It's a Team's Life
Plan a Successful Delivery
I still find it odd how many businesses have gone to a four-day week or have continued to work from home. It makes it a little difficult to deliver to an empty building that is basically now being used for storage.
As an expediter, we often have 1 pallet or less to deliver to a non-traditional delivery location. Calling ahead to our customers to confirm location and time of delivery has paved the way for many smooth deliveries. I am surprised how often we hear “We are closed today” or “We are working from home and will have to meet you there” but what really makes our day is when we hear we are closed but I can meet you at the office to receive the shipment.
If we had not called ahead we would not have made that delivery or would have had to wait longer for someone to drive into the location. The address that we are given is usually to the front door of the business and the receiving area is in the back of the building. While talking to the customer about directions we can find out if we need to get to the back of the building from a different street or driveway. It takes a few minutes to make arrangements for a smooth delivery.
During the call we will ask about a dock if no dock do they have a forklift, will we need our liftgate or our pallet jack. At some locations, they will ask us to remove the empty pallets and at others they want them. Lately, we have had several customers ask to keep the pallets as they are going to paint on them or use them in a different way. Little do they know that we prefer to leave the pallets with them.
When a customer gives directions into their location we verify with the resources we have as the person we are talking to usually has never noticed the bridge they go across has a weight limit. Over the years customers have given us directions over bridges we cannot cross, under overpasses, we cannot get under and through gates, we cannot get through. Always be mindful that the person giving the directions could be driving a Smart Car.
After the phone call. verify the address, and the route we arrive at the customer with a game plan of how we will unload their freight.
Bob & Linda Caffee
TeamCaffee
Saint Louis MO
Expediters since January 2005
Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle;
Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;
Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;
Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.