SPECIAL REPORT:At long last, a bill targets detention time at the docks

But at least you would be getting some money that would allow you to keep pace with paying Paul.

 

You may be right Crow. OTOH, maybe it will force these idiots to get their acts together and start doing some organizing as to how they will run their operation. I think hitting them in the pocket book is the ONLY thing they will understand.

Until such a time as the brass involved, feels the actual cost of disorganization on the dock, that disorganization will continue. Once they realize it is gonna cost them money, they will start taking an interest in seeing things are done in a timely manner.

 

The only reason a company delays you in the dock is that they have NO financial incentive not to. Only if it hits them in the bottom line do things change.

I used to work for a company that hauled a lot of Proctor and Gamble product. If you've ever dealt with one of their loads, you can have 20 pallets turn into 250. One box of X flavor deodorant, one box Y flavored deodorant, etc. etc. etc. P&G got so much flak from their carriers that they implemented an incentive program: get the truck out in 2 hours max from the time of it's appointment and the customer got quite a large discount on the product. The receiver had to clock you in (time clock like employees use) and out, at the guard shack. You wouldn't believe how fast you got out of a receiver once that program went into effect. During our second or third delivery after this change I even saw a suit from upstairs come down checking on the progress of our load. The checker said it'd be another hour and a half or so, which would have put us over the time limit. The suit said "sign the bills and get them out of here."

The point: financial incentive works whenever if it's tried.

I have to wonder about the wisdom in having the .gov get their hands into this situation. While I agree with the idea that all should have to pay for any detention they cause, I don't like the idea of the .gov creeping even deeper into our industry. Unintended consequences usually abound.

 

real simple ....e logs and hourly pay !

 

Dont they already do that now??

 

If everyone is on e logs how does that make a shipper or receiver get trucks out quicker? Again, they detain us because there is no recourse against them right now. I know of many drivers who have gone into a dock office and explained to them that the wait time is going against their hours and the customer looks right at them and says "Go out to your truck. We will get to you when we get to you." They could care less about our wait time. Then they scream when the load doesn't get there on time because we have no hours. Well duh!

 

No. Not all big companies. Granted, those that do pay detention time pass on a mere pittance, but it is better than nothing, which is what most independents get.

 

I am sure they will find a way from not compensating! However if it spread to Canada Sobeys would be in bankruptcy the way they handle their dock time......

 

Legislation will do little or nothing to address this ...

How would the enforce it?

As it is, trucking companies can only collect from shippers willing to pay dentention - and is often in return for pre-negotiated reduced freight rates.

Others will simply stop using them.

And "regulation" would probably be so many hours minimum that it will make little difference.

Only a "real" shortage of drivers, and freight capacity - combined with increased rates - will benefit drivers.

 

Really what is a receiver's excuse anyway? You have a delivery appointment that was set before you even got to the dock of the shipper. If you're even an hour behind on a 3 day trip, they ask for updated ETA's.

So how is it when you get to the dock, "oh we didn't know you were comming," "Oh we don't have enough people today," "We're really busy, might not get to you untill the next shift,"? WHERE IS THE MANAGMENT ACCOUNTABLITY FOR THIS MESS?

Just sayin, if I've got to call in every minor delay, how is it the receiver can be "surprised" by an on time delivery?