During a recent Web chat session featuring various trucking executives, Schneider National’s Scott Arves, president for the transport sector, said the company had been working with customers for four months to streamline loading dock operations. 

Specifically, the company has been working on a list of best practices.

Among the ideas:

• Minimizing or eliminating the time a driver spends to count and load.
• Using a pickup and delivery “open window” instead of a fixed appointment times.
• Proactively updating the carrier for changes in load status.
• Ensuring paperwork is ready and complete when driver arrives.
• Ensuring paperwork is complete and accurate for cross-border shipments.
• Utilizing drop trailers.
• Reducing the number of loads with stop offs.
• Providing adequate space for drivers to park and sleep.
• Using yard jockeys to handle tasks currently performed by over-the-road drivers.
• Communicating overall location-specific requirements to the driver and carrier.
• Reducing the number of loads with stop offs.