With the latest hours of service regulations, carriers try to optimize their route time and are as efficient as possible. Drivers often waste time at facilities or other destinations waiting for the freight to be loaded or unloaded. In some cases, this may take up to a few hours and is certainly not an efficient use of time. Shippers and carriers seek ways to reduce the waste time and increase productivity, and one of the ways to do so is a drop trailer program.
To put it simply, drop trailer is when a driver leaves your trailer at the facility for a period of time until another vehicle picks it up. The trailer can be already filled with cargo and be left at the intermediate facility or can be delivered empty to a shipper’s warehouse or distribution center. This method gives shippers more independence since they can load trailers on their own.
Using a program can be beneficial for both shippers and carriers. Here are some key advantages to consider a drop trailer program:
For shippers:
For carriers:
Drop trailer program is a good way to reshape your supply chain and can certainly offer many benefits to carriers. However, it is not suitable for every shipment. Depending on the freight type, trailer, destination, and time limits, the use, and benefits of this program can differ.
After all, a drop trailer program can be a smart solution considering the hours of service regulations. Make sure to define whether you really need this method for your specific shipping needs.
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