Wise Trucking Industry Practices During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Many of the operational practices that are used to run an efficient logistics operation are the same practices that will help keep drivers safe during a pandemic.

Not only will drivers have less exposure, but employees at shipping/receiving facilities will also have less exposure. In addition, many of these suggestions will help ensure a smooth logistics operation. There are several points of the trucking operation at which modifications should be made during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shippers

• Loads should be ready to go.
• Shipping papers need to be complete.
• Special instructions should be pre-written to avoid long, face-to-face conversations.
• Drivers should not be forced to wait inside the building.
• When the trailer is loaded, call the drivers to the shipping clerk’s window via cell phone or CB radio.
• If possible, use drop-and-hook, rather than live load.
• For drop-and-hook, use paperwork “drop boxes” or leave the bills in the trailer nose box.

Consignees

• Be ready for the delivery.
• Special instructions should be pre-written to avoid long face-to-face conversations.
• Don’t force the drivers to wait inside the building.
• When a door is available, call the drivers via cell phone or CB radio.
• If possible, use drop-and-hook, rather than live unload.
• For drop-and-hook, use paperwork “drop boxes” or leave the bills of lading (BOLs) in the trailer nose box.

Truck Stops

• Make your restaurant a “meals-to-go only” operation. Shorten the menu if necessary.
• Close the TV room and/or movie theater.
• Sell canned/packaged food that can be consumed in the cab of a truck.

Trucking Companies

• Send sick employees home.
• Tell exposed employees to call in sick, rather than risk exposing other people.
• Reassure employees that missing work does not put their job at risk.
• Provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to all employees, not just the employees with the greatest exposure.
• Prioritize loads.

Be prepared:

• to operate with many missing employees (in the office, shop/field, and drivers)
• for extensive amounts of overtime (office workers, shop/field employees, and drivers)
• for demand to exceed capacity
• for some loads to not be delivered

And, Finally…

Do and keep doing the basics:

• Clean and sanitize. Then clean and sanitize some more.
• Practice good social distancing.
• Keep checking for new information.
• Change up your operations as circumstances change.

Minimizing drivers’ wait times will reduce exposure risks to drivers and facility employees. As a bonus, minimizing drivers’ wait times will increase operational efficiency.