P&D Rookie Advice (Post yours)

I think this is all golden information! I can't stress enough how Google maps can save your butt. I learned the hard way thinking I could nose in and found out once I had pulled around to the back I couldn't turn around. I had to back into 4 lanes of traffic, it would have been so much easier to just back in from the get go. Luckily I'm pretty good with backing so I only blocked 1 lane but either way it sucked.

 

Another thing about Google satellite view: when judging the size of places, look for big trucks in the vicinity to compare the lot to. If no trucks are in the picture, use a car for reference. But no matter what, if there's a question, park on the street and walk in first to make sure you can spin around in there. Otherwise, back in off the street.

 

Not specific to LTL, but I have found that here.com is more accurate with rural road names than google maps. They have an app and satellite view so you can compare in your area.

Excellent info, all around.

 

What I found useful for Google maps is to bookmark all your stops, so you don't have to retype the address over again. It'll star it on the map and you can have an overall view of where your stops are, which makes trip planning a lot easier. So this way your not zigg zagging back and forth and passing stops that you could've already made deliveries to.

 

I just looked at this app. Should you decide to download it, be sure you know what all it wants access to. FWIW, I don't want to give it all that access.

 

Wow, I never thought of this. Good idea! I don't know how good it will be if you run all over the city and don't have a dedicated area yet, like me. But still, a great idea.

 

The most important thing I have learned is to SMILE. Say good morning\afternoon.
Say THANK YOU.
It can and will pay dividends to just be polite.
Eventually you will get to know the regular stops, and who to talk to when you get there.
And I will reiterate what Mike2633 said. Don't be afraid to use your phone and call ahead. You will find some of your B2B stops really appreciate it.

Adding:
You ARE the face of your employer.
Let the customer know that you appreciate their business. It can go a LONG way. Even when you're having a bad day yourself.

 

This, i cant tell you how happy people are when something is taking along time, and they are apologizing about how long its taking, and i say "no worries, im on your clock. Your the reason i get a paycheck."

 

And then you get a real jackarse to deal with on a daily basis. Every route has at least one of 'em. But you just let it roll off your shoulders.
It's easy when you look at it from the standpoint of, "I'll drive away from this jerk in a few minutes. By HE will not be able to get away from himself!"

 

THE most important thing to do when working P&D is to say "have a good weekend" to everyone you encounter on Fridays.

Once you know your customers, you can do an advanced P&D trick which is to ask them how their weekend was on Mondays.