What percentage of your driving is empty?
How often do you get to a collection only for them to say they have nothing for you?
How long have you had to wait before your job gets cancelled?
What percentage of your driving is empty?
Sod all to 50% but usually the “empty” return trailers have empty pallets on so althougb we treat them as empties technically they’re not as they can have anything from a couple of small stacks of pallets to being loaded to the back doors. Currently sod all for the last few months. Take trailer loaded with deliveries for stores outbound, swap with trailer loaded with supplier collections to come back.
How often do you get to a collection only for them to say they have nothing for you?
Almost never.
How long have you had to wait before your job gets cancelled?
Doesn’t really happen.
Planners tend to be ok where I work although obviously they try to fit a pint into a half pint glass on most occasions! This is where having to cojones to laugh at them and say NO brings dividends.
The real problem is the muppets on the front desk who constantly prove the old adage that “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. They constantly try to improvise and tweak whilst possessing little or no geographical knowledge. They tend to think that all towns in this country are laid out in alphabetical order, hence I’ll tip in Warrington and be told to reload at Warminster!
Only a few months ago I phoned in empty at 2pm at Peterhead only to be asked if I could pick the 4pm Fakenham up, of course I told them that it would be no problem to pick tomorrow’s 4pm up. The cabbage seemed quite nonplussed by that.
the maoster:
Planners tend to be ok where I work although obviously they try to fit a pint into a half pint glass on most occasions! This is where having to cojones to laugh at them and say NO brings dividends.The real problem is the muppets on the front desk who constantly prove the old adage that “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. They constantly try to improvise and tweak whilst possessing little or no geographical knowledge. They tend to think that all towns in this country are laid out in alphabetical order, hence I’ll tip in Warrington and be told to reload at Warminster!
Only a few months ago I phoned in empty at 2pm at Peterhead only to be asked if I could pick the 4pm Fakenham up, of course I told them that it would be no problem to pick tomorrow’s 4pm up. The cabbage seemed quite nonplussed by that.
How the flying F! Does he/she get out of their bedroom in the morning with that type of geographical knowledge 
Planners are fine.
Sometimes (rarely now) our clients tell the planners lies about load availability.
Loads more empty running now than before Brexit*. We used to ship out a few empty around Xmas time, but it is all year round now.
Exports involve more paperwork and takes more time, so it isn`t worthwhile doing it half the time. Never mind though we get paid more by our import clients because of the hassle so just do imports. It all works because the end user pays a bit more for the goods.
*Apologies to those who dont like the *Brexit" word and dont want to know what happens in the real world[/i].
When we do hit trouble the planners generally are sound about it.
From one of them
“Oh no. I told em you were coming. Idiots. Just clear off and well do it next week”
Another
“So and So has got an extra pallet ready. Reckon you can do it, or shall I tell em: No?"* *And (the second half will shock some)* *"Ive booked the ■■ Ferry. Is that OK for you?”
the maoster:
Planners tend to be ok where I work although obviously they try to fit a pint into a half pint glass on most occasions! This is where having to cojones to laugh at them and say NO brings dividends.The real problem is the muppets on the front desk who constantly prove the old adage that “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. They constantly try to improvise and tweak whilst possessing little or no geographical knowledge. They tend to think that all towns in this country are laid out in alphabetical order, hence I’ll tip in Warrington and be told to reload at Warminster!
Only a few months ago I phoned in empty at 2pm at Peterhead only to be asked if I could pick the 4pm Fakenham up, of course I told them that it would be no problem to pick tomorrow’s 4pm up. The cabbage seemed quite nonplussed by that.
We run about 50% empty, but that is because we can’t run backloads in our tanks, unless we run cream after a milk delivery (which is rare)
Our planning is quite simple really, just a few trucks, and most runs are regular, they just need to occasionally change something, when the volume of milk goes up or down, or which dairy it needs to go into.
It’s a different story with the big “logistics provider” companies, where Planners just allocate you a run, without any regard for reality… As for getting full liners swapped for empty ones (so that bulkers can transhipment their milk, and collect the next round of farms), I was very much under the impression that the pointy shoes in the (distant) office were waiting for someone to call them, that all the liners were full, and then panicked.
