If you are a new truck driver this advice may come in handy someday. Maybe you already made all the training to become a truck driver, you already have your CDL and now you are looking for the company that offers you the best benefits. But nobody told you about the pick-up and delivery procedures of the shipments. Here we are going to give you some advice about this topic. The first thing to do when picking up the load is to be sure that the shipment you are getting is the correct one. This may seem too obvious, but some drivers have made this mistake and they are responsible for taking the wrong load. This is why you always have to be sure and double check if possible. Then, you always have to be on time to pick-up the load, remember that you are representing a company and if you arrive late, the people will have a bad impression of the company. Your truck must always be clean and never forget to check for the general aspects like the mirrors, the fuel and oil level, the pressure in the wheels. As little as they seem, they can become problems on the road.
When you arrive to the sender's gate, they will provide the information needed for your job. You should try to be simple in the pick up and loading procedures. When you are endorsed with the freight and have picked it up, you should count every thing and make sure you are not missing anything. If you forget something, the company will be responsible for this, and the driver is always held accountable for this. As soon you count all the freight, load it and secure it in the truck, you are ready to take off. You must get the bills of loading signed and with a cargo seal that the shippers provide, or put one given by your company to make sure that the seal remains intact on all the paperwork. When all this is ready, you are set to go and deliver the freight to the customers.
Always be on time at the moment you have to drop off the load. When you arrive at the receiving end, the guard will guide you on your next move. Perhaps you will be required to drop and hook again, but make sure you park in the right place and check to see if the tandems need to be slid all the way to the back on the truck before dropping. You will probably have to unload the shipment or hire someone else to do it. The company will cover the fees to authorize or pay for lumpers (people who unload trucks). If the driver is the one in charge of unloading, make sure to oversee the unloading so that there are no damages, overages or shortages of freight; you cannot leave until the company allows you to do so.
When the freight bills are signed, it is very important to be able to clearly read the name of the person who signs. If the name is hard to read, then there is the danger that you or your company is getting ripped off. If you are unable to read it, you should ask their names. If they do not give it, you should speak to the supervisor (keep yourself calmed and do not take this stuff as personal). When all the unloading procedure is ready you are ready for your next assignment.