Walmart penalizing for early delivery?

I just want to share my experience today. I’ll give the quick version…

Got load & RC…. Rate wasn’t bad got me out of bad area… too much time on it but I was cool with it. Did my research like all loads check reviews to get an idea of what to expect at these facilities… I was taught well. Seen one that said he called in & asked could he deliver early and was told yes… I call confirm my appointment let traffic know I would be in the area a day early… she tells me “I have a 0900 appointment available can you make it”… hell I mean yes ma’am I can make it…. Wait is there a fine for being early? “No there’s no fine”… I wait serval hours and have someone call back and give the check in number just to see what they say… confirm appointment 11/1 at 0900… let’s go!!! And I get that a little after 0810 gone by 1110 feeling good turned in my paperwork looking for another load or get some rest get a load tomorrow.

nope 45 minutes broker calls upset talking to me as if I was his child I’m blown away speechless at this professionalism pissed that I delivered early and he was going to be fined.

I will admit I should have confirmed it with the broker but 5 years as an owner operator I check every loads pickup and delivery time not with the broker but the shipper and receiver if I trip plan and I know for a fact I’m going to be early I’m letting shipper and or receiver know 99.99% they are happy to know their freight is moving early and delivered early 99.99% 5 years. 1% has said come at appointment time 0% has ever threatened to fine me for getting there early.

I said short I apologize. I understand if you just pull up early expecting to get service early not knowing if there’s space and or other things going on simply turn them around. But if I call & you change my appointment time when you could have simply asked me to come at my scheduled appointment time why should I be fined when you had a choice to refuse and I called asking not demanding. I will never haul for Walmart I will never shop at another Walmart I’m just one person but as much as I sacrifice out here on this road away from my family to provide for millions of others family and these people sit & make millions and turn around and treat me like ####… I will not do it I’m an owner/boss for a reason mainly because I don’t take people #### especially when it’s disrespect this rule or whatever Walmart has is disrespectful to the hard working people who is the reason why any store has product in them.

I’m done

 

It's all because of JIT warehousing. The trucks delivering are part of the warehouse because when they get there what they are replacing is just going out on another truck that minute. You know, because truck drivers are like machines. They've trimmed it down to the point where if you're a half an hour early you break their system.

 

There's a couple of receivers that have 15 minute windows, with nowhere to park near the DC.

Sadistic.

 

BTDT. Once. I never go back and give such customers a second chance to screw me.

Another perk of owning my truck.

 

Safeway in Tracy.

One hour window.

One minute late = $500 fine.

Guaranteed 4 to 8 hour unload time, when you're on time.

You have to check in, go to staging area, then walk a 1/4 mile to drop bols at the first lumper check in. ( That's right first lumper check in )

It's one of these automated check ins as well where you do it on line.

So now you've checked in 3 different places:

1) Guard shack
2) On line
3) First lumper shack

And still don't have a door.

Then you get a text for your door, not necessarily at your appointment time, so hope you didn't fall asleep.

You now have 15 minutes to hit the door or lose it.......

HOWEVER

You must stop at the first lumper shack to get your bols.

And they let half a dozen guys at a time.

Then you get to your door. Then you go to the second lumper shack, and give them your bols to get unloaded.

Most efficient system ever.

 

Did one Safeway load very early in my career, late 90s. Lumper fee was 450 back then. Swore I’d never return.
I haven’t. To any Safeway location.

 

I am thankful to run flatbed. I haven't touched van or reefer in years.

 

Don’t tell me the Costco over there uses the same system.

 

Some claim if they receive earlier they have to pay for the goods earlier ……..