Do you find yourself struggling to meet appointment times at shippers and receivers? Do you feel like you’re constantly running behind, forgetting things, and feeling overwhelmed?
No driver wants to be in that position.
As your driver manager has probably told you time and time again, meeting appointment times is crucial. But why?
As a driver manager for Anderson Trucking Service (ATS), I’ll dive deeper and explain how meeting your appointment times can put more money in your pocket and get you placed on high-priority loads.
Top Reasons to Meet Appointment Times
There are two key reasons you should try to make appointment times: service, more money and loads, and future opportunities.
Service
Providing quality service for the customer is of the utmost importance. Carriers put a lot of focus on servicing the customer by being communicative and meeting appointment times. Tardiness won’t just look bad in the customer’s eyes, but it can also ruin their entire workflow for the day.
For instance, if the customer is waiting on a shipment of smaller components to build something larger, a delay in the shipment can set them back and bring the entire warehouse to a standstill. In turn, this costs them more money the longer they’re delayed.
Poor service loses customers. In the current state of the freight market, there are a million other brokers and carriers a shipper can go to to haul their freight. One minor service failure is enough to send them running to a new freight provider. Even if nine of 10 drivers deliver their loads on time, just one missed shipment can lose the customer.
When servicing a new customer, it’s especially important to meet appointment times to prove to the customer that the carrier can adequately do the job. Doing so can increase the likelihood that the new customer will return to that carrier to haul more of their freight.
Carriers have service rates. A shipper is more likely to work with a carrier with an on-time service rate of 90 percent than one with 70 percent. A good on-time service rate shows dependability.
Top-notch service will give the company access to higher-paying customers and more freight. That means more money for every driver in the fleet.
More Loads and Money
One missed appointment can result in a domino effect of negative consequences for drivers.
We’ve all seen situations like this before. A driver has an appointment for 8 a.m. but doesn’t arrive until 10 a.m. Instead of being offloaded by 9 a.m. and heading to their next pickup, they’re stuck waiting behind other drivers who arrived on time. The shipper will fit them in when they can, but this delay often means missing the next load. That load might be reassigned to someone else or pushed to the next day.
This lost time can add up. Missing just one load in a week, from five loads down to four, could mean the potential to leave $500 or more on the table. If it happens regularly, the impact on a driver’s earnings over time can be significant.
Drivers who are consistently on time (or early), however, are more efficient and can move more loads each week. As a result, they earn more too.
Future Opportunities
An efficient, reliable driver who regularly meets appointment times is one who will be rewarded with higher-paying load opportunities and high-priority customers. If the load has a tight timeline and requires an efficient driver who’s good with time management, the drivers who are always on time will be chosen.
Getting on these priority loads can put more money in your pocket.
How to Meet Appointment Times, Every Time
Just like I’d get in trouble with my boss for missing an important morning meeting, drivers can get into trouble for service failures. Customers don’t accept certain excuses for being late, like traffic and oversleeping. They believe that as a truck driver those are things you should be prepared for.
You might find yourself struggling to meet appointment times without fully understanding the reasons why — or what you can do to fix it. Sometimes, it takes a fresh perspective to spot habits that may be holding you back.
Let’s explore a few strategies to help you consistently meet appointment times (with exceptions for emergencies, of course).
Trip Plan
Trip planning is the key to your success as a truck driver, especially when it comes to meeting appointment times. When you do a good trip plan, you consider the goal ahead (delivering a load) and how you can reach that goal despite any obstacles that may come your way (bad weather, traffic, no parking, etc.).
There are countless obstacles on the road that can deter you, including bad weather conditions, road closures, construction work, accidents, heavy traffic, parking shortages, and more. When you consider all the obstacles ahead of time, you can make a plan to avoid them.
For example, if you know traffic will be bad in the morning, you can plan to leave earlier. When looking at potential routes before you start your day, you can spot road closures and plan a different route. You can give yourself a few options to fuel and park in case one spot is full. You can also give yourself extra time to drive and plan on when you need to wake up and when you need to start driving.
Pre-Trip Inspections
Pre-trip inspections are key to catching potential issues with your truck before they escalate into bigger problems. While it’s impossible to prevent every major breakdown that might cause a delay or missed appointment, some issues — like low tire pressure — can often be identified and addressed ahead of time.
Catching these issues early not only helps you avoid delays but also allows you to stay ahead with your customers by communicating potential setbacks and adjusting appointment times as needed.
Related: Preventative maintenance tips
Prioritize Good Sleep Routines
Oversleeping is a common reason drivers fail to meet their appointment times. When you set yourself up for a good night of sleep followed by a healthy morning routine, you’ll set yourself up for success in meeting appointment times. No more oversleeping for you!
You may be one of those people who sleeps through their alarm or constantly hits snooze. If this is you, talk to one of your family members or even your driver manager to help you by giving you a wake-up call in the morning to get you going.
Related: Sleeping tips for truck drivers
Start a Morning Routine
It’s tempting to sleep in. It’s tempting to stop for a cup of coffee and donuts before you get going for the day. And you do deserve those things — you work hard! If you want to do those things, you simply have to find a way to fit them in — whether that means getting up an hour early for that morning treat or adjusting your drive times so you can sleep in one day and still meet all your appointment times.
Building a healthy morning routine — perhaps doing your trip plan while you enjoy a cup of coffee — sets your day up for success. While it’s tempting to roll out of bed every day and immediately hop behind the steering wheel, that can lead to problems down the road.
Trip Plan Like a Pro
Meeting appointment times isn’t just about staying on schedule — it’s about creating opportunities, building trust, and maximizing your earning potential. By prioritizing customer service, you enhance your and your carrier’s reputation and secure access to more freight. Consistently showing up on time allows you to haul more loads, earn more money, and position yourself for higher-paying opportunities.
It all starts with preparation. Trip planning, pre-trip inspections, and establishing healthy routines ensure you’re ready to tackle any challenges the road throws your way. While emergencies can happen, developing habits that set you up for success will help you meet appointment times consistently.
When you make meeting appointment times a priority, you’re not just driving — you’re driving your career forward.
Check out these trip planning tips to help you stay on track.