Ohio companies looking to prioritize supply chain efficiency in 2023 would do well to aim at least part of their focus on reducing Cleveland trucking turnaround times, dock delays, and detention issues.

The U.S. port surge that threw international supply chains out of whack for the better part of three years during the pandemic is finally beginning to subside. However, analysts with the Journal of Commerce say that marine terminals (which effectively became container storage facilities when overwhelmed by cargo surge) aren’t prepared for another wave – and that’s bound to happen again at some point.

As Cleveland trucking experts, we recognize that while improved port procedures are central to fixing problems stemming from cargo surges, it’s also important for logistics, delivery, and warehouse operators to prioritize streamlining their own practices. This is especially true given that last year, companies looking to avoid ongoing supply chain bottlenecks opted to ship tens of thousands of containers via truck rather than rail – despite higher costs – because it was largely deemed more reliable. Rail industry setbacks like shortages in labor, equipment, and warehouse space aren’t going away anytime soon. That means we’ll continue to see a growing demand for trucking capacity – and lower turnaround times will be more pivotal than ever.

What Exactly Is Cleveland Trucking Turnaround?

Trucking turnaround time is one of the main performance indicators used to measure efficiency of port logistics and drayage services (transport of freight from an ocean port to a destination). It’s generally defined as the window of time a trucker spends at a terminal, port, or customer pickup area – from gate entry to gate exit. The pickup/drop-off process involves loading, unloading, inspecting, and completing proper documentation.

All this can be impacted by dock delays (particularly when there’s a cargo surge). But optimal trucking turnaround times aren’t solely the responsibility of port service workers. Trucking companies must prioritize efficiency at all junctures – not only at ocean ports, but on the road, at inland warehouses, while navigating distribution centers, etc. This is why it’s key to work with a Cleveland trucking operator that knows what they’re doing, recognizes their role in meeting your deadlines, and takes its professional relationships and responsibilities seriously.

While it’s true we’re seeing an ebb in cargo surge at the moment, no operation that relies on efficient supply chains can afford to presume it won’t happen again – perhaps sooner than later. What’s more, we’re unlikely anytime soon to see a lull in other factors impacting delays and detention – including rising fuel costs, labor shortages, and a boom in online spending. Demand for trucking capacity is only going to increase.

How Detention Impacts Trucking Turnaround Times – and Bottom Lines

Detention delays occur when a trucker is held up by terms or circumstances outside their control – usually due to inefficiencies at the dock, warehouse, customer facility, or distribution center.

In a recent report by the American Transportation Research Institute, truck detention and delays at customer facilities ranked in the top 5 industry concerns for U.S. truck drivers. Nearly one-third of drivers reported increases in detention time delays of 6 hours or more over the last 5 years. The most significant delays are reported by those in refrigerated trailers, followed by those operating bulk/food trucks, tanker/hazmat vehicles, dry vans, and finally flatbed trucks. Such delays are also more common with full truckload shipments compared to less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments.

These issues can be exacerbated when delays start running up against hours of service regulations – the maximum amount of hours truckers are allowed to work by federal law. Driver compensation for excess detention can range anywhere from $10/hour to $100/hour (most in the $50+ hour range). The longer truckers are unnecessarily detained at a port or customer site, the worse their overall turnaround times are going to be. Perhaps even more concerning: It’s also associated with a heightened risk of truck crashes. The longer hours a trucker works, the more fatigued they are, and the greater their risk of an accident.

The U.S. Department of Transportation reports detention nationally costs somewhere in the ballpark of $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion each year.

As for the root of this problem, it’s varied. Many drivers point to apathetic or untrained dock employees, double-booked docks, lack of adequate dock space, and issues with paperwork. Lack of trucker parking is also a problem (something even the White House has acknowledged is an issue). Truckers who aren’t allowed to park on site must wait outside the customer facility – sometimes miles away, in areas that aren’t exactly equipped for it. This can further exacerbate delays as well as compromise driver safety.

Improved scheduling and planning, longer hours, more employees/space/equipment, and better employee training were all cited as possible solutions to shortening dock delays, excessive detention, and truck turnaround times.

Enhancing inbound and outbound logistics strategies to maintain reasonable trucking turnaround times is going to prove increasingly important to companies hoping to retain their competitive edge.

Companies that partner with a third-party logistics company may see faster – and more tangible – results on this front.

How Trusted Ohio Truck Firms Can Reduce Turnaround Times

Ohio trucking companies generally aren’t in control of things like erratic consumer demand, international cargo surges, or lack of trucker parking. But that doesn’t mean they’re powerless.

Established transportation companies know that when these issues can’t be avoided, there are still ways to prepare and minimize the potential impact for customers.

Such measures include:

• Upgraded and well-maintained equipment. Older trucks and monitoring equipment will be vulnerable to failures, glitches, and breakdowns – which can further exacerbate delays and lengthen Cleveland trucking turnaround times. It’s important that not only is the fleet itself in great shape, but the technology used for transportation GPS and supply chain tracking and forecasting is also up-to-date and keeps pace with ever-evolving logistics insights. Transparency technology can also help set clear expectations and make adjustments as necessary if it seems delays are likely.
• Smart balance of trucks-to-drivers. This isn’t an exact science, but companies tend to have more drivers than trucks. However, that means any shortage of functioning trucks that can’t be promptly addressed will lead to fewer shipments, higher costs, and longer turnaround times. Trucking companies that keep their fleets in good working order as well as maintain a good truck-to-driver ratio will generally see fewer detention issues.
• Streamlined administration communication. Communication is central to supply chain efficiency. When you work with a 3PL trucking company with established relationships with local and regional partners, you get the benefit of those longstanding, well-oiled workflow and communication processes.
• Investment in experienced, well-trained drivers. Truck driving is often a more skilled profession than some people might presume. It’s not just about being safe behind the wheel. It’s about being effective with organization, time management, communication, and preparation. When delays occur, truckers who are prepared, properly trained, polite, and persistent are often rewarded with lower turnaround times.

