Process Overview: Containers are regularly being received at Advantus locations. To ensure inventory can be received as efficiently as possible and to avoid fees from the delivery companies, we must schedule delivery dates for our inbound containers. This process and associated guidelines should be used when scheduling delivery dates for inbound containers.
Step 1: E-mail is received from JZ Expedited (or another transport/dray service company) containing containers that are ready to be picked up.
Step 2: Each location will then determine which containers are for their location and will schedule the delivery dates while taking into the below considerations.
- The current week’s delivery schedule. How many deliveries do we currently have scheduled?
- Container Priority List. (E-mailed weekly) Which containers are a priority?
- LFD’s (Last Free Days). To avoid additional fees, we do not want containers sitting past their LFD.
- Item/Carton counts. On certain days, can we accommodate containers with a lower number of items?
- Available dock space. How much space do we have on the receiving dock?
- Personnel. Do we have the appropriate amount of personnel to accommodate the incoming loads?
- Additional Costs To Avoid: (Table below)
- *Note– Free Time plays a large role in fees being incurred. Free Time is the amount of time that a carrier’s equipment may be used without incurring additional charges.
| Name of Fee | $ Charge | Description |
| Chassis Rental | ≈ $40/Day | The fee is charged by the carrier when the container is kept at the consignee’s (ADV) location longer than scheduled. |
| Bobtail | $800 | The fee is charged by the carrier to drop off a container at the warehouse and pick it up after it has been unloaded, as opposed to a live unload. |
| Container Pre-Pull | $100 | Fee charged by the carrier to move a container and store it at an interim location. (Typically to avoid storage/demurrage fees at the port) |
| Container Storage | $55/Day | The cost incurred by a customer for using physical space at a port, terminal, warehouse, etc. Typically charged when cargo remains at one of these locations past the allotted number of free days after arrival. |
| Per Diem | ≈ $42/Day | The fixed rate is charged per container per day until the equipment is returned to the port or container yard. |
| Driver Detention Charge | ≈ $50/Hour | A fee that a carrier may assess when driver wait time exceeds the given free time for loading or unloading the truck. |
Step 3: Once each location has determined when we would like the container(s) to be delivered, reply to JZ Expedited and/or the container transport company’s email with the Scheduled Delivery Date for each container.
Step 4: Set the Scheduled Delivery Dates in NetSuite by following the Setting & Updating Delivery Dates for Inbound Shipments process.
- *Note– If Scheduled Delivery Dates change and need to be updated after they are initially set, the above process in red should be referenced for this as well.
This completes the Scheduling Inbound Containers process.