What is a Drop Trailer?
A drop trailer is a truck trailer that the driver leaves (or “drops”) at the shipper’s location so that the receiver can unload or load it whenever they choose. The original driver or a different driver comes back to take up the trailer at the scheduled time.
For two key reasons, carriers benefit from this strategy. In order for the warehouse staff to live-load the trailer, a carrier must first appear within a designated appointment time if drop trailer capabilities are not available. Drivers may easily miss that window due to the ELD mandate’s obligatory rest intervals, reduced delivery windows, and other hours-of-service regulations.
When to Consider a Drop Trailer Program
Drop trailers aren’t just good for carriers. Under the right conditions, they can offer cost and time-saving benefits for shippers, too. Drop trailer programs are a good option for shippers who:
- Ship Consistent Volume. From a cost perspective, drop trailers typically makes sense when you have at least two shipments per week on a regular basis.
- Struggle with Excessive Load Times. If long loading times are costing you penalties and higher rates, and degrading your relationships with carriers, using drop trailers could help you eliminate fees and even obtain shipper-of-choice status with carriers in a tight-capacity market.
- Need More Space on Docks. Moving freight and the drop trailer to another spot in the yard opens up valuable space on congested docks to create efficiencies in your warehouse.
- Want Greater Flexibility. Tight delivery windows can burden shippers, too. Loading and unloading freight when it works best for your team can make scheduling easier and less costly for everyone.
- Have Enough Space. To make drop trailers a viable solution, shippers need yard space to accommodate extra trailers, as well as room for carriers to move them in and out efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still open questions?
Our booking system is a simplified process. You can contact directly through our contact details or by submitting the enquiry form.
You will receive an auto-generated invoice on your registered e-mail ID once the consignment has been delivered.
How do owner operators find loads?
- Find a freight broker. Freight brokers are one of the most common ways to connect truckers with shippers. …
- Negotiate a contract directly with the shipper. Entering agreements directly with shippers can be a great way to get loads. …
- Becoming a government contractor. …
- Use a truck load board.
Trucking logistics is the research and planning of trucking operations . Typically, the logistics of trucking takes into account all the factors involved in the transportation of goods by truck with the goal of maximizing productivity and efficiency.
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