that your poor experience lies on the shoulders of the driver. Some people really lack customer service skills or just don't care.

I used to drive garbage truck and we were not allowed to pull into private driveways unless the driveway owner had filled out a waiver with the company to release any liability.