Get ready for 60 ft. trailers!

[Rob]

I think this 48 vs 53 argument may have run it's course because really who doesn't operate with big boy trailers?

I agree. The post was more about the dispatch and CSR knowing their jobs as well as shippers knowing how to load. Just had to point out a few inconsistencies in tm's post. I'm out.

 

[theman]

BTW, I have been both. I'm only speaking from a customer perspective ... nobody wants to micromanage every truck that comes in to load ... so they ask for a standard.

The situation is different if you're acting on a micro-to-micro basis ... meaning driver who knows the shipper (the guy on the dock, not the decision maker!). The people at shippers who procure the transportation services are generally not the ones on the dock, so feedback they get from operations is what they pass to suppliers to decide who to buy from.

As I mentioned, completely different if the relationship is direct between driver and shipper.

 

[martinetav]

it is also the shipper's responsibility to make sure that every load that leaves his yard is safe and properly secured. The only thing is that the ultimate blame is always put on the truck and the whiny, cry baby truck driver when a tragedy occurs. By the way theman, aren't you suppose to inform you customers about the ins and outs of the service they are requesting? We all want a lot of things in life but, it's not always possible... That's it for me on this one too.

 

[snafu]

This is funny because we have at least 2 customers that have asked us if we would consider getting a 42ft trailer because 53' are a pain in the ass for them and the locations.

Unless something has changed I know that there's supposedly 1 new 48ft trailer on order for this year.


So not everyone wants more for less...

 

[theman]

For dedicated, you can get whatever you want made. When the customer is taking captive control of what they are using, it makes sense to go by their demands. When you are simply acting as for-hire, then you operate by a standard.

@Martineav ... really it depends on the customer, and how much I or the company I am working for may fit in their picture. I can't really expect a customer to bend their SOP just for me unless I am doing such a large part of their business that I am the norm, not the exception. I've learned to respect customer SOPs even though I may not agree with every policy (and hey, sometimes even the buyers don't agree either).