What Is a Live Load in Trucking
Exporting and importing cargo containers can be quite challenging for shippers. This is due to the constraints of limited loading areas or inadequate parking space for their delivery trucks. If a shipping company is in such a situation, they may opt to use cargo containers as an alternative.
Live load transaction happens when a delivery truck picks up an empty container and waits while it’s being filled or unloaded until it can drive away with the same container. Such a situation entails an economical utilization of both time and resources; a definite plus for any shipper. Furthermore, the whole operation is made more efficient when an experienced flatbed truck driver is handling everything, as they have great expertise in making the most out of each journey.
You can read more about flatbed truck drivers and the work they do in the link to https://www.hmdtrucking.com/blog/how-much-do-flatbed-truck-drivers-make/.
What is live load trucking?
What precisely is a ‘live load’ in trucking?
The most cost-effective and time-efficient transport and pick-up process happens when a truck brings an empty trailer to the loading dock, unhooks the trailer, and then obtains a loaded container from another dock.
Unfortunately, this arrangement isn’t always available for a variety of different reasons such as a loading dock that is not easily accessible or lack of space.
In some cases, truckers are also required to procure a live load in lieu of using the traditional drop-and-hook method. This means they come to the bay with an empty container and instead of unhooking the trailer and getting a loaded container, the tractor stands in its place.
The truck and the driver need to wait until the unloading is completed and the original container is now filled up. Following this, the truck takes the filled container out of the plant and goes to its destination.
When does a live load fit?
Shippers should use live load in some situations. Coming up next is a rundown of them.
1. Lack of truck and trailer parking space
If the shipper is short on space and only has room for a small number of movers and trailers at a time, live loading is a good option. Since there could be no other space to move the holders, it is more helpful to do live stacking so they can be eliminated right away.
2. No loaded container to pick up
Likewise a successive situation in which live stacking is legitimate is when there are no stacked holders to get. This indicates that the truck driver will bring the container and will not have anything to pick up on his or her return trip.
A solution of this kind would be too expensive because picking up a full container would require a second round trip. “Live loading” would be the best choice in that circumstance.
3. No primary movers
If the shipper is aware that the moving company does not have sufficient movers and may not be able to pick up the cargo on time. For this situation, a live burden will be a superior choice. It ensures that the truck will be able to depart immediately following loading.
4. No shunting truck
Last but not least, containers are frequently shunted between parking areas and loading bays. For these moves, shippers use a separate shunting truck. In the event that a shunting truck is inaccessible or occupied, stacked holders can pointlessly possess shipment docks, in which case live stacking is more proficient.
Loading and unloading times
At the point when a transporter settles on live stacking, it saves them free time since margin time is insignificant. This is on the grounds that compartments are stacked promptly upon appearance. The same loader immediately releases them, making room in the compartment for the subsequent load.
Waiting time
While this helps to save time for transport companies, it actually increases the requests for shipping services. The driver and loader are required to halt their movements until the container is filled, which takes an average of about 30 to 60 minutes. The trucking business may then impose a waiting fee or a trailer/primer delay fee on the shipper if loading takes more than the agreed amount of time. Consequently, it is essential for the shipper to organize the unloading and loading of the container in an optimal manner.
Space Requirements
Shippers who choose the “live” loading method won’t need a lot of space to store products. This is because containers are filled and sent straight out of the plant or factory, meaning no temporary parking is required.
In spite of this, making use of this form of live loading comes at a price. Unless it is planned properly with proficient practices, or several loading bays, there is potential for long lines of trucks.
Live load vs drop-and-hook method
As you can clearly observe, this system works in the exact opposite manner to that of the live load. With the drop and hook, or the drop and pick method, instead of the shipper waiting for an empty container to be filled with their goods, or for a loaded container to be unloaded, he or she can simply quickly remove yet another container directly from the company’s premises.