Whether it’s Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter, hazardous weather conditions can appear at any time. Severe weather can cause accidents for unprepared drivers, delay shipments or cause damage to freight. Prepared drivers can avoid most accidents, but even the most prepared can be delayed due to unforeseen issues and cause a delay in the shipment’s arrival. Companies expecting shipments should keep an eye on the weather and develop a communication plan with their carrier in the event bad weather forces a change in plan.
When creating a communication plan with your carrier, be sure to consider weather conditions across the country. Just because it’s sunny at your office doesn’t mean a pop up thunderstorm won’t cause delays on the interstate a thousand miles away. Understanding that weather may cause delays in shipment will go a long way in ensuring driver safety since the driver could be in danger due to an unforeseen storm. It’s also important to remember that dispatch teams are doing everything they can to warn drivers of potentially hazardous conditions, because sudden storms can cause accidents that were impossible to predict, let alone prepare for.
Your communication plan should include contingencies in the event a shipment is delayed. Drivers are no doubt doing their best to get your shipment to you in a timely manner, but developing an internal plan for the unexpected gives breathing room for every organization. Working with the carrier to schedule the delivery will work wonders to put your mind at ease in the event that a storm causes a delay. Communication is key, even when the unexpected occurs. The top priority is the safety of a driver and we’re certain that every organization recognizes this fact.
At Zip Xpress, we understand this need for constant communication even during times of unforeseeable weather conditions. We work with our partners to ensure that their deliveries will arrive on time and undamaged, but we will always put the safety of our drivers above all else. Ensuring they can go home safely is top priority, but we have extensive communication plans in place with our customers so that if a storm will affect the timing of their shipment, they’ll be the first to know. To see how you can create a communication plan like this for your business, start today with Zip Xpress!
