A Day in the Life of Your Shipment

Have you ever wondered just what happens after you award an order? Sure, you can track it, but that doesn’t even begin to describe the journey your shipment goes on to get from order tender to unloading. Below, we’d like to take you on that journey by sharing a roadmap of what a typical process would look like from start to finish. Buckle up!

Order Tender

It all begins when a business contacts a freight broker. The broker should have collected all necessary information prior to tendering and accepting the freight, no matter if this is a first-time interaction or a regular shipment. These details include location, contact information, special instructions, trailer type, dimensions, weight, and if additional equipment is needed; lastly, they should also discuss shipper and consignee preferences.

Scheduling & Dispatch

From there, the broker will enter the information collected into their management system, creating a schedule. When the time comes for a scheduled order to be picked up, 3PL (third-party logistics) personally connects with the carrier (driver) to confirm that they have:

·         Appropriate equipment that is clean and up to date

·         A current, valid license

·         The required amounts of cargo and liability insurance coverage

·         Proper operating authority

·         Ability to handle special needs (i.e., driver assist, team transit, etc.)

·         A trailer that won’t be carrying any potential contaminants

·         Proper PPE, securement, and endorsements

·         Committed to the mandatory timeline, with required drivable hours available

Loading

Loading is not considered complete until everything is put on the trailer, properly secured on an open deck trailer, the doors shut or sealed in an enclosed trailer, and the carrier has signed the shipper’s Bill of Lading (BOL). The bill acts as a receipt for the cargo, containing the terms of the contract of carriage, and is a document of title to the goods. Once the carrier has accepted possession and liability of the load, it’s time to go!

Transit

While in transit, 3PL will maintain contact with the driver using a few different methods, a GPS tracking system being one of them. Regular check-ins also ensure everything is on track and appointment times will be met. Often, 3PL will provide the carrier with driving directions or act as a liaison to communicate any hurdles along the way, such as traffic or weather delays.

Unloading and delivery

Once a driver has arrived at their destination, they must document the arrival time in case of a problem with detention – if the carrier waits beyond a specific time limit, they can be charged. Once the driver has fully unloaded, the consignee signs the Bill of Lading, noting any overage, shortages, or damages (OS&D), thus accepting possession of the delivered product. The consignee will document on the bill what time the unloading was completed.

Now, 3PL awaits the paperwork to be turned in by the carrier (Invoice, Proof of Delivery (POD), etc.) so the client can be invoiced and the carrier’s payment cycle can begin.

Choosing Sparrow for your shipping needs

The process of shipping can often be chaotic. The amount of effort put in by brokerages to anticipate issues, communicate adjustments, and be a reassuring presence are signs of a good partner. At Sparrow, we believe that each person we work with— client, carrier, or crew— is far more than a one-and-done deal – it’s a relationship always worth our time, respect, and effort. We can’t accomplish anything without each other, so we treat each person in the partnership as they deserve and nothing less.

The Sparrow Standard

Our experience in the transportation industry allows us to identify the essential standards we have when deciding to work with a carrier. Once we get through this level of vetting, our internal onboarding system pulls another set of safety scores, carrier infractions, and insurance records.

There are a few parts to the Sparrow standard of vetting our carriers:  One ensures that the driver has all required permits and certifications, and the other acts as a report card to evaluate criteria. We also require our drivers to meet the FMCSA standards as well as our own. When a carrier passes the Sparrow Standard, the carrier can be onboarded. Sparrow managers are alerted when a “new” carrier onboards and can further check the carrier's eligibility to haul for Sparrow, adding them if they’re a good fit. Even when a carrier “passes” our vetting process, our team is trained to ask the proper questions to ensure we are onboarding the right Sparrow brand ambassador.

Let’s go on this journey together

Now that you know a bit more about the road your shipment travels, we hope that Sparrow can be part of that journey. Interested in getting a free quote or connecting with our team? Contact us today!