LTL "Dark Terminal" · Freight Group

LTL "Dark Terminal"

I can tell this story now because YRC is out of business and I wont get anybody in trouble but is everyone familiar with what a "Dark Terminal" in LTL is?

Dark Terminals are unmanned freight terminals. Basically company drivers can access docks and transfer freight into and out of trailers, but there is no management or terminal operations people on site even during normal business hours, these terminals tend to be Rural.

I have been running a nationwide Government Contract since 2018 where we had primarily utilized YRC for our LTL moves. Gateway teams have picked up freight from their terminals in our trucks from over 100 YRC terminals, pretty much in every State in the US.

The YRC terminal in Souix City, Iowa was a Dark Terminal. There were 2 drivers that worked out of the facility delivering rural freight. I had called one of those drivers to remind him of the freight that was on his dock and to schedule our pickup.

He assured me him or the other driver would be at the terminal on that date and time for our pickup. When we arrived he was not there, neither was the other driver and the gate was locked. I called his cellphone.

His response: (Paraphrase now)

"OMG! I'm so sorry, I know you got that Government install scheduled and I'm suppose to be there but I'm over 100 miles away right now doing a delivery and so is the other driver.....(Pause)

Here is the Gate Code to the combination lock to open the gate

Back you truck up to a dock that's open

Dock door 1 is not locked you will be able to push it right up.

Your crates are over by dock 8

The BOL I need signed is on a desk in the front office just sign it and leave it there.

The forklift has the key in it just be safe loading your truck up

be sure to lock the gate back on your way out...

Sorry again and thank you!"

Ive never worked for YRC...Oh except for the time I had to load my own truck at one of their "Dark Terminals" LOL

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