Own account, so 50% of the time. Believe it or not some days its actually 100%, empty out, empty back 
I was a planner for 2 and a half yrs.You’re piggy in the middle between customer expectation and driver willingness/incalcitrancy (delete as applicable). I was a driver of near 30yr experience when I tried it out and jobs that I planned that seemed perfectly do-able suddenly gained insurmountable obstacles of monumental proportions (usually around Thursday lunchtime funnily). 90% of my drivers were excellent tho but the other 10% were the cause of most of my stress inducing days and sleepless nights.
Every driver should be made to do a few weeks in the traffic office before blithely judging all planners as pointy shoe’d idiots who couldn’t run a bath.
Just sayin
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
GOG47:
You’re piggy in the middle
GOG47:
Every driver should be made to do a few weeks in the traffic office
Yes and yes.
And every planner should do a few weeks driving.
But life ain`t fair. 
I always said that planners should be ex drivers, with a bit of experience, but my lot took on 2 young guys who had never even sat in a truck afaik,.I thought… '‘Aye, ok here we go’.
Point is they are both a pair of canny lads who do the job well, with good telephone manner, and they don’t ■■■■ you about,. (as certain ex driver type ones in the past have ) so I got a pleasant surprise tbh .
toonsy:
. Believe it or not some days its actually 100%, empty out, empty back [emoji38]
Thank you! I do believe you, why do you think I asked [emoji106]
stu675:
toonsy:
. Believe it or not some days its actually 100%, empty out, empty back [emoji38]Thank you! I do believe you, why do you think I asked [emoji106]
You do amazon stuff though right? In which case I’ve always thought its a case of a scheduled trunk runs regardless? Same as RM? Easier to run something empty than to disturb the planned matrix?
GOG47:
I was a planner for 2 and a half yrs.You’re piggy in the middle between customer expectation and driver willingness/incalcitrancy (delete as applicable). I was a driver of near 30yr experience when I tried it out and jobs that I planned that seemed perfectly do-able suddenly gained insurmountable obstacles of monumental proportions (usually around Thursday lunchtime funnily). 90% of my drivers were excellent tho but the other 10% were the cause of most of my stress inducing days and sleepless nights.
Every driver should be made to do a few weeks in the traffic office before blithely judging all planners as pointy shoe’d idiots who couldn’t run a bath.
Just sayinSent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
A bloke I used to work for many years ago had drivers sit in the traffic office and just watch what the hell went on for a day or two when their truck was in for MOT, most kept schtum after that experience
The 10% you mention are every company`s ■■■■■■■■■, whether a haulier or own account, they are the bad apples that infect many a good barrel 
We work on 88% loaded / 12% empty, and last week we managed 88.22% / 11.78% across the board, which in this day & age is very good, as we are now getting very particular with who we load for, as payment is now becoming an issue as plenty of very flash outfits seem to be having credit worthiness issues shall we say… 
.
Remember once went to Trago mills near Tnewron abbot from Manchester rang office as usuall eventually told head back drove back Manchester empty.
Yet few days later dropped in Bristol. Sent. me to Leicester to collect a load going to Leicester 7 miles between collection and drop off
toonsy:
stu675:
toonsy:
. Believe it or not some days its actually 100%, empty out, empty back [emoji38]Thank you! I do believe you, why do you think I asked [emoji106]
You do amazon stuff though right? In which case I’ve always thought its a case of a scheduled trunk runs regardless? Same as RM? Easier to run something empty than to disturb the planned matrix?
I’m just shocked that blue chip companies can operate so inefficiently. Yes, I finish in the same place at the end of each shift, so it’s not like assets would be in the wrong place if the shift didn’t run.
RM could do an empty run too? I thought they needed to save all the money they could? [emoji33]
stu675:
toonsy:
stu675:
toonsy:
. Believe it or not some days its actually 100%, empty out, empty back [emoji38]Thank you! I do believe you, why do you think I asked [emoji106]
You do amazon stuff though right? In which case I’ve always thought its a case of a scheduled trunk runs regardless? Same as RM? Easier to run something empty than to disturb the planned matrix?
I’m just shocked that blue chip companies can operate so inefficiently. Yes, I finish in the same place at the end of each shift, so it’s not like assets would be in the wrong place if the shift didn’t run.
