industry standard for acceptable time for dealers to check in new cars

The standard was 15 min. per unit, 1 hour per load. I was with Ford's oldest carrier, now out of business, in my tenure there I have never seen any enforcement of that by mother Ford. I will say this, most dealers were prompt in their check in process. I would always instruct my drivers to "play nice" with the check in people as they can get you in and out, or they can make you sit. Back in my days on the truck hauling GM, I did the same thing. Pull in with the first one, Park them where they want, pop the trunk, and let the guy know how many. Usually by the time you put your skids away they are finished.

 

What he said ^^

About the only thing I'll add is that some smaller dealers will not have a lot checker and instead use free sales persons to check in new units. This can be a nightmare.

I had one young lady show up with a clip board and 12 sheets per unit. She was about to do a full dealer PDI !! Bbbbzzzzzttt !! Wrong ! I tried, as nicely as possible, to explain that what she was looking for in 'fresh' delivery, was transport related issues IE - damage or ( in the case of say Ford ) missing items from the LCL ( Loose Content List ). Well, she freaked ! When I asked how long she figured on doing a PDI, including hoist time underneath, she thought 2-3 hours per unit. I had 9 Fusions. I asked her to think about that while I went into see the boss. The boss ran outside so fast, he lost a shoe !! He really did.

On the other hand, you'll get 'Picky Pete' ..... the sales guy/gal that wants to show the boss he/she is a real keener. He/she wants to buff every mark to see if it's transport related. I once had a 'Pete' ask me to mark down a plastic deformity on the underside of the glove box door !!!! Really ?? C'mon Pete. I'm pretty sure that's a factory issue.

If you're a broker, this crap (stupid damages) will put you out of business in a week. If you're a company driver, you'll get some serious reprimands. Reprimands that will come back and haunt you when it's convenient for the company ( IE - You wanted vacation when ..... ? ). If you're unionized, it WILL go on you're record for a year. You won't be out money, but enough damages will start earning you letters from the company, and enough letters WILL make waves between the union, you, and the company. ESPECIALLY if your local union guys are in bed with your local company guys. Been there and done that .......

So all that said, do like Slant said. Be nice and get along. Be NICER. Find out what your checker likes IE Stop and get him a coffee. Give him a smoke. Watch for company ball hats and pens and hand them out like crazy. It goes a LONG way.

After a while, when you pull up, they'll just ask you if you noticed anything on the load, then ask for the bills, then sign them, then you're gone as fast as you can unload. Makes city work VERY fast and profitable. Just don't burn them on purpose. THAT takes a long time to heal, and word spreads.

 

What he said^^

Reminded me of an incident back in 1985. Pulled in to an Olds dealer with 8 442's for that dealer. All the salesmen came outside to look at the 442's. The Gen. Mgr. is there also, looking all around, looks up under the ones on the top deck. The mufflers had a factory bend in the metal on each side, they were all the same, and all the ones that came out of the muffler factory. So the A-hole manager is looking to refuse the whole load saying the exhaust are all damaged. I got the Service Manager involved and he told the idiot that the mufflers are all OK.

What a fiasco.

 

By the way, I see that was your first post. Welcome to the forums. I also see you've got 47 years in. How much of that is car haul ? That's an interesting first question for the forum from someone with 47 years wheel time. I'm not calling you on anything, just curious. Cheers.

SL

 

A quick story: Friend of mine ran for Danny Herman , cab over , curtain side hauling beamers. Dealers started black lighting all the cars looking for paint imperfections and blaming the carrier. Got really bad for awhile, cost him serious money in down time, finally quit.

Never found up what was up.....some kind of payback between somebody......

I don't see Herman anymore....he still doing this ?

 

It should be in the haulaway procedures manual, or what that outfit across the water over there calls it. Like Slant said, with Ford it's an hour per load or percentage thereof.

I heard that cantankerous old ####### @ McKie's finally retired, he's the only one that every gave us any trouble when we hauled your stuff, having to stand around while he pulled all the plastic wrap. He was such a ray of sunshine!


(I'm part of Bryan's crew, I run the Omaha ramp now. Tell Jodi that Jack said 'Hi!')