Making Schedule

1. Making Schedule Variables That Can Affect Making Schedule

2. Making Schedule • There are many variables that affect the nature of a shipment schedule. Today we will explore three: • Transporting perishables, • Team driving, and • Road conditions

3. Perishables • Every minute in transit reduces the value of the product to the customer. • After harvesting, fruits and vegetables continue to "live and breathe", consuming oxygen and producing carbon dioxide.

4. Perishables • This respiration means a loss of sweetness and a change in texture in most produce • The major effect of respiration is heat generation, which speeds up all other forms of deterioration.

5. Perishables • Controlling the following can reduce deterioration of perishables: • Temperature of the air • Cooling • The simplest and most powerful technique for minimizing deterioration. Cooling fresh produce should begin as quickly as possible after harvest. • Humidity • A low relative humidity will cause desiccation (water loss) and weight loss of the product. A high relative humidity can encourage bacteria and mold.

6. Perishables • Poor circulation can affect the commodity’s temperature, relative humidity and weight loss. If a cargo is "hot" (not adequately pre-cooled) it is essential that there is an adequate air flow to cool the produce as quickly as possible. Adapted from Orient Overseas Container Line Limited’s web site

7. Logistics • When shipping meat, produce, or seafood, there are logistics to organize: • Compare time and cost trade-offs • Check different route options to find the shortest possible route/transit time • Get quotes from the freight forwarders • Analyze the number of movements of the goods • Calculate the total journey time (door to door).

8. Logistics • More factors to research: • Quality procedures from farm gate to end customer, to insure freshness & quality; • The ideal temperature environment for the product at each stage of the journey; • The customer's/supplier's transport preference;

9. Logistics • Good practices: • Communicate to all parties through the entire transport chain the handling requirements--ideal temperature environment, labeling for the products; • Have copies of licenses, permits, approvals and export documentation ready; • Carefully assess the costs of inspections, licenses, permits, and the potential impact of transit delays so there is a true picture of the margins before committing to contracts.

10. Logistics • In choosing a logistics team, consider: • Online tracking and tracing cargo; • Ensure environmental equipment is available and tested; • Have on-the-ground people ready to sort out issues- check their contacts (email, phone numbers & back up information) before the goods move. Adapted from Expatriate Connect-- expatriateconnect.com

11. Team Driving • Team driving is a consideration when perishables need transported via ground to a location greater than 11 hours away. • Individual driving time is limited to 11 hours driving with 10 hour breaks. • Dispatchers/shippers like the efficiency and expediency of teams.

12. Team Driving • It is essential to find a compatible co-driver, someone who you can get along with and get the job done. • It helps to live in the same town so home time can be worked out. If you want to be at home, the other driver has to agree to it. What if they want to stay out longer?

13. Team Driving • Pros • Possibility of more consistent freight and mileage—resulting in a higher paycheck. • If getting home isn't a priority, the team can stop and "vacation" anywhere. (Or schedule sightseeing into the trips) 

14. Team Driving • Cons • Sleep in a moving truck can be difficult if you are sensitive to high noise levels or vibration. • If your teammate is sick, you may soon be sick. • You can't necessarily stop when you want. • Out of respect for the other driver’s sleep, you may not be able to turn on the radio when you want.

15. Team Driving • Cons • Sleep in a moving truck can be difficult if you are sensitive to high noise levels or vibration. • If your teammate is sick, you may soon be sick. • You can't necessarily stop when you want. • Out of respect for the other driver’s sleep, you may not be able to turn on the radio when you want.

16. Road Conditions • Road conditions pose many opportunities to affect the driver’s schedule, mostly creating delays… • “Gain time” situations: • Shortcuts • Unexpectedly better weather

17. Road Conditions • “Lose time” situations: • Construction projects • Weather (rain, ice, snow) • Detours • Helping others (flat tires, stranded, mechanical problems) • Animals on the road • Police action • Road closure (Fallen trees, rock slides, road washouts, etc.)

18. Road Conditions • “Lose time” situations: • Most are outside of the driver’s control • Drivers willingly help others

19. Road Conditions • Lost time countermeasures: • Reschedule driving breaks, if possible • Reschedule driving times, to avoid heavy traffic • Re-route to more direct path (may involve more toll roads) • Drivers collaborate and help determine new routes, especially if road closures are more than a few hours • Familiarity of local area • Access to information

20. Summary • There are many variables that affect the nature of a shipment schedule. We explored three: • Transporting perishables, • Team driving, and • Road conditions Can you name some others?