Just playing Devil's Advocate a bit.
Sure, some of the consignees will allow us to copy and fax, but some won't, and some won't even have the capability. I don't have a scanner in my truck, so that's out. Next option is to pay a buck or two per page to scan, and then a buck or two to fax, toll free or not.
My point is, scanning and electronic transmission is a service that TripPak already provides, yet Panther only utilizes the relatively very low cost option of the 1-2 day delivery from DHL. For like $5 a week TripPak will open my envelope and scan and transmit my paperwork to Panther, every day, every load, and they will then follow up with the physical delivery of the paperwork.
This is a cost that can be passed on to the drivers, as it sure beats pestering the consignee to fax paperwork, or scavenging for a place to scan and fax, or of having to mess with a scanner (even one of those little bity ones) in an already cramped truck. And there won't be a need to do anything differently than we do now (other than one pro# per envelope). Just drop the paperwork into a TripPak box and be done with it.
Plus, if I drop my paperwork in a TripPak that goes via the current DHL delivery method, and it arrives at Panther on the next day, there's no reason that that paperwork should take a week longer to process than the paperwork that I e-mailed the same day. Or at least, no one has been able to explain it in a way that I can understand.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all about technology. Give me a Qualcomm unit with an attached scanner and I'm there. Give me a hand-held module so the consignee can UPS-style sign the POD electronically and I'm there. But don't have me duplicating something that is already out there, even as an option, and not give me the option to actually use what is already available.
Here's a suggestion that will hopefully inspire someone: Have the Web designers write code that is compatible with Web browsers other than MS Internet Exploder. The Javascript for "Submit or Review a Complaint" (owner) doesn't work with other browsers, like Firefox, as an example.