On the loading dock

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Dino soar, Nov 21, 2019.

  1. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    When I was company driver, the loads were either pre-loaded trailers or we backed into a dock and just waited for them to load or unload us.

    I'm wondering with your own truck do you guys stand on the dock as they load you? I'm sure some places will not permit that, but I'm wondering if you guys do that or do you just wait in your truck?

    Do you count the product or the number of pallets?

    Just curious how you go about that.
     
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  3. Anywhichwaybutloose

    Anywhichwaybutloose Light Load Member

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    If they allow you on the dock, count the pallets.
    When you sign all copies of the BOL, there is nothing stopping you from putting info on there.

    I used SL+C(shipper load and count) especially with case counts.
    Or STC said to contain

    If you cant verify it, notate it and sign it that way.
     
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  4. danny23tx

    danny23tx Road Train Member

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    Most places dont want you on the dock , in the late 3 years I have probably been asked twice to count product. They will on occasion ask me to secure the load but still kinda rare .
     
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  5. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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    Some places require that you stand there, count as they load, some have load set out, you gotta count then they load, or you can have fun like I do, last time there was 28 pallets, the lady was rude, so I kept counting 23.
    She finally walked out there and counted with me, She counting out loud, then asked, “Now do you see!? There’s 28! Jezz!”
    I said, “23.”
    She went into a language fit and wanted to know what my problem was.
    I told her that’s how many flavors are in my dr pepper.
    She looked at me like I was crazy.
     
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  6. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    Back when I pulled refer and vans I would count and temp the product. I was polite but firm with this. A bill of lading is a legally binding document, I can not sign that I recieved a product in good condition if I am not able to visibility inspect it as it goes in the trailer. I only ever had 2 times I had to give the load back because I wasn't allowed on the dock to inspect and count.
     
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  7. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Some freight they don't have you back there at all. Pharmacy loads comes to mind. You stay in that truck. When you first hire on they will take you past the door cage and to the dock cage and view the pallets with a little bit of a idea of what you are hauling. My first and only view was a load that came to 6 pallets in the nose. Bundled with liquid vials of narcotics worth approximately half a million. And in those pallets were active tracking in addition to your trailer satellite plus being totally sealed so you cannot do anything with them anyway without a forklift. Many loads exceeded a million. One special move from Detroit to NYC Ct during 9-11 etc was unknown, however trailer was packed until it cubed out. weight was also unknown. We can only estimate. Fortunately no records exist of that GWB crossing after the FOIA finished their careful searching of records for the day we crossed last month.

    Otherwise everything else shipper load and count, you write what you need to on there as it happened then sign. Ignore the noises on the other side of the desk. Its important. If you did not count it, and they did then it's shipper load and count and sign.

    Never sign and certify that you have actually counted the freight to the last little item. Unless you want to be personally liable for it if it comes up damaged or short. I lost 11 childrens bikes that way one time on a botched count. Should have come out to 720 bikes delivered 11 short on a sealed undisturbed trailer so I got to pay the 900 dollar retail difference on those. This was back in the late 80's Whose count? Mine because I signed for it that way. Never mind the actual situation with it.

    You tend to remember loads like that.
     
  8. SteveScott

    SteveScott Road Train Member

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    I have both. Some places don't want you on the dock, so I just note on the BOL that everything was loaded, counted and secured by the shipper.
     
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  9. Judge

    Judge Road Train Member

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    If I dont count, by my signature I put SLC. “Shipper Load Count”
    That way its on the master copy of bol too, it may not hold up in court, but hey, I tried
     
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  10. Bakerman

    Bakerman Road Train Member

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    I load my own truck or I instruct them how to load it.
     
  11. Dino soar

    Dino soar Road Train Member

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    How about at the receiver?

    Are you on the dock when they unload?

    Do you count the product or the pallets as they unload?
     
    Bakerman Thanks this.
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