What do carriers do? They carry. Receivers receive. Shippers… You guessed it. They ship stuff. What could be simpler, right? Not so fast there. Bulk liquid logistics is a little more complicated than you might have thought. And when a problem arises, those complications can cause finger-pointing and misunderstandings.
So, let’s try to clear things up a bit. Let’s take a look at the different responsibilities assigned to and expected of carriers, receivers, and shippers. Who is responsible for what? Or should be.
Carriers Carry – But What Else?
The logistics responsibilities of bulk liquid carriers involve more than just the actual transportation of a product. Here’s an example:
- They must provide their drivers with PPE (personal protection equipment) if their deliveries involve hazmat.
- Any and all standard equipment or equipment that is customer specified – in addition to compressors, pumps, fittings, and hoses – must be provided. Standard equipment can pertain to a pump and 20-foot lengths of hose (two).
- Professional, well-trained drivers must be provided.
- Trailers that are appropriately covered by insurance and clean must be provided.
The Responsibilities of Receivers
Since the loading of a shipment of bulk liquids is done by the shipper, unloading would be done by the receiver. The following are other things that should be expected of a receiver:
- Because a driver is busy monitoring portions of the process that are truck related, the receiver, during unloading, should provide someone to monitor the process.
- For the unloading process, a safe clean environment should be provided.
- Prior to unloading, it should be verified by the receiver that the right commodity is being dealt with. Following that, the receiver must ensure that the bulk liquid is unloaded into the appropriate receptacle or tank.
And the Shippers Ship – and Then Some
Shippers should be assured that the maintaining of a product’s quality, unloading, and transport of bulk liquids is executed by carriers and shippers. But what about the responsibility of the shippers? These include the following:
- The trailer being used by the carrier must be odor free, dry, and clean, before loading, and should be inspected by the shipper.
- The following should be shipper-provided – all necessary paperwork, a BOL (bill of loading), and any product related items such as seals, placards, etc.
- Regarding the product being shipped, shippers should have a comprehension of and be able to communicate any regulations that apply.
- And they should not only have a full understanding of the properties of the bulk liquid being moved, but communicate all pertinent information to the carrier (i.e. product safety information, certification requirements, equipment, etc.)
So What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
The items and responsibilities listed above are pretty much in keeping with common industry practice. Are there variations? Of course. But as long as everybody involved understands what the variations entail – and agree on them – everything should be fine.
Frequently, a problem arises due to poor communication. And this can result in subpar service and misunderstandings.
Mickey Genuine Parts has been a relevant name in the trucking and transportation industry for years. For that reason, we provide this kind of information to better assist our clientele and trucking friends. Give us a call today if you have any questions or would like to order one of our trailers, parts, or accessories.