If you have questions about how working with a dedicated 3PL trucking company in Northeast Ohio can help you reduce your trucking turnaround times and detention costs, we can help.

For information on Ohio Trucking Services in Cleveland and throughout Northeast Ohio, Contact On Time Delivery & Warehouse by calling (440) 826-4630 or send us an email.

Additional Resources:

Driver Detention Impacts on Safety and Productivity, September 2019, American Transportation Research Institute

Reducing external container trucks’ turnaround time in ports: A data-driven approach under truck appointment systems, December 2022, Computers & Electrical Engineering

More Blog Entries:

Why Companies are Increasingly Turning to Cleveland Dedicated Trucking, Nov. 28, 2022, Ohio Truck Company Blog

The threat of a potential U.S. freight train rail strike had Cleveland trucking carriers steeling their fleet and operations to help absorb at least some of the would-be mammouth impact. A last-minute tentative agreement struck with the intervention of the U.S. Department of Labor may have offset the immediate threat, but the whole ordeal underscores just how vital trucking services can be when other elements of intermodal transportation are jeopardized.

The New York Times reported tens of thousands of rail workers had threatened to strike in pursuit of better working conditions. Such action would have a catastrophic impact on supply chains across a vast range of industries throughout the U.S.

Rail moves an estimated two-fifths of long-distance U.S. freight and one-third of exports. The stakes of a potential shut down were very high – particularly as there isn’t a ton of slack in the trucking sector. If you are an organization that relies on the timely movement of goods across the country or the globe, this close call underscores the importance of securing a third-party logistics partner with strong connections to reliable Cleveland trucking carriers who can help arrange alternative transport and delivery methods in the face of unexpected hurdles. And let’s face: Unexpected hurdles of all stripes are almost a given with global supply chains.

A rail strike and increased reliance on Cleveland trucking carriers would mean substantial delays and higher costs. But it’s worth noting that truckers are already responsible for carrying nearly three-fourths of the nation’s goods as it is.

If all of America’s 7,000 long-distance daily freight trains were brought to a halt, the American Trucking Associations estimates it would require some 460,000 additional long-haul trucks daily to meet the current demand. Although there is no longer a trucking shortage, there isn’t much of a surplus either.

As our Cleveland trucking carriers can explain, rail is a central component of our complex global supply chains, which rely on the carefully-coordinated movements of cargo ships, freight trains, and trucks. This is known as intermodal transportation, and it helps to effectively eases the movement of goods across air, sea, and land. Compromise one of those links in the supply chain, and there will be a near-immediate domino effect to the system – one that has already been under significant strain since the pandemic.

Still, rail is generally recognized as the weakest of the three intermodal supply chain links. It is less flexible in responding to demand surges and bottlenecks. Over the last five years, as carriers have sought to limit service to lower costs as part of a strategy known as Precision Scheduled Railroading, nearly a quarter of rail worker jobs have been slashed. Rail companies say the reconfiguration has been an effort to become more agile and responsive to supply chain demands and challenges.

There are 12 railroad unions that form the National Freight Rail Bargaining. This coalition uses its combined power to push for employee labor demands. The most recent disputes concerned matters like higher pay, better working conditions, more paid time off, and schedules that are more flexible. (Attendance policies in particular have been a huge point of contention.)

There hasn’t been a U.S. railroad strike 30 years – and the impacts of that one in 1992 were immediate and serious. It took only three days before Congress intervened and a new contract was brokered.

Negotiations for the current rail worker contract have been ongoing for three years. Recognizing the potential harm this might do, the White House and U.S. Labor Secretary stepped in, brokering a tentative agreement. However, it’s still not officially finalized, meaning our Cleveland trucking carriers are still gearing up for the possibility the deal could fall through. The new contract won’t become final until members review the terms and approve it with a ratification vote.

Still, companies might still want to prepare for setbacks just in case. Some retailers are already diverting Asian goods that typically come through West Coast ports to those on the East Coast, at places like Newark, Savannah, and Charleston. Cleveland trucking carriers’ routes frequently take them to-and-fro at these ports. The added demand could mean an uptick in trucking rates, but worth it for many organizations if it means their goods arrive in tact and on time.

If a rail strike were to still happen now or in the coming months, our Cleveland trucking and logistics experts opine it probably wouldn’t last long. Too many industries are too deeply invested, and the pressure to resolve matters quickly would be enormous. The government’s heavy-handed involvement at the final hour is further evidence of that. But even a short-lived strike could have wide ripple effects, so companies would do well to plan for that possibility.

If you are a Northeast Ohio firm that relies heavily on rail transport to move your import/export goods, diversifying your mode of transport and collaborating with a third-party logistics firm with trucking capabilities may improve the overall security of your supply chain.

For information on Trucking, 3PL, and Warehousing Services in Cleveland, Contact On Time Delivery & Warehouse by calling (440) 826-4630 or send us an email.

Additional Resources:

How a Rail Strike Could Wreak Havoc on the American Supply Chain, Sept. 14, 2022, By Peter S. Goodman, The New York Times

More Blog Entries:

Seasonal Cycles of Ohio Trucking Are Back, Per Cleveland Trucking Experts, July 20, 2022, Cleveland Trucking Blog