How you can save on delivery costs

IMPLEMENT COMPANY'S DE. LIVERY POLICIES. First, does your company have one stating what your people will do for the customer? If not, why not? If so, what should it contain?

(2) DIRECT THE COMPLETION OF THE COMPANY'S DELIVERED SALES WITHIN THESE POLICIES. Delivery completes the sale and makes it a receivable, but not one dime can be collected until delivery is made. Liken management of delivery to management of receivables!

MAINTAIN THE COMPANY'S DELMRY LOG. Plain and simply, a list of things to be done. It's an almost indispensable planning and managing tool.

(4) DEVELOP AND PLAN LOAD SIZES AND MAKE-UP. Prevent the most costly disease in the delivery business-"reactionitis," which generates enormous yard chaos and sale losses.

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(5) SCHEDULE AND ROUTE TRIPS. Take the loaded trucks to the customer during his work hours on a mutually profitable basis.

(6) MONITOR TRIPS AND DELMRIES. How effectively are the company's people being used? What is the average first out? How long is the turn-a-round time in the yard? How many miles are driven? What is the value of materials delivered?

(7) OBSERVE AND EVALUATE PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM. Does the company have a program? Who is responsible for it being used? What is done to solve a problem when it occurs? How is a vehicle lost to maintenance replaced,?

(E) SUPERVISE DRIVER'S ACTIVITIES. Does every driver have a copy of his job description? Do drivers load, unload, drive forklifts, take orders, etc.?

COORDINATE LOADING ACTIVITIES AND EQUIPMENT USE. Are deliveries staged and preloaded? Is equipment rotated among drivers? Is paper work completed?

DEVELOPDAILYP&LONDELMRED SALES. Do you know the value of what is delivered and what your delivery costs are? Can you tell a profitable delivery from one that loses money?

Each of these functions will be further developed and explained in future issues. In the meantime, identify which of the above are in place at your company and which are not in evidence there. They won't all apply in every instance, but they represent a check list for any delivery operation.

"Management Suneys the Black Hole of Delivery," divided into three seporate dollar volume manuals, under 82 million, $2-5 million and over $5 million, is available for $45 from Builders Express Inc., Ib50 Plano Rd., Dallas, Tx. 75243. Attention: Wally Lynch.

Rx for Monday o Keep Sunday night for relaxation with activities scheduled for Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. r Avoid putting problems on the Monday schedule. They will be taken care of more smoothly throughout the week. o Don't indulge yourself with Monday morning blues. They're contagious for the rest of the staff.

Monday will look a lot better if you do some preventive planning on Friday.

. Complete as many jobs as possible on Friday. Clean up all loose ends. Clean off your desk before leaving.

3 Try to get all your personal business done on the weekend.

. Set a new goal in writing for Monday, but make it something simple; skip jobs which will make you dread going to work.

. Plan something enjoyable for Wednesday. A mid-week break will allow you to anticipate and remember.