What To Do When Your Trailer Gets the Boot

Truck drivers who get sent away from a dock for unsanitary conditions are rarely pleasant or happy when they arrive at Healthy Trailer for a service.

Some are extremely rude, mean, and disrespectful to our employees. Our workers didn’t cause the problem, but they are often the ones who not only need to clean the rejected trailer, but also manage the angry drivers’ attitudes and emotions.

And sometimes, a driver’s frustration is legitimate. The inspectors and loading crews at shipping facilities are very inconsistent and equally inconsiderate. Often, the cooler’s personnel stoke the anger when they refuse to answer a driver’s questions or apply a new set of sanitation standards without notifying carriers about the updated policies.

Healthy Trailer has seen an increase in trailer rejections, so it might be worth sharing these tips with drivers in your company or those picking up your brokered loads.

1.Focus on the Facts

As soon as a driver is alerted to a rejection, rather than huffing off to find the closest washout or engaging in an argument with the shipper, train your driver to ask questions about the specific details of the rejection.  

1. Is it cargo remnants?

2. Is the trailer damaged?

3. Is there a smell?

4. Is it because there is no proof of sanitation?

Any additional comments or information shared by the shipping staff should be documented for future reference or discussion during loading appointments.

Note the time, date, and name of the individual who made the rejection decision.

Suppose the driver or a different driver from a previous visit has had a previous experience that would lead him or her to believe that the trailer should have been passed. Have the driver document the differences so that you can determine if this is a trend, a new policy, or a picky loading inspector.

2.Check your attitude

This is hard, isn’t it? Feeling stuck in an unfair and unexpected delay, like a trailer rejection, takes a very level-headed and savvy person to ignore the pain points and focus on the details.

But it could be the difference between a ‘reminder’ about the new policies and a full-on rejection. Worse, some shippers are documenting details, both for the driver and the company, so rudely pushing back could cause future problems.

F-bombs and rudeness shut down everyone involved.  

Asking legit questions in a professional tone will lead to understanding why this time the trailer is getting rejected. These discussions can lead to entirely different and favorable outcomes.

3.Document, Document, Document

We tend to think we’ll remember important and key details. But relying on our memories can backfire. Take it from a professional ‘I’ll remember’ person - it’s simpler to write the information down. Comments and pictures can make all the difference.

And if you’re thinking that a picture is going to show that a driver was wrong, good! Now, there is some training, and certainly, even if the driver made a bad decision about trailer sanitation, the picture can save time in a dispute. 

 And, even more helpful, a picture can allow you to tell your customer that you will manage the problem. Now they’ll know that you are proactive and will not shrug off your responsibility.

Ask for records that may have been created after your driver left. This is more information that will either help you avoid a claim now or sometime in the future on another load.

Building A Protocol For Your Trailers

You don’t need to wait for a rejection or claim based on dirty trailers to get a simple

protocol built and implemented. The fresh produce industry is facing increasing pressure to enhance its traceability measures.  

Get in front of this trend. Use the 1-2-3 step process above to save your drivers' time, money, and frustration when a shipping inspector decides to reject your trailer.

Book Your Next Washout

---

D-Day Remembrance: June 6, 1944, marks the day that the Allies invaded Normandy to liberate Nazi-occupied Western Europe. Known as Operation Overlord, it took two years of planning, build-up, logistics, and troop training to make this assault successful.  

What does the ‘D’ mean?  In military terms, it means ‘day’ just like ‘H’ means hour. You can learn more about D-Day and World War II at https://www.nationalww2museum.org/.

A note about changes on our website: 

We have added a sanitation service that provides a more thorough cleaning for trailers that have accumulated additional debris and may have harbored dirt or grime from previous cargo. Also, for drivers who prefer a guaranteed time slot for a washout, we’ve now added a booking option.

Please note that appointments are not required.