Many 3PL warehousing operations face similar challenges with dock scheduling. Another problem is making arrangements for loading and unloading times complicated. But, you can develop a plan for improving your dock scheduling practices.

How Lack of Visibility Affects Dock Scheduling for 3PL

Lack of visibility is a problem that can affect the dock scheduling for 3PLs. This will make it difficult for them to stay on top of their schedules and deliveries.

If you are a 3PL, you need clear visibility into your sites. Lack of visibility will make it hard to know where all trucks are located at any given time. It will be challenging to track how much inventory you have at each location if you have no visibility. Ensure you have an accurate picture of this information. This is because it will ensure that your trucks deliver products to customers.

It is critical to know where your trucks are and the inventory in transit. But, having good visibility means seeing when the orders need to be delivered. If an order needs immediate attention, you can take care of it immediately. 

How Lack of Coordination Affects Dock Scheduling for 3PL

In the supply chain, many factors can affect the product flow. The lack of Coordination is one of these causes, with dock-door availability.

Dock scheduling allows companies to organize the sequence of activities at their facilities. So, you can move from one workstation or location to another. There are several critical elements of dock scheduling, including:

• Identification of what you intend to do at each stage. This ensures that you complete all steps sequentially.
• Measurement of how long it takes to complete each task. This will enable you to determine how much time you need between steps. Plus, you can also know the number of people required.
• Planning how many workers will be needed during peak times. Besides, plan how many workers should be scheduled during slower periods.
• Put in place systems that allow monitoring. You can do this whether you have met production goals or not. 

Lack of Coordination with dock-door availability can impact the success of your business. Dock scheduling is an essential aspect of any 3PL operation. So, Coordination is key to ensuring that your shipments are moving efficiently.

Suppose you’re not getting enough information from your facilities. In that case, you could be limiting your ability to make the right decisions.

How Inflexibility Affects Dock Scheduling for 3PL

In the past, third-party logistics (3PL) warehouses had to be flexible to changes. The changes could include a fluctuation in demand. Besides, the unpredictable nature of shipping patterns in customers was considered. Although this is still relevant today, new difficulties have emerged. The problems make it difficult for 3PLs to remain flexible.

One issue is a lack of visibility into shipping activities. For example, a 3PL Warehouse has many locations where products it stores its products. As a result, there needs to be enough space for storing products at each location. Insufficient space may lead to delays. This is because the warehouse manager waits for shipments from other places.

How Lack of Control Over Carrier Performance Affects Dock Scheduling for 3PLS

If your 3PL warehouse is experiencing challenges, it could be due to a lack of control. As a shipper, you want to be able to hold your carrier accountable for their performance. Besides, you want to make sure you hold them responsible for their poor service. Unfortunately, many 3PLs do not have the power to enforce this type of accountability. This means that they cannot ensure quality service from their carriers.

Your supply chain is incomplete without a dock. It is where you receive your goods and then take them to their final destination. So, there must be a good flow of communication between all parties involved.

One of the most important factors when it comes to scheduling a dock is to track carrier performance. You can measure a carrier’s performance can by looking at on-time delivery. Additionally, you can measure a carrier’s performance by looking at transit times. Besides, ensure you check on missed deliveries. If you have access to this data, you will be able to see when they are performing well or poorly. 

Suppose you do not have access to this information. In that case, it will be difficult for you to schedule your docks effectively. This is because there won’t be any way for you to know how much inventory should be at each location. This could entail having too much or too little product at each location.

How Inefficient Use of Dock Doors Affects Dock Scheduling for 3PL

If you have inefficient use of your dock doors, it’s costing you money. Your 3PL warehouse may be using its dock doors in the wrong way. To fix this problem, there are six steps that you can take:

• Get a detailed analysis of how much time is spent on each docking area. Also, ensure you know how long it takes to move each shipment through the specified location.
• Map out where all your current docks are located and how many ports you have.
• Create a list of requirements for future docks. Plus, include details such as where they would go. This could be concerning existing ones or new locations on site.
• Organize all information into reports to ensure consistency across various departments involved. This will allow everyone to know when shipments need help. The assistance could be when moving from one location within their warehouse facility.

Accurate Time/Location Tracking of Shipments to & From the Warehouse

Accurate tracking of shipments is crucial for proper dock scheduling. This information can help improve the operation of your 3PL warehouse. As a result, you will achieve a positive ROI.

Accurate tracking can be done by integrating your logistics software with a tracker. The GPS tracking device will be placed on all incoming and outgoing trucks. Ensure you install the tracker on trucks that deliver to or pick up from the 3PL warehouse. You can also install the tracker on any product shipped within the 3PL facility. You may trace all points where a shipment is located at any moment using this method. This includes whether it’s on a truck or within your 3PL facility.

Conclusion

Dock scheduling may seem simple enough, but it’s often misunderstood. Dock scheduling issues aren’t limited to 3PLs and shippers. They also apply to manufacturers, truckload carriers, and brokers. The tips highlighted above will help you identify and solve them. For more details, contact sales support.