Being Proactive

15m away for a live load at 1330, I would have needed to start my day no later than 1245 to be on time which would put me stopping at 0200 at the latest. Ain't no way in hell I'm going to find a LEGAL parking spot anywhere. I decided at 0800 to take matters into my own hands and call up the shipper to find out if I can be loaded early. They said i can come early and get worked in. I arrive at 0845, shipping lady said she "loves when we come early," i get assigned a dock immediately and the plate is already down. Now, I can make the delivery at the earliest opportunity in the window and the latest I can stop is 2200 which will, in the very least, give me a chance at finding a spot at a rest area.

Sometimes you gotta take the bull by the horns to make things work out.

Early is almost always good except for a few places that are so tight they get mad if you show up more than 30 minutes early. A simple phone call in advance will let you know who those customers are.

I also call them up to ask if overnight parking is available there or nearby. Last night I spent the night at XPO/Conway Southern in Atlanta after I delivered them some new forklifts for their docks. There's a pilot 2 miles away but I knew it would be full by the time I arrived. Said, I can bring your new lifts early if you have a place for me to stay on site tonight, otherwise I'll be there first thing in the morning. They made room for me but I did have to drop my empty to save on space. Really nice people.

Early is almost always good except for a few places that are so tight they get mad if you show up more than 30 minutes early. A simple phone call in advance will let you know who those customers are.

I also call them up to ask if overnight parking is available there or nearby. Last night I spent the night at XPO/Conway Southern in Atlanta after I delivered them some new forklifts for their docks. There's a pilot 2 miles away but I knew it would be full by the time I arrived. Said, I can bring your new lifts early if you have a place for me to stay on site tonight, otherwise I'll be there first thing in the morning. They made room for me but I did have to drop my empty to save on space. Really nice people.

XPO not XPO/Conway. Conway is no more. CFI is back. We are not part of each other.

Yeah but my bols said Conway Southern lol.

Calling the shipper like you did is always the best way. There have been times in the past I had asked dispatch if my appointment wasa hard set appointment or if they might take me early and dispatch told me it was hard set only to find out that like the place you went to, they would have loved it if I went in early.

I'll admit I only read some of the posts on this thread so if I repeat anything, sorry.

My two cents is you would have been fine either way you did it. In my experience the truck stops start opening spots around 2/3 am. Those drivers who like to be fine by dinner time.

However getting in early and out early is always a good move. So in this situation I see no wrong way to go here.