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Is the Consignee Open to Receive Freight?

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Friday, April 3, 2020 8:56 PM

samfp1943:  We should all always appreciate the bigger, factual picture presented. Thanks!! 

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Posted by samfp1943 on Friday, April 3, 2020 6:24 PM

[quote user="Shadow the Cats owner"]

Here we have had 2 places forced to shutdown by government decree while loads where enroute to them.  Both of them where smaller customers that get fairly regular shipments.  We found out before our drivers where to far away from us and recalled the trucks back to the yard.  The trailers are still loaded awaiting the customer to reopen.  It helps that the product is plastic resins.  However we are screaming right now trying to haul all the medical grade stuff we can to all the places that are pitching in to help out.  My puematic drivers are set to go almost on average 5K this week in miles and we do not dare shut them down.  Some of the plants we are going to are running 24/7 and when we get there daily are down to less than 2 hours of resins in the storage tanks.  Yeah my OTR kids are doing the impossible right now and somehow keeping it up for weeks at a time.  I know last week one driver had 91 hours driving time in 7 days.  That is 13 hours a freaking day.  Yes he is covered by the temporary suspension of the HOS regualtions but I feel for the guy and his family.  But he is the only one that is certified by the plant so far that can haul what he does into them.  Yes some places are that anal about their clearance on drivers especially when it comes to chemicals..." 

 [/quote]
   Shadow's Owner wrote[in part]:  s...""... But he is the only one that is certified by the plant so far that can haul what he does into them.  Yes some places are that anal about their clearance on drivers especially when it comes to chemicals..."
 
I would posit that the above statement, on the part of the receiving chemical company is as much an operational one, as it is a risk management decision. 
 
   All it takes to do anything from destroying a customer's tankage inventory or even causing a real physical destruction of a plant; to have the wrong hose hooked to the wrong product inlet at a plant.OR the wrong valve turned.My 2 Cents
 
Rusults can be anywhere from contamination to a catastrophic reaction.Whistling
 
 
 

 

 


 

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Posted by Electroliner 1935 on Thursday, April 2, 2020 10:29 PM

Shadow the Cats owner
Yeah my OTR kids are doing the impossible right now and somehow keeping it up for weeks at a time.  I know last week one driver had 91 hours driving time in 7 days.  That is 13 hours a freaking day.  Yes he is covered by the temporary suspension of the HOS regualtions but I feel for the guy and his family.  But he is the only one that is certified by the plant so far that can haul what he does into them.

Talk about "ESSENTIAL".  Let us all pray that he stays well.

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Posted by Shadow the Cats owner on Thursday, April 2, 2020 5:43 PM

Here we have had 2 places forced to shutdown by government decree while loads where enroute to them.  Both of them where smaller customers that get fairly regular shipments.  We found out before our drivers where to far away from us and recalled the trucks back to the yard.  The trailers are still loaded awaiting the customer to reopen.  It helps that the product is plastic resins.  However we are screaming right now trying to haul all the medical grade stuff we can to all the places that are pitching in to help out.  My puematic drivers are set to go almost on average 5K this week in miles and we do not dare shut them down.  Some of the plants we are going to are running 24/7 and when we get there daily are down to less than 2 hours of resins in the storage tanks.  Yeah my OTR kids are doing the impossible right now and somehow keeping it up for weeks at a time.  I know last week one driver had 91 hours driving time in 7 days.  That is 13 hours a freaking day.  Yes he is covered by the temporary suspension of the HOS regualtions but I feel for the guy and his family.  But he is the only one that is certified by the plant so far that can haul what he does into them.  Yes some places are that anal about their clearance on drivers especially when it comes to chemicals.  

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Posted by Juniata Man on Thursday, April 2, 2020 4:00 PM

Generally speaking; a rail customer site will either be "open gate" or "closed gate".  The terminology differs from one railroad to another but, the concept is similar.

When a site is "open gate", the railroad will simply spot traffic upon arrival at destination, subject to the customer's ability to physically accommodate what the railroad has to bring in.

Traffic arriving for a "closed gate" customer will be constructively placed at a nearby yard and the customer advised which cars are available to be ordered into the site. The customer then provides instructions to the railroad requesting specific cars to be delivered.

Curt

 

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Posted by samfp1943 on Thursday, April 2, 2020 3:36 PM

I would guess, after having been in trucking for 20+ years, that with the current COVID19 'complications' taking place....Deliveries will need some sort of 'solid' confirmation process, at points of deliver and pick up (?). 

    Each carrier will have to work out that part.  They are facing muliple issues on both loading and unloading--To include: [ reduced work forces,State/Federal political(mandates?), deadlines (shelter-in-pace, etc) ; up to and including corporations establishing, and enforcing irregular work day hours as they feel are appropriate(?)]  Not a pretty picture Confused

 

 


 

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Posted by Ulrich on Thursday, April 2, 2020 2:47 PM

I received a message for CSX yesterday  advising their customers to check with their own  receivers to make sure they're open. Given the email I would infer that they too have run into this problem. 

 

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Posted by BaltACD on Thursday, April 2, 2020 1:59 PM

Victrola1
I deal with less than truck load carriers. I got asked that question today when placing a pick up. 

Motor carriers must be running into this problem during the current pandemic. They do not want docks and trailers becoming warehouses. 

Are railroads facing the same? 

Retired 3 years ago, so I don't KNOW what is taking place at present.

If customers can't or won't take delivery of their cars upon arrival at the consignee's destination they will be be placed on the demurrage records and the cars will begin accruing demurrage charges until actual delivery, unloading and release are accomplished.

In some cases individual consignees may be placed on an Embargo list that all carriers will enforce to prevent shippers from shipping cars to that consignee.

Under todays circumstance I suspect the the Lawyers Full Employment party will be litigating the aftermath of this point in time for years to come.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Is the Consignee Open to Receive Freight?
Posted by Victrola1 on Thursday, April 2, 2020 1:38 PM

I deal with less than truck load carriers. I got asked that question today when placing a pick up. 

Motor carriers must be running into this problem during the current pandemic. They do not want docks and trailers becoming warehouses. 

Are railroads facing the same? 

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