Tips for hauliers and drivers • •
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IN an interview with CM, South London Inland Clearance depot manager Edwin Crouch gave these tips for hauliers and drivers using SLIC — pointers that will also apply to other inland clearance depots.
• Before a driver takes any instructions to pick up a consignment from a clearance depot for a customer, he should make sure the goods have been cleared by HM Customs. He should specifically ask the customer; if his customer says "Yes" and the driver later finds the load has not been cleared and there is therefore a delay the haulier can then claim any demurrage.
• Hauliers should try to give two to three days' notice to an ICD that their vehicle will be delivering in a TIR trailer.
• They should follow this up with a phone call to the office operations manager to book an arrival time. If the lorry arrives at the agreed time or near it he will ensure that he's dealt withpromptly. If he just rolls in unannounced and the depot has, say, twenty-five "20ft equivalents" (one 40ft container equals two 20ft equivalents) to discharge /load that day, the chances are he won't get cleared that day, instead of being in and out within an hour or so.
• Have the correct documents for collection when calling at an ICD; make sure it states the depot's reference number. If for some reason it doesn't, ask the customer to telex the ICD with that reference number plus his vehicle registration.
• Sometimes foreign drivers, and some speak little or no English, arrive from Dover, Folkestone, Shoreham and so on: their operator has telexed the ICD with the manifest but the driver has not checked to see that the items marry up with his T-forms — one for each consignment. A check saves time. If the items don't check the Customs will delay the discharge while the queries are sorted out.
• When a haulier calls with a load to discharge it won't be accepted unless SLIC can ascertain who the exporter is and who will accept the ICD's charges.
• The driver must have a shipping note saying whose goods he's carrying and to whose order they are.
• The driver must ensure he gets a receipt for his load from the 1CD detailing damage, if any.
• Goods delivered at an ICD for export must be accompanied by a shipping note.