Money Talks

Are you new to driving with UWC? If you are, or even if you have been partnered with us for some time now, we thought it would be a good time to review our methods of payment, and payment terms!

UWC has some of the best payment terms in the refrigerated produce transportation industry!! They are flexible, and have been designed to save you money and offer favorable additional benefits. Cost savings and perks, what could be better??!!

Methods of payment:

We have been committed to offering various payment methods for years now, in order to suit our Carrier partner’s specific requirements. You can choose the option that best suits your cash flow needs:

- Check: we issue paper checks that are sent by regular mail on net 7 day terms.
- Factor: if you are a Carrier Company who factors their invoices, please remember to provide us with your Factoring Company’s name and address. Or better yet, sign up for UWC’s Quick Pay – get paid in almost the same manner as if you factored and eliminate the hassle of 3rd party billing!!!
- Direct Deposit: UWC’s direct deposit payment program is secure and efficient. All you need to do is provide us with your bank details and we can have your invoices paid directly in to your bank account!!!

Payment Terms:

- Quick Pay: UWC’s Quick Pay terms are our best yet! The terms for this service are now 1.5% of Net funds due, and you get paid within 72 hours of delivery!!!** Note that Quick Pay is only available via direct deposit method of payment.
- 7 Days: This is UWC’s standard payment term. You get paid in 7 days after delivery and there are no fees for this service!!**

** Provided an invoice and all bills of lading have been received, are signed clean, and no claims are outstanding.

Remember, when you send your invoices in, you need to include an invoice page or our UWC carrier confirmation page, along with all signed Bills of Lading. Want an added benefit? Use our TRANSFLO Express program, and send your invoice paperwork to us for FREE!!!

We know money talks and cash flow is an integral part of our industry! So we want to know, how do you find our methods of payment and payment terms???

Setting the Temp

Refrigerated trailer temperature settings are critical to understand in order to ensure the success of any perishable shipment. All refrigerated trailer units have a “Set Point” that sets the temperature inside the trailer, and this number is shown on the reefers Set Point digital display. Drivers have to physically set the temperature of their refrigerated trailer, and must also select the “mode” that the reefer unit will operate in: continuous or cycle-sentry. Understanding the two different reefer trailer temperature setting options (continuous vs. cycle-sentry), along with what needs to be done to ensure that a produce load will maintain temperature while in transit is key.

Now, let’s explore the difference between the two refrigerated trailer temperature mode settings:

Continuous Setting:
This setting MUST be used for ALL produce loads; they need continuous air flow to handle the heat of product respiration. Continuous air flow means that there is a consistent temperature throughout the trailer for the duration of transport. Temperature recorders can indicate if a trailer has been set to continuous or cycle-sentry. Below, an example of a temperature recorder printout that indicates a shipment has run on continuous:

Cycle-Sentry Setting:
This setting should only be used for frozen loads (i.e. loads that are intended to ship cooler than 24F). Frozen loads can handle more significant temperature variances without causing damage to the product. The cycle sentry setting is a START-STOP setting, so air flow for the refrigeration unit is not constant. When the temperature inside the refrigerated trailer drops between 0.5 and 1F below the Set Point, the unit will turn off. The unit then waits until the temperature inside the trailer warms up 5F above the set point temperature, and will then turn itself back on. For this, reason, produce loads should NEVER be run on cycle!!!! Running a produce load on cycle-sentry greatly increases your exposure to claims and additional charges!!!

Temperature recorders can also indicate if a shipment has been run on cycle-sentry. Below is an example of a temperature recorder printout in this setting:


Some other points to remember:
• Make sure to check the fluids in the refrigeration unit to make sure it will operate as designed.
• Keep the refrigerated trailer on its regular maintenance schedule to ensure all settings are accurate and will work as designed. Preventative maintenance is the best kind!!!
• Pre-cool the trailer to ensure all residual heat inside the trailer walls, floor and ceiling is eliminated prior to loading. This is especially important during these summer months!!!


Have anything else to add? Please share!!!

References:
4 Steps to a Successful Shipment. Sensitech Cold Chain Visibility. Powerpoint Presentation. Received on 11/08/2009, Accessed for document on 21/07/2011.

Calling All Drivers!!!

How Your Camera Phone Can Help You

These days, it is standard for most cellular phones to be equipped with a camera. This is definitely one of the most critical tools available for a driver. Below, we outline some key ways that a camera phone can be used to protect a driver, and reduce the occurrence of claims and additional charges.

• Photos of trailer condition inside, prior to pickup – take a photo of the inside of your trailer prior to product being loaded at a shipper; this provides evidence of the condition of the trailer. Be reminded that as per UWC’s Carrier Loading Guidelines, the following should be observed: floor grooves and drains clear of obstacles, clean and odor free to ensure proper air flow out of the refrigeration unit, around the load, and back to the unit. The best way to prove that this is the case is to take a photo!

• Photos of trailer once product has been loaded – whenever possible, take a photo of trailer with the back doors open once the product has been loaded. This will confirm the condition of the product prior to transit. This can greatly protect a driver if there are leaning pallets, crushed boxes, broken pallets, and any other product-related issues that may affect a clean BOL upon delivery. Any issues should be communicated to UWC immediately with photos sent as verification. UWC will then forward these photos to all interested parties, and advise on any actions required. It is recommended that a photo is taken at each pickup.

• In-Transit – Use your camera phone to document any accidents or required repairs while in transit.

• Photos at delivery – a camera phone is a useful tool upon delivery; it can be used to document and verify and actual product/cargo damages and any trailer damages that may occur at receiver’s warehouses.

• Tomato Loads – A color report is MANDATORY for all tomato loads hauled under UWC. Drivers will be required to provide daily color reports. A minimum of 3 boxes of all sizes must be reported on.

Need help on how to use your camera phone while on the road?? Call us and we can help find the best way for you to get photos to UWC!

Pulp!!!

Pulp – not just great in orange juice – also an essential part of hauling any refrigerated produce load!

Pulp at Pickups
A pulp temperature thermometer is a mandatory tool for all produce loads. As per our Carrier Loading Guidelines, UWC instructs each and every driver to, at the point of loading, pulp the product that they are picking up and record the temperature on the bill of lading (BOL). If access to the loading dock is not allowed, drivers must record “shipper load and count” on the BOL. The reason for noting either one of these events on the BOL is that it can help protect the carrier if any issues arise upon delivery. It is critical that if the pulp temperatures at pickup are any different than what is written on the BOL and/or on the UWC Load sheet, the driver MUST contact UWC immediately, prior to leaving the shed. We can then take the appropriate action and advise all interested parties.

Pulp at Deliveries
The same instructions are given for the delivery stage – drivers must record product pulp temperatures on the bill of lading at the time of delivery. In addition, if drivers do not have access to the unloading dock, “receiver unload and count” must be written on the BOL. This will further help protect drivers; our primary goal is to prevent exposure to claims and other additional costs. Adhering to the pulp procedures outlined above, along with the rest of the procedures outlined in UWC’s Carrier Loading Guidelines brochure, will increase your level of success for the safe and timely delivery of goods!

Pulp all the Time!!!
Did you know??? UWC pulp temperature thermometers are available for FREE at TC Trans!

If you don’t have one, pick one up today!!! If you are using one of our thermometers, what are your opinions of them??