In Reefer specifically, Do Shippers schedule the delivery appts with the Consignee or does the Carrier schedule the appts? I am finding consistently way toooo much time on loads. So I spend vast amounts of time waiting to deliver. The loads are lengthy mostly, but I still usually arrive 34-48 hrs before appt. Are my Carrier's hands tied on this? Do they really have no say so on the efficient usage of their assets (Truck,trailer, and driver). Only been at it for 2 months. I am only averaging 401 paid miles per day away from home, due to all the waiting for the delivery appts. I rarely experienced this in my 3 yrs running dry van. I averaged 440 paid miles per day running dry van. If the Carrier's hands are tied then I can't afford to stick with reefer. I left my previous dry van carrier correctly and they want me back. I addressed the low production yesterday with my Carrier before starting home time and got the feeling that I shouldn't be complaining about 10,000 paid miles per month. They said they would see what they could do. 11,500 was normal in dry van at previous Carrier that wants me back.
The carrier generally makes appointments. If you're getting loads with 48 hours extra I'd suggest trying to bet the load dropped at a drop yard somewhere encountered if your company does that. If they won't work with you and consistently throw loads with large amounts of extra time at you I'd suggest finding a carrier that doesn't.
Your carrier is my former carrier. Do you average near 11,500 monthly like I did? Are you on the dry side or reefer? I see many from former company posting that they only do 120k but that was not my experience. Current carrier has only a few terminals. I have been allowed to drop a few loads but most I must deliver.
You can always try calling the receiver yourself to see if they will accept the load early. I do that a lot and its about 50-50 on getting the load off early. Some receivers have their appointments set to have the load arrive just as they are shipping out the last of the product in their warehouse and won't have space to store the extra product if you arrive early. In effect, YOU are their warehouse. The product is ordered and a bit of extra time is on the load to allow for delays. The shipping warehouse gets paid for shipping the product in a timely manner. And the receiver doesn't have to pay for the product until it is on their dock. LOGISTICSJUST IN TIME
Hence, screw the Carrier and Driver. That feeling is much more pronounced at reefer customers, atleast for me.
At my company we make the appointments, unless the shipper or 3PL requests expedited or guaranteed service.
I guess as a driver and driver only, I will never fully understand the whole logistical equation. I think I have narrowed down that carrier planners usually marry up drivers to loads and not the Dispatchers/Asset managers that you have access to. Beyond that, still a lot of questions. If drivers were more educated on the process it might make for better overall production and job satisfaction.
What kind of commodities are you hauling in that reefer? When I hauled produce it was usually tight on time.
Orange juice out bound from Florida. So far, mostly potatoes and meat everywhere else. I have done ice cream inbound to Florida once. No produce so far. Perhaps when the citrus run is over in Florida maybe produce outbound? That's a guess. Don't know what else outbound from Florida might be. The current company drivers I have spoken to before joining typically said they get slow in the summer. Which coincides with when the citrus ends.
Give it some time ... speak to your dispatchers, and when they learn that you are constantly arriving early for your appointments, they should be tightened up ... are other drivers at this reefer company also having a little too much slack on the delivery times? The better you know how you can run it and when they get to the point that when you tell them you will be there at x time and they can take that to the bank, the smoother it will be. Maybe tell them when you want the delivery appoint set for as soon as you are loaded and know when you will be arriving ...