EN
Italiano 
Every Haulier Knows This Scene (and Hates It)
You arrive at the customer’s warehouse for loading. It’s 9:00 AM, the agreed time. But there are already three trucks parked in front of you. The warehouse manager tells you: "You’ll have to wait, I don’t know when it’s your turn, maybe in the afternoon."
The result? Wasted hours, a ruined schedule, the next load delayed, complaining customers, and shrinking margins.
If you are a haulier, this isn't the exception: it's the norm. And every time, you ask yourself: isn’t there a more professional way to organize loading and unloading?
Yes, there is. It’s called Dock Reservation, and it is the premium feature of Truckscanner that allows you to book loading and unloading slots exactly like you book a table at a restaurant.
No more queues. No more improvisation. No more hours wasted waiting in the yard.
Time Is Money, and You’re Losing It in Loading Yards
Let's be clear: every hour you spend waiting is an hour you are not billing.
How Much Does Unplanned Waiting Actually Cost?
Let's look at a realistic calculation for an average haulier:
- Hourly operational cost of a truck with a driver: approximately €45-55/hour
- Wasted hours in an average week: 8-12 hours
- Weekly cost of inefficiency: €360-660
- Annual cost: €18,000-34,000 thrown away
And that’s without considering:
- The loads you are forced to decline because you can’t meet the timing
- Fuel consumption for engine idling (heating/cooling)
- Driver stress and dissatisfaction
- Damage to your reputation with shippers
Dock Reservation is the antidote to this constant drain of time and money.
The Chain Reaction of Delays
A single delay in a disorganized warehouse triggers a chain reaction:
- You miss the second load scheduled for that day
- You have to reorganize your entire weekly planning
- Other customers experience delays
- Your reliability is called into question
- You lose future business opportunities
With Dock Reservation, you arrive when it’s your turn, you load/unload, and you leave. Period.
How Dock Reservation Works: Booking Made Simple
Dock Reservation is integrated directly into the Truckscanner platform. If you are a carrier (haulier), you can access the feature from the Premium menu.
Step 1 - View Your Orders
In the Dock Reservation section, you can see all the transport orders assigned to you with future delivery dates.
For each order, the system shows you:
- Unique order code
- Pickup address (loading)
- Delivery address (unloading)
- Current reservation status (whether you have already booked or not)
- Available actions: buttons to book a loading bay or an unloading bay
Step 2 - Choose What to Book
Need to book a loading bay? Click "Book loading bay". Need to book an unloading slot? Click "Book unloading bay".
Important: You can only book if:
- The relevant warehouse has configured their docks on Truckscanner
- You do not already have an active reservation for that operation
If the button is disabled, it means the warehouse has not yet activated digital dock management (but you can always ask the shipper to do so!).
Step 3 - Select Date and Time
Once clicked, the intelligent booking calendar opens:
- Choose the date (from today onwards)
- The system shows you all available time slots for that day
- Slots are calculated automatically: typically 30 minutes, from the current time until 11:59 PM
- Times already booked by others are automatically excluded
- Select the slot that best fits your planning
Step 4 - Enter Vehicle Details
Before confirming, enter the operational information:
- Truck license plate (mandatory)
- Trailer license plate (optional, if applicable)
- Driver's name performing the loading/unloading
This data allows the warehouse to identify you and prepare for your arrival.
Step 5 - Confirmation and Notification
Confirm the booking. The system will:
- Send the reservation for approval to the shipper
- Immediately notify you of the successful request
- Update the order status visible on your dashboard
The warehouse receives the booking in its Dock Scheduler and can organize accordingly.
Concrete Benefits for Carriers
No Queues, No Waiting
You arrive at the booked time, the bay is ready, and they are expecting you. Load or unload and leave. No queues, no improvisation, no wasted time.
Reliable Planning
When you know exactly what time you will be free from the first load, you can plan the second with certainty. You can accept more jobs because you know you will meet the timings.
Reduced Stress for Drivers
Your drivers no longer have to endure frustrating hours of waiting or disputes with warehouse managers. They work better, are more satisfied, and stay with the company longer.
Professional Image
Arriving with a confirmed reservation conveys professionalism. The shipper sees you as a reliable and organized partner, not just another truck showing up whenever it can.
Accurate Data for Customers
You can give your end customers precise delivery times because you know exactly when you will collect the goods. You increase your perceived reliability and customer satisfaction.
Works for Every Type of Haulier
Whether you are an owner-operator with a single vehicle or a fleet with dozens of trucks, Dock Reservation adapts to your needs.
For the Independent Owner-Operator
If you manage everything on your own, Dock Reservation makes your life much easier:
- Book directly from your smartphone
- No more phone calls to confirm times
- Optimize your daily rounds by eliminating downtime
- Increase the number of loads you can handle in a day
For Medium and Large Fleets
If you coordinate multiple vehicles and drivers:
- Centralizing bookings becomes easy
- Every driver knows exactly where to go and when
- Drastically reduce coordination calls
- Optimize fleet utilization based on available slots
What If the Warehouse Doesn’t Have Dock Scheduler?
It’s a fair question: "What if my shipper doesn't use Truckscanner?"
Here’s the great part: you can be the one to suggest they activate it.
The benefits of Dock Scheduler for shippers are so evident that many companies, once informed, decide to activate it quickly. It is in their interest to organize loading and unloading more effectively.
You can be the catalyst for change:
- Speak to the shipper's logistics manager
- Show them Truckscanner and the Dock Scheduler feature
- Explain that they would also benefit (less chaos, higher efficiency)
- Propose a test on a few orders
Very often, the most organized hauliers "educate" their customers to work better. And when a shipper digitizes, you benefit directly.
Integrated into the Truckscanner Premium Ecosystem
Dock Reservation is not an isolated tool: it is part of the Premium suite that revolutionizes how you work.
Connects with Transport Orders
The orders assigned to you on the platform are automatically available for booking. No data needs to be entered manually.
Syncs with Shippers' Dock Scheduler
When you book, the shipper sees your reservation on their calendar. Automatic communication, zero misunderstandings.
Digitalization Isn’t Just for the Big Players
There is a myth to debunk: "Digitalization is for large companies; I'm small, I don't need it."
Wrong. It’s exactly the opposite.
If you are a small business, you have even less margin to waste time and money on inefficiencies. You can’t afford to throw away 10 hours a week waiting. Dock Reservation gives you the same level of organization as large fleets. Level the playing field in your favor.
Investment or Cost? Let’s Do the Math
The Truckscanner Premium subscription is an investment that pays for itself.
ROI Calculation
Consider just Dock Reservation and the time saved:
- Hours saved per week: 8-12 hours (conservative average)
- Hourly value of time saved: €50/hour (operating cost)
- Weekly savings: €400-600
- Monthly savings: €1,600-2,400
The cost of the Premium subscription is a fraction of the value you recover.
Stop Risking Every Assignment. Start Choosing with Certainty.
Every transport order is an investment in trust, time, and reputation. Dock Reservation ensures you work as a professional, not as they did 30 years ago. Stop suffering from chaos and start planning with a method.
Don't waste any more time in yards. Start booking now.