In today’s competitive marketplace for transportation resources and the large component of owner-operators, rates are just one element in sourcing transportation to move goods. Shippers must also compete for the driver experience: the ability to get through the gate quickly, position the trailer effectively, provide drivers the amenities that use their time elsewhere (hygiene, maintenance, scales, etc.). Drivers get paid while driving, not waiting, moving inefficiently on your site or sitting idle while the trailer is unloaded. Tompkins’ site planning approach takes all of these considerations into account so you become a shipper of choice that drivers want to take the load.
Traditional site flows are facing many challenges today. With disruptions creating a surge in e-commerce activity, parcel carriers are being challenged by crowdsourced couriers, flows and staging. Queuing needs to be planned as will-call transforms into courier pickup. Long-term strategy of the site needs to ensure that expansion capability is seamless. Separation of employees from traffic flow, access into the building now and in the future, staging of empty and loaded trailers, maintenance and fuel shops, electric charging stations and power unit parking all have to be considered.
Traffic flow studies are often required so shippers act as good community citizens. Access roads, noise abatement, driver instruction boards, timing and sequencing are all part of the effort to get the trucks off the street and into the yard.