Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

I went to the Cambridge University Press Dictionary to find out the derivation & meaning of this word. I know what it means, but many in our business don’t. Apparently, it goes all the way back to the 16th Century, where is it defined as “a formal arrangement to meet or visit someone at a particular place and time. For example “a time reserved for something such as a doctor visit or meeting.”

It makes no specific mention of a trucker calling, let’s say, Home Depot, for a delivery time. As you know, I drive a flatbed. Typically, I get loaded and unloaded pretty much on a FCFS (first come, first,serve) basis. But with the down economy and freight slow, I’ve had to accept more “less desirable” freight. Unfortunately, this means having to call and get loading and delivery appointment times, And every time I have to deal with this, I remember why I don’t drive a box truck and pray that the economy recovers soon.

The whole process of “appointments” is absurd. As far as I’m concerned there is no such thing as an appointment time. Doctors, dentists, plumbers, cable installers, painters and Home Depot, Wal-Mart, etc. have no clue as to what an “appointment” means. They might as well call it an STD. No not what you’re thinking, but a SUGGESTED time for delivery or loading. Because that’s what it is. No one in the freight industry honors “appointment” times, except maybe UPS and FEDEX. And, again, with the economy the way it is, shippers and receivers know they can get away with making you wait and not pay detention.

Last week, I was told that I MUST be on time to pick up a of load of fencing near Detroit. “Don’t be late” for your 12:30 PM “appointment.” OK, alright already. I know from experience that any company that goes by “appointments” is pretty much screwed up. It never fails. So I show up for my 12:30 PM “appointment” and everyone is out to lunch until 12:45 PM. OK. I wait. I see a sign that says “drivers must sign in.” There is no sign in sheet. I wait. 12:45, 1, 1:15 – the shipping “person” is late. 1:30 she shows up. There is nobody else around. She asks when my “appointment” time is and what is my pick up number? Is she kidding? Par for the course for a company that deals in “appointments.” Fast forward and I get loaded at 5 PM!

On the delivery side I was told, again, I MUST be on time for my 830 AM “appointment.” I was unloaded at NOON! I added their “excuse” for not taking me as per my “appointment” to my everything else I’ve been told in the past list: “they didn’t tell us you were coming, I don’t have room for that, I’m short people today, the crane is broken, we scheduled too many trucks, the salesman is not in, the purchase order number is wrong, our computers are down”, and on and on and on. Nonsense.

I have found that when a company needs an appointment from a trucker, there exists a major disconnect inside their organization. Their “logistics supply chain”  is broken because purchasing doesn’t talk to sales who doesn’t talk to receiving who doesn’t talk to accounting – make one appointment and it’s as if your delivering to four different companies!

And sadly, that’s how it’s been, that’s how it going to be – and I don’t see much change in the system anytime soon.

Photo credit is: www.barclaygifford.co.uk/contactus.html