Who gets the first out?

[CharlesD]

I have two units arriving at the same location this evening. One is a large straight with a team that will be there by 10:00 pm and the other is a solo in a Sprinter that will be there at 1:00 am. Assuming all drivers sleep until morning, how would you advise I handle the following situation?

A three pallet load shows up and both units are willing to do the load. The straight was there first, but the Sprinter is the appropriate size unit for that particular freight. Who do you offer the load to first and why?

This is not a hypothetical situation either. Both of these units are arriving at the above times in the Philadelphia area tonight. Assuming such a piece of freight comes available, what would you do if you were in my shoes?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

In your situation....being small...i would give it to the sprinter..

Why? Because another that doesn't require dock high..and fits just right....

You can always get a smaller load into a straight..

but you can't get a bigger load into a sprinter...

 

[LDB]

Are they paid percentage or flat? Can you guarantee the team the same minimum amount of pay per mile if the next load is 1 skid? I'd be inclined to send the Sprinter out in case the next load is 8 skids and/or 6k pounds and hope my people know I'm attempting to always best utilize the equipment which benefits everyone in the long run.

 

[Dakota]

Being in a straight truck I'll give you my opinion, but of course it will be biased

I would offer it to the straight who may turn it down, unless they are paying straight truck rates for it, then why wouldn't they take it.

 

[OntarioVanMan]

sure..keep your ace in the hole...what happens if a cross country load comes out and 4 skids? You lose it...

you are too small to worry about first outs...take care of the business...

 

[Dakota]

As a straight who rarely gets a trip back home, I am nearly begging for any load getting me closer to home, I'd be more than happy to run a van load to pay my fuel cost remember I get around 8 to 9 mpg

 

[OntarioVanMan]

As a straight who rarely gets a trip back home, I am nearly begging for any load getting me closer to home, I'd be more than happy to run a van load to pay my fuel cost remember I get around 8 to 9 mpg

yeah but you are not normal...*LOL*

 

[CharlesD]

sure..keep your ace in the hole...what happens if a cross country load comes out and 4 skids? You lose it...

you are too small to worry about first outs...take care of the business...

I'm thinking along your lines. By putting that load on the Sprinter, I maximize my chances of moving both units on the same day. I was interested in seeing some other opinions.

 

[Dakota]

yeah but you are not normal...*LOL*

Now you know my secret

 

[OntarioVanMan]

Well Charles there is 2 ways of looking at this ....

Ya give it to the sprinter...the straight gets skunked for an extra day and then finds out that the sprinter was there and gone and was ahead of him....and the sprinter breaks down before delivery...all making you look like crap...OR

the straight gets a cross country with a return predispatch ..the sprinter gets out right away after they unload and you look like a hero...

 

[Turtle]

The customer may dictate which one it goes on. Just depends on what they want to rent the exclusive use of, a Sprinter or a straight. If the customer has no preference, and they pay would be the same regardless, then I'd normally go with OVM"s thinking. However, I hear bigs and straights complaining that they can never get loaded out of the east coast. I've heard of straight, and even big trucks, taking van rates just to get out of the east coast. If that's true, then I'd move the straight at the earliest opportunity, because I know for sure that I've rarely had to sit more than a few hours before I get called on a load when I'm anywhere near Philly. I'll deliver to Philly, head on over to Carny's Point, grab a Subway, get settled in, and before I take the first bite I'll get a load, either picking up now, or in the morning. It's very frustrating. So, the more common sense notion of holding the straight truck back may or may not apply on the east cost. I dunno. I simply don't have the information to make that call.

 

[Steady Eddie]

Well, of the two, how much more money would go to you? Load that one.

 

[greg334]

Simple.

The truck. If they refuse, then you are off the hook.

This is not about a sure thing, you don't have magic fairy dust that you can sprinkle on the computer and a load will appear with 8 pallets going across country, so it is about keeping things moving and most likely you will have the sprinter loaded later on or can move the sprinter to a better location without the cost to the truck.