How To Reduce Turnaround Times As A Carrier

 Quick and effective turnaround processes impact everything from operational costs to customer satisfaction, influencing overall carrier profitability. Yet, achieving these efficiencies is often easier said than done. 

As a carrier, you often face numerous challenges that can delay operations, such as unpredictable shipping volumes, manual handling processes, and inefficiencies in dock scheduling.

This article aims to address these challenges by presenting practical techniques that carriers can implement immediately to enhance their turnaround times. 

What are turnaround times?

In the transportation and logistics industry, "turnaround time" refers to the duration it takes to complete a specific task or series of tasks associated with moving goods. This could range from the moment a vehicle arrives at a loading dock to when it departs fully loaded. 

For carriers like you, minimizing this time is crucial as it directly affects how quickly you can deliver goods and return for the next load. Effective turnaround times enhance your operational efficiency and can help you improve your service reliability and customer satisfaction rates. 

When you can predict and manage your turnaround times efficiently, you ensure that goods reach their destinations faster, which not only pleases customers but also allows you to handle more deliveries within the same timeframe. This efficiency can set you apart from competitors, potentially leading to more business opportunities and better client retention.

7 simple practices to reduce your turnaround times

Efficient management of logistics operations is key to reducing turnaround times. Here is a quick list of actionable practices you can implement to keep your operations running smoothly:

1. Engage actively with shippers to discuss and plan expected arrival times. Provide feedback on scheduling practices that cause delays and propose solutions or adjustments to improve efficiency.

2. Where possible, negotiate window times instead of fixed appointments to allow for more flexibility, reducing wait times caused by unforeseen delays en route.

3. Use GPS and traffic management tools to stay updated on route conditions in real-time. This helps you to prepare for any adjustment of arrival times and communicate them to shippers ahead of arriving at the dock.

4. Train your drivers on best practices for expediting loading and unloading, such as proper documentation preparation, quick safety checks, and efficient communication with dock staff.

5. Regularly provide feedback to shippers about issues that cause loading and unloading delays, such as insufficient dock staff or slow processing, and request specific improvements.

6. If recurring issues arise with particular shippers’ yards, request a meeting to discuss strategic improvements, offering insights from the carrier’s perspective that could benefit both parties.

7. Encourage drivers to report on yard conditions that contribute to delays, using this data to press for operational changes or to prioritize which shippers to work with based on the efficiency of their yard management.

By focusing on these carrier-oriented strategies, you can work within the existing framework of shipper-controlled docks and yards to reduce turnaround times effectively.

How dock scheduling tools can reduce turnaround times

Dock scheduling tools are designed to streamline the logistics process at the shipping and receiving end. For carriers, these tools offer several ways to minimize turnaround times, making operations more efficient and predictable. Here’s how you can leverage it:

Advanced booking and scheduling

By using dock scheduling tools with shippers, you can pre-book loading and unloading slots. This eliminates the uncertainty and waiting periods often experienced upon arrival, ensuring that your drivers can proceed directly to loading or unloading without delay.

You can also select time slots based on your specific transit schedules and driver availability. This helps align operations more closely with the rest of the supply chain, optimizing resource use.

Real-time coordination

Most dock scheduling software have buffer management features.  If a delay or early arrival is anticipated, you can use dock scheduling tools to adjust your time slots in real time. This flexibility helps minimize idle time at the dock and can keep the entire day’s schedule on track.

In the event of scheduling conflicts or overlapping bookings, these tools provide a platform for quick resolution directly with the shipper, reducing the potential for extended delays.

Enhanced communication

Dock scheduling tools often include features like automated alerts and notifications for upcoming appointments, changes in scheduling, or specific instructions from shippers. This keeps drivers informed and ready to act as soon as they arrive at the dock. These tools can also facilitate the advance sharing and approval of necessary documentation, ensuring all paperwork is completed before the truck arrives, further reducing processing time at the dock.

Building shipper relationships

Regular use of dock scheduling tools demonstrates a carrier’s commitment to reliability and professionalism. This can enhance your relationships with shippers, leading to more favorable terms and potentially more business as shippers look for carriers that contribute positively to their supply chain efficiency. These improvements can lead to significant competitive advantages in the logistics market.

The simplest carrier-friendly dock scheduling tool

GoRamp Dock Scheduling is the easiest dock scheduling for carriers to work with. If a shipper uses GoRamp, you can easily reserve time slots via a link without having to register first. Here are some of the benefits of your shippers using GoRamp:

• Guaranteed dock availability for your drivers
• Zero friction and tension during loading/unloading
• Make time reservations without arguing with warehouse managers
• Room to accept more contracts, thanks to proper planning

Recommend GoRamp Dock Scheduling to your shippers and stabilize your income through reliable service rather than penalties.