How to find best way into new shipper/receivers?

Call for directions. I also look up the satellite images on google maps to get a visual of the place and find the easiest way in from the nearest freeway.

 

As stated above. Google is a great way to see possible routes and the layout of a place. Be forewarned that sometimes you have to follow specific routes to certain facilities so look at all the possible options.

If you arrive and things look sketchy park the truck and scout it out. I've walked a facility many times to get a sense of where to go and where not to go.

 

Steer clear of small roads that may seem the logical way, look for bigger roads with room to maneuver. Note any turns that look difficult nay impossible and reroute if ya can. Always compare to a trucker's atlas. If the main highway to the location is not highlighted absolutely call to avoid that 12' bridge. I love google maps but I have seen it get drivers into soooo much trouble from trailers in ditches to their truck being shortened down to 8ft. Triple check and use common sense is the best advice.

 

Get in the habit of calling the customer. More and more customers have canned directions. That's about the only good thing with them computer voice menu's. Press 6 for directions, press 1 if you want to hear them again. If you get a person ask for shipping/receiving. Don't let some secretary that only knows where she gets her nails done give you directions!

When you have a small town with two ways in and one is the unpublished truck route, that is the easiest way to find out. But use your map and computer resources too. It's all part of trip planning.

 

All the suggested I read are all great habbits. With todays tek world, I find it much easier to get around compared to the old days. With that said, when going into a new shipper/recieving facility, I always call. Even when you arrive the special instructions they provide can mean the difference of backing back out into a road during rush hour to enter the facility in another driveway or driving into the right driveway right from the start. I've done alot of LTL in my days going to Salons, Dentists offices, medical facilities, hospitals, small mom and pop stores, and just about every type of facility you can think of. Most owners will always give you the best way in, so you can back in easier, or be postioned on the right side of the street for a street delivery. Very helpful information. One bit of advice, once you get yourself in a bind, stop, 4ways on, take a deap breath, get out survey the situation, and move forward with a plan. I even called the local police department to come help me back out of a situation. Don't try getting out of a situation frustrated. That's when mistakes are made which can be costly.

 

I just got the google map app on my phone. The main reason is so that I can get a feel for the layout of the shipping or receiving buildings before I head out towards them. I 99.9 percent use the companies gps/directions and only have for that 0.1% gotten lost because of their directions. I hope the maps gets rid of that getting lost. I started shaving off 30-45 minutes and 1-2hours in high traffic area locations of delivery and or pickup times set by the company to give me that buffer to get back on track if there is construction and or I get lost. I also make sure that if the road doesnt look like a truck should be down it I make sure I reroute before turning down it. I have had occasions where I had to back up late at night on side roads because the gps told me to turn when I should have kept straight. Keep a level head, dont panic and make sure if you make a wrong move you stay calm and take things slow. Look at the situation and put a plan in action and get out as safely as you can. Never be rushed and never let anyone rush you. Rushing is 1000% bad in trucking.

 

well call me old fashioned.....i dont own a gps....always made a phone call....