A six-month pilot connecting carrier dispatch systems with distribution centre appointment tools has reduced how long drivers wait to load and unload.
How the pilot worked
Participating warehouses shared live dock availability with carriers. Dispatchers could book or adjust arrival windows in real time, and drivers received updates on their phones when a door opened up.
“Every hour a driver waits at a dock is an hour they could spend driving or at home with their family.”
The results
Average wait times fell significantly across participating sites. Drivers recovered hours each week that had been lost to idling in yards, and warehouses reported smoother staffing on the dock.
Next steps
We are working with members to expand the pilot to more regions next year and to publish a shared data standard that any warehouse or carrier can adopt.