Drop off closed

Hi Guys

Here it goes picked job up drove for 4 hours only to find drop off point was closed. Was asked to return items to base which was luckily enough just by where I live so backload without trying.

My point is if I had picked this job up as a backload or already agreed to another job to pick when empty where do I stand. As the goods on board are my liability until delivered. But if I have agreed to make a collection at a time and then have to let them down after agreeing the job who is now liable if this was a line stopping job.

If you drove for 4 hours I would imagine you travelled about 250 miles? Communication is vital with the vendor, maybe this could have been left close by? Maybe delivered when next open with another courier perhaps? Things can usually be sorted to prevent bringing back, as everything we deliver is wanted urgently by the receiver!

A suitable price should be sorted with the vendor if it did have to be returned, I think though if you took it on at silly backload price, you have a duty to deliver it where told so if it screwed up anything else you had planned, then tough!
Communication is paramount though

Just ring the other customer for the collection you scheduled to do and just explain sometimes it may fit its just one of those things that happens

This once happened to me in Wakefield, so I googled sameday couriers there was one 2 miles away so I drove there asked if they could deliver it in the morning and invoice me even got a brew, they delivered it first thing then phoned me, didn't charge me and now and again I get the odd job of them that was 9 years ago but not many people have the charm I have.

If there is any doubt that you will be able to make the drop by closing time always ring the recipient to check their closing time and also find out what is the earliest time they are willing to accept on the next working day. Then check how the sender wishes you to proceed. Unless the receiving point is open 24 hours then the goods will not be wanted until the next day anyway. Aim on arriving at the delivery point AT LEAST 15 minutes before they open.

Only do this with the full approval of the sender!

If you actually get caught out and cannot contact either the sender or the recipient then do as AJM suggests and find a reliable Sameday Co near to the drop off point to complete the job for you.

Sounds to me very much like the person you were doing it for hadn't done their homework.

The customer you are doing the job for shouldn't be asking you to do anything without ensuring the opening hours of the delivery point, either that or have an alternative address if running late. I would expect the vendor in these cases to do what Gary has done in the past, and find another courier to drop the goods off to, or be paid to take it back.

If it was done at a backload price, then all the above still applies, which is why both the vendor and sub-contracting courier should ensure they don't go anywhere without all relevant info. My first question would be, "what time do they close or are they 24/7?", and "have we got a phone number for me to ring ahead if necessary?"

Yep

As Rob say's it is common sense really.

This line of work is far from difficult, but there are many that just can't seem to do the basics

Communication, communication, communication!

Ah... There you go Alan... Common sense... Sadly lacking these days... So not so common after all

I collected at 13:00 for a 214 mile trip the company I was subbing through had asked was drop off going to be open as it was a Friday afternoon they where told several times yes it would be open. The company I subbed through even gave an eta off 18:30 but I arrived at 17:30. A call was even made at 16:45 just advising on progress so there was communication made on receiving job confirmation then again when gob and then whilst travelling to give update so was plenty of communication between myself and vendor. It was lack of communication from the vendors customer who told them place was open on numerous occasions. I had taken the job on as a hotshot I only mentioned a backload for the scenario that I would not be coming back. A very good price was agreed to bring it back as well.

RAPID LIGHT TRANSPORT LTD. said:

---

If you drove for 4 hours I would imagine you travelled about 250 miles? Communication is vital with the vendor, maybe this could have been left close by? Maybe delivered when next open with another courier perhaps? Things can usually be sorted to prevent bringing back, as everything we deliver is wanted urgently by the receiver!

A suitable price should be sorted with the vendor if it did have to be returned, I think though if you took it on at silly backload price, you have a duty to deliver it where told so if it screwed up anything else you had planned, then tough!
Communication is paramount though

So with all the communication I made if i had agreed to pick up a job for you after i had dropped of this one Then phoned you up say 40mins later due to not being able to tip and vendor customer wanting goods returned And the job i was doing for you then incurred you a penalty for late delivery iam liable as i agreed with you to deliver