Are OTR “drop zones” being used much?

I’ve heard of this around the five boroughs.

 

prime inc does this setup. You’ll be upset when they dispatch you that load delivering it just 10 miles away and wait 10-15hrs to be unloaded.

 

Like 99.998% of items in the news it is a fantasy. These stories are usually mostly a creation of someone outside the industry convincing some clueless "journalist" he has invented something that will revolutionize some industry, which is already common or cannot work. Journalists are certain & ignorant.

 

My first company used their terminals as drop lots. They didn't have any unmanned lots that I'm aware of, but they did have us drop trailers at terminals so day cabs could handle the final mile. That was reeder so maybe they wanted eyes on the $80,000.00 trailers. My second company was van and had lots of drop lots.

 

You do realize that every other comment in this thread contradicts you, don't you?

 

They do it in Vegas at the Freeman marshaling yard.
Chicago has a marshaling yard also next to Mcormick Place.
Most big city's have them some charge to park.

 

The only people that can drop willy nilly at our yards are lease/owner ops. If there’s too much time on a load and it routes near a yard, I can request to drop it as company. Often times I’m the one helping to deliver things off the yard; at least I get regional miles for those loads.

 

Some of the Megas do this. I believe it's called "Final Mile." I have seen JB Hunt in daycabs shuttling trailers around, but I don't think it's really common. Probably a very small percentage.