Live Loading Prep List

Prepping your truck for live loading starts before you're scheduled to pick up the load. Know what you're loading and make sure you have any necessary permits for the states you'll be traveling through. Map out your route to minimize the chances of delays. Check the weather for each state you're traveling through to avoid weather-related disruptions.

The day before your trip, check your truck and trailer and make sure everything is in good working order. It's also wise to call the facility where you'll be picking up the load to confirm your appointment and make sure the load is ready. Leave early to get to your destination on time; docks and ports are busy spots and missing your scheduled time could mean having to wait another day to pick up your load. For LTL loads, call each facility you'll be stopping at that day to make sure there will be no delays.

Once you arrive, check into the facility and find out how long it will take to load your truck. If it's more than two hours, you're likely entitled to payment for detention time. Supervise the loading process, making sure there are no signs of damage to the cargo and the load is balanced. The weight of your load should be listed on your paperwork but always weigh your truck before leaving the facility to ensure it's not too heavy. It's far more convenient to unload and reload a truck at the warehouse or shipping facility than it is to do so on a highway weigh station.

Drop & Hook Prep List

Drop & hook is typically viewed as the fastest, most convenient way to pick up a load. Eliminating wait time at the pick-up spot and destination can save a trucker a lot of time and money since it takes an average of two hours to load a truck and then another two hours to unload it. Even so, there are some things you'll need to prep for when doing drop & hook pick-ups.

The need for permits, mapping out a route, and checking local weather conditions remains the same. You don't usually need to call to confirm an appointment time as docks and factories don't require you to have an appointment slot if you're just hitching a trailer to your truck and driving off. However, you will want to call in advance to ensure the load is ready for pick-up at the appointed time. It's not uncommon for trailers to be parked behind other trailers or even off-site if the facility doesn't have a lot of space. Ideally, if you're picking up a trailer after-hours, have a phone number of someone you can call if you can't find your trailer or need help hooking the trailer up to your truck.

You'll also want to check your cargo and trailer carefully. Since you won't be around when the trailer is loaded, you'll need to make sure it's properly balanced and the right weight. It's never wise to risk taking cargo of an uncertain weight; in a best-case scenario, you could find yourself pulled over at a weight station calling for someone to take the excess weight you can't transport. In a worst-case scenario, you could cause a serious accident.

You'll also want to make sure the cargo is intact, and the trailer is in good condition. Make note of any scratches, dents, or signs of disrepair before you pull out so that you're not blamed for pre-existing damage when you reach your destination.

As the old saying goes, failing to plan equals planning to fail. Transporting large, heavy loads from one city or state to another is no easy task and even small problems can cause significant delays. While some challenges are par for the course and can't be avoided, others may be avoidable if you plan in advance and take steps to mitigate common problems. With experience, you'll learn how to manage the two main types of truck loads in order to successfully complete jobs on schedule.