High truck detention times, which involve drivers sitting idle while they’re waiting for their trucks to be loaded, are a common challenge in the trucking industry. Recent research says that 87% of all truck drivers spend up to 29% of their possible driving time in detention. This often means that some of your drivers’ per-mile compensation is going toward fees for excess delays.

Want to maximize your trucking company’s efficiency? If so, start by looking at these four effective strategies that will help you reduce your truck detention times!

1. Communicate Early and Clearly

Communication is a critical step in reducing or avoiding detention time. If all involved parties know what to expect from a shipment, they can work together more efficiently. As a trucking company, it’s your job to explain your detention time expectations ahead of time. Your partners, such as warehouse leaders, should let you know about their schedules and processes.

Going over these factors in-depth and early will help prevent a lot of miscommunication that may lead to delays. And if something unexpected comes up during the delivery, you should always notify your partners to help them adjust.

2. Use Scheduling and Routing Software

Scheduling and routing software can do a lot to help you minimize delays. For starters, this software can often utilize IoT tracking data, providing real-time updates on shipping locations. A lot of software also uses AI features that can highlight the optimal paths for each shipment, taking into account factors like traffic or other deliveries.

With the right software, it’s much easier to prevent detention from missed pick-up windows. In fact, it’s often possible to automate your entire scheduling process to make sure your fleets will pick up shipments at the best possible times.

3. Automate Where Possible

Due to the increasing warehouse labor shortages, loading a truck efficiently has become a major challenge in the industry. This is where robots can come in. Modern solutions like automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and automated storage and retrieval systems (AS/RS) can both pick up items quickly as your employees load goods onto their trucks.

Ideally, your stacking and palletizing robots would prepare shipments for loading while your human employees are finishing a previous pickup. Even with limited staffing, automated technologies enable you to accomplish more in less time.

4. Optimize Payment Processing Speeds

Another way to maximize your productivity is to optimize your mobile POS systems. Slow transaction speeds will annoy your customers and may affect your sales volume. Ensuring sufficient processing speeds involves choosing a reliable payment processor, regularly updating your POS equipment, and maintaining a stable internet connection.

Need help with processing your credit card payments? If so, choosing the right partner can take a lot of stress out of this process. Our one-stop payment processing solution comes with transparent pricing, industry-leading innovation, and personalized service!