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Loading & Unloading Instructions - At The Customers Premises

Before arriving at a customer’s premises, drivers must check with their Traffic Office if there are special instructions to be followed.

As a matter of course, they must:
- Obey any security instructions given by the customer.
- Adhere to any speed limits on site.
- Comply with all Health and Safety requirements.
- Observe all other rules and instructions given by the customer.

If when working on customer sites, drivers identify any issues that they consider affects their ability to work safely they should report them to their Traffic Office.

COURTESY

When in contact with the customer drivers should:
- Always be polite and helpful.
- Where possible, be present during loading/unloading of the trailer and offer assistance if requested.
- Refer any unreasonable requests to your Traffic Office.

ABOVE ALL, AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD DRIVERS ARGUE WITH THE CUSTOMER.

TIME KEEPING

- Drivers to confirm with their Traffic Office whether the collection/delivery is booked for specific time.
- Drivers to check delivery notes for times and any special instructions.
- Drivers must make every effort to arrive at the customer’s premises at the specified time. Failure to do so can result in inconvenience to the customer, to them and to P&O Ferrymasters.
- If they are going to be delayed in arriving at the customer’s premises for a collection/delivery, or if they are delayed at the collection/delivery point, the haulier must contact P&O Ferrymasters.

TRAILER CONDITION

Before loading drivers should ensure that:
- the trailer has been swept out.
- the inside of the trailer is dry and there are no rips in the canopy/curtains.
- there are no holes in the floor or nails protruding from the bed of the trailer.
- there are no visual signs of general damage.
- straps, boards and sealing cords are in place and usable.
- tyres are free from damage, complying with legal minimum tyres depths.

LOADING

When collecting a consignment drivers should:
- Before loading, check that the destination of the load and any reference numbers they have been given are the same as the customers. If there is any doubt, they should contact their Traffic Office.
- Contact the Traffic Office if the customer wants to load additional deliveries.
- Check the quantity and condition of the goods where possible; if goods are damaged they should inform the customer. When loading Dangerous Goods, never accept damaged or leaking packages.
- Mark the CMR e.g. ‘cases broken’ or ‘packages damaged’ if the customer loads damaged goods and inform their Traffic Office.
- Mark the CMR ‘driver not permitted to check quantity or condition’ if it is not possible to check the goods.
- When goods are palletised, only count and sign for the number of pallets.
- Seal the load and record the number on the CMR/Customer paperwork.
- Complete a CMR note if not provided with one by the customer.
- Ensure that both they and the customer sign and print name on the CMR note and that the note is clear and legible.
- Collect the relevant Dangerous Goods Note/Hazard Labels/Tremcards/Container/Vehicle Packing Certificate as notified by their Traffic Office.
- Break the seal and reseal for groupage collections, preferably with a witness present.

STOWING AND SECURING CARGO

Drivers must remember that it is a legal requirement to ensure that loads are secured. Failure to do so satisfactorily may result in a prosecution, serious injury or even a fatality.

Drivers must:
- Spread loads evenly across the trailer, ensuring axle weight tolerances are not exceeded. Load heavy items on the bed of the trailer and lighter items on top.
- Separate any goods that are likely to damage or contaminate another consignment.
- Restrain the load using straps, ropes, chains, dunnage, chocks, scotches and stanchions, as necessary.
- Break the load down or use dunnage to fill the space if there is a gap between the load and the front of the trailer and the doors.
- Where a flatbed is used, the cargo should be made weatherproof, using sheets.
- Ensure that their vehicle/trailer is not overloaded either on gross or axle weights; if in doubt weigh off.
- Check straps, ropes, sheets, stanchions and seals are secure before resuming driving after a break, when leaving trailer at port of export and when collecting a loaded trailer.
- If there is a need to break a seal to check load security, they must reseal and record the new seal number on the delivery note/CMR. Wherever possible, the breaking of seals must be undertaken in the presence of a witness and reported to their Traffic Office. Under no circumstances should they break customs seals.
- If there are any problems with load security, contact their Traffic Office.

UNLOADING

When delivering a consignment drivers should:
- Break the seal in presence of the customer.
- Open the trailer with care, be prepared for any loose cargo and report any significant movement.
- Where possible be present during unloading and offer assistance, if requested.
- Count and agree the number of pallets/packages with the customer.
- Phone their Traffic Office if there is any disagreement to the number of pallets/packages.
- Mark the CMR ‘driver not permitted to check quantity or condition’ if you are not allowed to count the pallets/packages.
- Where the customer provides their own delivery note, use it in preference to any other documentation.
- Get the receiver to sign the delivery note and print name, leave one copy with the receiver.
- Destroy Tremcards when the consignment has been delivered and remove all hazard labels from tractor and trailer.
- Clean up any spillages before leaving customer premises.
- Keep the signed Proof of Delivery.