It was interesting observing how other modes of transportation deal with similar problems.

 Last week while sitting during a layover at the Denver, Colorado airport, I couldn’t help but observe the airport staff as they prepared for incoming flights. Each employee had an assigned job in assisting the plane to arrive at its designated gate. While watching the hustle and bustle of airport activity surrounding me, I began to realize the many similarities of the trucking industry and airline industry. During my three hour visit to this airport, I had some time to think and came to the conclusion that these two businesses are alike in many ways; however differ in “how” they operate.


Out the window, in front of me I noticed the gate was empty and no plane had yet arrived. The staff was busy staging equipment in preparation for the plane’s arrival. There were loaded carts which were lined up with luggage to be put onto the next arriving plane. Empty carts were already staged to take the luggage out of the arriving plane. Upon arrival, the staff refueled the plane, restocked drink, food items and septic duties were performed. I watched as workers used their orange signal wands to dutifully guide the next arriving aircraft into its designated gate. The ramp was extended in order to unload passengers from the plane. New passengers were reloaded quickly and in a short time the plane was ready to takeoff. I should have looked at my watch to see when the plane actually arrived as I was impressed that this entire process took well under two hours. My layover in Denver was three hours and therefore I watched this activity repeat itself a couple of times before my plane arrived.


I began to compare these two different modes of transportation. Trucking companies and airlines have rigorous schedules to maintain and require loading/unloading processes.


These businesses differ in that for trucking it’s rare to see any preparation prior to a truck arriving at a dock to load/unload freight. My boarding pass stated that the plane was going to leave without me if I didn’t arrive at the minimum ten minutes prior to departure time. Airlines require their customers to pay upfront for a flight ticket prior to service. Passengers have the option of booking well in advance for cheaper prices or if same day service is required, they usually charge a much higher rate.


There are some people in the trucking industry lobbying for mandatory detention time. What if the trucking industry, like the airlines, would require “pay before service”? Trucks would get to their destination dock just as the airplane gets to its intended gate. If the shipper doesn’t load/unload the truck in the allotted time slot purchased, the driver may leave. Just as flights need to be on a determined schedule, the truck needs to move due to its required schedule as well. Also, if the truck should leave, the customer loses their upfront money and possibly the shipment as it could be taken to a storage facility. This just may require preparation from a shipper’s staff prior to the trucks arrival to the dock.
The trucking industry doesn’t have the ability to carry out such operations due to non- upfront payment. Maybe instead of mandatory detention time, we should lobby for mandatory pay before service… just a thought.


 

Comments (5)

Henry Albert

Henry Albert is the owner of Albert Transport, Inc., based in Statesville, NC. Before participating in the "Slice of Life" program, Albert drove a 2001 Freightliner Century Class S/Tâ„¢, and will use his Cascadia for general freight and a dry van trailer. Albert, who has been a trucker since 1983, was recognized by Overdrive as its 2007 Trucker of the Year.

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Your musing is totally more profound than mine- I am usually just focused on how to get out of there without inflicting harm on someone who can't follow the rules of airport courtesy!

May 29, 2013 17:02:41 PM

Funny how I am writing one on the similarities between the two industries-and some differences. AND not one of our ideas are the same-That idea of prepaid is great. I remember when I was in the warehouse business orders were prepicked and staged next to a door. When the truck arrived. It was backed into the corresponding door. IN and OUT times were RARELY over an hour.

May 26, 2013 13:48:31 PM

I agree with you Craig. I happen to think there is a lack of action taken by a lot of shippers because there is a lack of consequence on their end for delay of shipment. It would make sense to improve efficiency this way by "hitting them where it counts" in a monetary and time-saving sense. Henry brings up a great point in that there are a great deal of customers out there that still fail to realize that a lack of pre-planning on their part makes for a certain amount of kinks in our portion of the supply chain as a whole.

May 26, 2013 13:38:54 PM

What you describe Henry makes complete sense. If we want shippers to be more prepared, the only way to change it is to have penalties they will truly feel and that comes down to dollars. They don't have any financial incentive to get trucks in and out in a timely manner, they get paid the same regardless and it shouldn't be that way. Wendy Parker wrote an article about this very same topic last week on Overdrive on The George and Wendy show, albeit in a little more colorfull vocabulary, but interesting and to the point just the same.

May 26, 2013 11:41:45 AM

Good thoughts Henry.... Trucking often reminds me of the frustrations of going to the doctors office and waiting, waiting, and then waiting.

May 26, 2013 7:00:09 AM