It’s a trucker’s market in the U.S. as shippers levy tenured relationships and throw around their freight weight to push for containers to be picked up at congested ports, amidst a driver shortage and under new legislative time restrictions. Chassis availability and equipment positioning issues have further strained the domestic deliveries, driving up rates, and allowing truckers the upper hand in selecting the shippers they prefer working with.
Here are Green’s tips for becoming your trucker’s preferred customer and getting your cargo picked up, every time:
- consider drop-and-hook vs. live unload to save driver time;
- keep the trucker moving by employing more warehousing staff and equipment;
- paying promptly, or on shorter terms, allows trucking companies to compensate drivers timely and maintain overhead;
- be flexible and provide truckers with larger delivery windows, such as weekends and evenings;
- maintain facility visibility with easy-to-read signage for navigation to loading docks;
- provide basic amenities such as bathrooms, breakrooms, and/or vending for waiting drivers;
- communicate significant warehousing delays to your driver;
- if possible, allow for overnight stays in a gated facility for late deliveries, overnight stays may be required to avoid electronic logging device penalties.
Finally, the easiest thing you can is to treat him or her with respect. Greeting your trucker with a friendly smile and a point in the right direction to the restroom may just be the cheapest and most effective thing you can to do for your supply chain.
Desperate for delivery? Contact Green for access to our nationwide carrier network at [email protected].