RM could do an empty run too? I thought they needed to save all the money they could? [emoji33]
We did a Christmas on RM a few years ago now via their Avonmouth DC, mostly up to Crick & back, and running empty both ways was quite regular, it became a bit of a running joke TBH, when all they had to do was ring Crick and enquire whether they needed a double decker in the next three hours or so, as someone had sent everything on the previous trunk up to them
Apparently, it was written in stone [hard won union terms & stuff] so you had to go with it, very easy money for a traction shift, but you can see why stamps cost so much nowadays
You do amazon stuff though right? In which case I’ve always thought its a case of a scheduled trunk runs regardless? Same as RM? Easier to run something empty than to disturb the planned matrix?
[/quote]
I’m just shocked that blue chip companies can operate so inefficiently. Yes, I finish in the same place at the end of each shift, so it’s not like assets would be in the wrong place if the shift didn’t run.
RM could do an empty run too? I thought they needed to save all the money they could? [emoji33]
[/quote]
We did a Christmas on RM a few years ago now via their Avonmouth DC, mostly up to Crick & back, and running empty both ways was quite regular, it became a bit of a running joke TBH, when all they had to do was ring Crick and enquire whether they needed a double decker in the next three hours or so, as someone had sent everything on the previous trunk up to them
Apparently, it was written in stone [hard won union terms & stuff] so you had to go with it, very easy money for a traction shift, but you can see why stamps cost so much nowadays
[/quote]
I work for one of the major blue chip companies and yes hauling fresh air between depots is common. You have to swap trailers though, to make it look like you are carrying something. Customer pays for each trip. As Stan said a quick phone call or even a email to say the load is cancelled is all it takes.
elsa Lad:
You do amazon stuff though right? In which case I’ve always thought its a case of a scheduled trunk runs regardless? Same as RM? Easier to run something empty than to disturb the planned matrix?
I’m just shocked that blue chip companies can operate so inefficiently. Yes, I finish in the same place at the end of each shift, so it’s not like assets would be in the wrong place if the shift didn’t run.
RM could do an empty run too? I thought they needed to save all the money they could? [emoji33]
[/quote]
We did a Christmas on RM a few years ago now via their Avonmouth DC, mostly up to Crick & back, and running empty both ways was quite regular, it became a bit of a running joke TBH, when all they had to do was ring Crick and enquire whether they needed a double decker in the next three hours or so, as someone had sent everything on the previous trunk up to them
Apparently, it was written in stone [hard won union terms & stuff] so you had to go with it, very easy money for a traction shift, but you can see why stamps cost so much nowadays
[/quote]
I work for one of the major blue chip companies and yes hauling fresh air between depots is common. You have to swap trailers though, to make it look like you are carrying something. Customer pays for each trip. As Stan said a quick phone call or even a email to say the load is cancelled is all it takes.
[/quote]
If its within the budget, nobody bats an eye lid…it’s not their money
Only flat beds should be allowed, for all to see! [emoji23]
stu675:
toonsy:
stu675:
toonsy:
. Believe it or not some days its actually 100%, empty out, empty back [emoji38]Thank you! I do believe you, why do you think I asked [emoji106]
You do amazon stuff though right? In which case I’ve always thought its a case of a scheduled trunk runs regardless? Same as RM? Easier to run something empty than to disturb the planned matrix?
I’m just shocked that blue chip companies can operate so inefficiently. Yes, I finish in the same place at the end of each shift, so it’s not like assets would be in the wrong place if the shift didn’t run.
RM could do an empty run too? I thought they needed to save all the money they could? [emoji33]
My mate works next door at Crick NDC for RM and it happens a lot. As Stanley says, quite often there’s nothing to send on a particular trunk so they’ll let it run empty or run it yo move assets (trailers, yorks etc) around.
Same with my place quite often I’m sent out with a load of enoty damages to take to another DC to pick up another raiker loaded with… empty cages… sometimes I’m sent three hours down the road empty to collect some empties only to get there and find there are none.All stuff a phone call could stop but hey ho, I gave up questioming logistical issues when I stopped being a transport manager and vecame a number so now I just do as I’m told, but I still get the “why are they doing doing this/what a waste” thought process from time to time.