Truck Drivers Have Paperwork, Too

You might think all truck drivers do is drive. But it's not. There's more to it.

I mentioned in an earlier post that he had to get an envelope out of the back of the trailer. Here's what's inside:

• Bills of lading, one for each stop. Once signed by recipient, one copy stays with the driver.
• A "Trip Sheet" which is a list of all stops, in route order, that lists the name/address/phone number of sender and receiver, plus hours of operation for those stops when available. Valuable information when you're trying to figure out how to get someplace or what the latest receiving hours are, etc.
• A ""Route Sheet" which is a suggested path (think Google maps or Mapquest) for your deliveries (also called stops or drops)
• Three forms for the driver to return upon completion of the trip ... one each for trailer condition, tractor condition and load condition (how the stuff was loaded). By providing this feedback, the warehouse knows what to do better next time and the shop knows what to fix.

At the end of the day and after each stop, he makes sure his logbook is updated. He also has to "record" each stop into a computer system that connects this truck with the home office. (Arrive at stop for trip no. XXX, depart from stop for trip no. XXX, etc.) That system has a GPS and allows the dispatcher to know where he is at all times ... his location is sent every 21 minutes.

When he gets back to the yard, the tractor and trailer condition reports get dropped off at the shop and the rest of the envelope goes into the office. In the envelope he also includes toll slips, shower receipts for reimbursement and checks for COD freight charges.